Was my confirmation valid?

[fireproofpoodle]

Dear brothers and sisters;

I have recently converted to the Roman Catholic church (i am pleased to say) after being Anglican. I was baptised Anglican as a baby. About two years ago i found Christ and became Christian, and last year I was confirmed as an Anglican. Since then I have converted to our church. I understand my baptism was valid but was my confirmation? If the answer is no, where do I stand with relation to my membership of the church and can I recieve the sacrament of reconcilliation?

God bless,

Robert

 

[FrDavid96]

Dear brothers and sisters;

I have recently converted to the Roman Catholic church (i am pleased to say) after being Anglican. I was baptised Anglican as a baby. About two years ago i found Christ and became Christian, and last year I was confirmed as an Anglican. Since then I have converted to our church. I understand my baptism was valid but was my confirmation? If the answer is no, where do I stand with relation to my membership of the church and can I recieve the sacrament of reconcilliation?

God bless,

Robert

No, Anglican confirmations are not valid sacraments. There’s no interpretation or wiggle-room on this one; completely invalid.

As far as your membership goes, since you were received into the Church, then you’re Catholic. No wiggle-room here either. Don’t be concerned that you’re “not completely Catholic” or anything like that. You have nothing to worry about as far as that goes.

The priest who received you into the Church should have either confirmed you or made arrangements for the bishop to confirm you. What you need to do now is to remind your pastor that you have never been confirmed and make arrangements to have this done as soon as conveniently possible. There are a lot of options here, like being confirmed the next time the bishop visits, or being confirmed when the bishop visits a neighboring parish, etc. etc. Lots of options, so talk to your pastor.

Yes, you can go to confession. Absolutely. Confirmation is not required before you go to Confession, and in fact, for most Catholics confession comes first anyway. In fact, the pastor should have made sure that you went to confession just before receiving you into the Church. Since you’re now Catholic, you can go to any Catholic priest for confession, whenever you feel the need to be reconciled.

 

[fireproofpoodle]

i can’t get confirmed for at least 3 years as my mother forbids it when i am under 18.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Dear brothers and sisters;

I have recently converted to the Roman Catholic church (i am pleased to say) after being Anglican. I was baptised Anglican as a baby. About two years ago i found Christ and became Christian, and last year I was confirmed as an Anglican. Since then I have converted to our church. I understand my baptism was valid but was my confirmation? If the answer is no, where do I stand with relation to my membership of the church and can I recieve the sacrament of reconcilliation?

God bless,

Robert

When you were received into the Catholic Church (usually thru RCIA) you would have been Confirmed and received your First Holy Communion. If you haven’t been received yet, you will be Confirmed and receive your First Holy Communion when you are received into the Catholic Church after you are 18 usually.

 

[FrDavid96]

i can’t get confirmed for at least 3 years as my mother forbids it when i am under 18.

OK. Understood.

Were you received into the Church, though? I thought you had said that in your original post, but maybe I misread it.

If you were received into the Church, but without confirmation then you will have to wait for that until you do turn 18, or until your mother comes around to accepting the fact that you’re Catholic. In the meantime, though, if you were received into the Church, you can certainly go to confession. Keep in mind that the absense of confirmation does not make you any less Catholic. In fact, I would say that the fact that you’re Catholic in spite of the obstacles you’ve had to overcome make you “more Catholic” than the average cradle Catholic!

God Bless!

 

[Zundrah]

Dear brothers and sisters;

I have recently converted to the Roman Catholic church (i am pleased to say) after being Anglican. I was baptised Anglican as a baby. About two years ago i found Christ and became Christian, and last year I was confirmed as an Anglican. Since then I have converted to our church. I understand my baptism was valid but was my confirmation? If the answer is no, where do I stand with relation to my membership of the church and can I recieve the sacrament of reconcilliation?

God bless,

Robert

Your catholic church must comfirm you, the anglican confirmation is a different matter intirely!

 

[1ke]

Since then I have converted to our church.

What do you mean, specifically, when you say you converted?

The Catholic Church doesn’t consider someone to have “converted” until they receive instruction, make a profession of faih at Mass, and receive the remaining Sacraments of Initiation (Confirmation and Holy Communion).

If the answer is no, where do I stand with relation to my membership of the church and can I recieve the sacrament of reconcilliation?

You would be a Candidate For Full Communion.

You should talk to your priest.

 

[FrDavid96]

What do you mean, specifically, when you say you converted?

The Catholic Church doesn’t consider someone to have “converted” until they receive instruction, make a profession of faih at Mass, and receive the remaining Sacraments of Initiation (Confirmation and Holy Communion).

You would be a Candidate For Full Communion.

You should talk to your priest.

That’s the usual way, but it’s not the only way.

A person in unique circumstances (and Robert’s situation is that) can become Catholic and be received into the Church without necessarily being confirmed.

A person who has already been received into the Church cannot be a “candidate.”

Yes, he should be talking to his priest.

 

[Chatter163]

Agreed on the importance of speaking to the priest. This is someone who is still a teen, came to Christianity two years ago (presumably through some Protestant group), then was confirmed as an Anglican only a year or so ago, and is now becoming a Roman Catholic, despite parental opposition. That is a lot of activity within a short span, especially for someone so young. Welcome aboard, but understand that it may take some time for things to settle into place. The priest may have a few questions before proceeding with anything. Hang in there.

 

[FrDavid96]

In my last post I should have said “without being confirmed at the time”

Since he has never been confirmed, he will have to be receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at some future date when circumstances change.

 

[fireproofpoodle]

I began to practise faith based on a number of illuminations i had concerning God, not because of any Protestant / Catholic group. The Anglican church was, in a way, my default church since I had been born and raised Anglican - I admit that my understanding of that church’s teachings at the time was woeful, and i failed to consider other churches such as the Roman Church. I did not know much about the Bible or the teachings of either church but saw my confirmation as a commitment to God rather than to Anglicanism - I was confirmed a Christian, but i understand why this was not valid. Since then I have learned vast amounts about scripture and both churches’ teachings, and my theology changed from that of a protestant to that of a Catholic. I now believe that a thorough reading of scripture does lead to Catholicism, and have absolutely no doubts that this is the true church, established by the Lord. I have, in truth, held some Catholic beliefs (immaculate conception, mortal / venial sin and accepted events like Fatima) since pretty much the day of my Anglican confirmation.

You are right, though, it has been a turbulent few years religiously and in my family life, with divorce of my parents and bereavement, as well as changing home and school. The greatest period of religious tribulation was when (I believe) i went through a “dark night of the soul”, just like many other believers and even some saints experiance (st. John of the Cross). That was a period of intense doubt and loneliness which I cannot describe. It took place last year and lasted about five months - to my shame I even doubted the existence of God. Howeaver, the Lord was faithful to me and brought me through it - now I have more belief than ever.

I do not think it would do any harm to wait a few years before recieving a valid confirmation - this will give me time to be sure the church is right for me (even though I already am) and allow relatives (some of whom are very anti-catholic) to adjust.

I hope you enjoyed my autobiography.

Thanks for your answers,

Robert.