Was I validly confirmed?

[DJgang]

Doesn’t work that way. A valid sacrament confers grace.

To the OP, sacraments are really difficult to mess up. Perfect knowledge is not required, consent and a rudimentary understanding of the faith is required for adults.

Since you “consented” to the confirmation, which is demonstrated by participating in 8 weeks of lessons, and actually showing up for the ceremony , then the sacrament is conferred! That you got thrown a curve ball question doesn’t matter!

I’ve already been corrected. Please see posts above.

 

[Julian0404]

Honestly, I never wanted to be catholic. I was told that, by becoming catholic, the parish would look after me by helping me find a place to live (I was living in a cardboard box at the time) and getting me a job. That is the only reason I went.

And today, what is the motivation of your inquiry?

 

[fly_irish]

The motivation for my inquiry is very simple. Honestly, I did not want to be catholic. I was in a vulnerable place - homeless and addicted - and I saw a way out through the help of the community which was offered conditional on being confirmed. So, I went through it, unaware of what I was letting myself into. I am not laying blame anywhere - thats just the way I was at the time. Now, my circumstances have changed. I realized that I did this for the wrong reasons - you should be a member of a faith community with which you agree. I figured out all the financial support that the community gave me - added 10% - and paid it all back. I also contributed time to the parish for all the time they gave me - mainly in maintenance and construction. My question is - I was confirmed without being completely free in the decision (a combination of addiction and the promise of support). Am i a member of the catholic church? Or, given that my confirmation was carried out in these circumstances, am i not catholic?
Best wishes to all.

 

[fly_irish]

Another thought - should I speak to the priest of this or another parish?

Thanks.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Another thought - should I speak to the priest of this or another parish?

Thanks.

For what purpose?

Confirmation imprints and indellible mark on your soul. You cannot be “un-confirmed” the same way you cannot be “un-baptized” even by a hair dryer.

 

[Julian0404]

The motivation for my inquiry is very simple. Honestly, I did not want to be catholic. I was in a vulnerable place - homeless and addicted - and I saw a way out through the help of the community which was offered conditional on being confirmed. So, I went through it, unaware of what I was letting myself into. I am not laying blame anywhere - thats just the way I was at the time. Now, my circumstances have changed. I realized that I did this for the wrong reasons - you should be a member of a faith community with which you agree. I figured out all the financial support that the community gave me - added 10% - and paid it all back. I also contributed time to the parish for all the time they gave me - mainly in maintenance and construction. My question is - I was confirmed without being completely free in the decision (a combination of addiction and the promise of support). Am i a member of the catholic church? Or, given that my confirmation was carried out in these circumstances, am i not catholic?
Best wishes to all.

The only sacrament that is removed based upon reception under false pretenses is Marriage, and the process is annulment, which has been greatly abused, but that is a different focus.
“Catholic” is a relationship and way of living in accordance with JESUS CHRIST. Many people today claim the title catholic, but live the life of an atheist or at best a progressive accepting some and rejecting some of the Church’s (JESUS) teachings, not realizing that it is an ALL or nothing Church. JESUS has taught, “…if you break one commandment, you have broken them all…” paraphrase.
What you are asking in a sense is “can I become the prodigal son”, can I leave now and later in my life I may or may not return. The answer is Yes, of course, if you do not believe in the Catholic teachings, then the church teaches that the everyone MUST first and foremost follow their own conscience., and clearly your conscience is directing you to leave.
I wish you well and I am glad you have recovered from your previous life. That was the same life from which Father Corapi lived before he came home and became a priest. I pray that you actually do “search for GOD”, for HE has said, “…if you seek, you will find…”.

 

[ConstantineTG]

The only sacrament that is removed based upon reception under false pretenses is Marriage, and the process is annulment, which has been greatly abused, but that is a different focus.

Sorry, wrong interpretation. Annulment doesn’t remove the Sacrament. Annulment recognizes the fact that there was no Sacrament in the first place. Since there was no Sacrament, there is nothing to remove.

But you’re right, Marriage can be removed or dissolved. This is when one or both of the married couple dies. As Jesus said, no one in heaven is married.

 

[AJV]

The only sacrament that is removed based upon reception under false pretenses is Marriage, and the process is annulment, which has been greatly abused, but that is a different focus.

You are right that for Matrimony a higher form of intention is required, and consequently it is more frequent, but intention on the part of the receipient, though of a lesser form, is required also. Because of the often lamentably poor celebration of the sacraments today, the minister-matter-form mantra has become the mainstay to assure people they have received a sacrament validly. In reality, intention is required on the part of an adult recipient as well.

That said, the level of intention required of a recipient is no where as strict as that for a minister. One does not have to believe in the effects of the sacrament, or even that it is a sacrament. I remember a thread where this question had come up, but the forum search appears to be down, so I will try to find it later.