What if an unbeliever gets confirmed?

[puzzleannie]

Then I’m sticking by my guns. If he was lying when the Bishop led the renewal of baptismal promises then I don’t think the sacrament was valid.

You should ask an aplogist, and make the situation clear.

no as BroSFO has said, the sacrament is valid and may not be repeated and hs the intended effects, but the graces and actions of the Holy Spirit are not available unless and until the person returns to the state of grace and changes his disposition. Bro’s answer is the only completely accurate one on this thread so far, most of the rest is a waste of time.

it only remains to note that it is a sacrilege to receive the sacrament if not in the state of grace, and it is grave matter to lie in a solemn promise like the profession of faith. Whether or not the individual had full knowledge and incurs that guilt is another matter.

you cannot compare Baptism, Confirmation and Orders, which can only be received one time and may not be repeated, with marriage and the other sacraments. Confirmation derives its validity entirely from the action of the Holy Spirit, through the bishop or his delegate.

 

[Evan]

It makes sense for the sacrament to have been valid, since all of the criteria for a proper confirmation were met. However, since the person being confirmed did not have the proper disposition to receive the sacrament, it would also stand to reason that he did not receive the gifts normally bestowed by the sacrament - nor would he receive them unless he genuinely “returned” to the Church.

Unfortunately, this still does not solidly answer my more pressing question of whether or not by receiving the sacrament of Confirmation, my friend has basically condemned himself to Hell.

Actually the part about hell is easily answered. He may be condemned to Hell, but this act did not do it. You said his parents pressured him into, that is they wanted him to do it and he did it to satisfy their request (via the 4th commandment “Honor mom and dad”).

To be condemned to hell required a mortal sin (if baptized). A mortal sin requires FULL CONCENT OF THE WILL. And that cannot be obtained while pressure of any form is being exerted. Therefore, this act was not mortal.

May the graces of the sacrament work in his soul that he may see the light.

 

[ahannah]

That actually makes a lot of sense. I hadn’t thought about it that way before…