When should we be confirmed?

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I pray for the Latin Rite to return confirmation and first communion to as soon after baptism as can be.

I think a couple of posters have hit the nail on the head. Confirmation is not about an adult decision, it is a miraculous work of God that we do not need to “do” anything to receive. It then allows God to give us more grace to grow up with and live our lives with.

That said, our diocese says middle school and up. Our parish says highschool and up.

I believe the longer it is separated from baptism, the more danger one sees it as a graduation instead of an initiation in the minds of the parents as well as the children. In our church, I have even heard parents tell their children they have to go to church until they are confirmed. After that, they can decide for themselves whether they want to go or not.

I would prefer confirmation at 7 years old if we can’t return to infancy because of those reasons.
 
I voted for other age. Mainly since I have not been confurmed at the proper age and felt that being confurmed as an adult (21+) would have more meaning than just a rite of passage.
 
I just confirmed this year and I am in high school. It I was 7 years old and got confirmed, I wouldn’t have understood the whole concept behind it. I did uderstand the presence of Christ in the Eucarist, but confrimaton would have been over my head, even in junior high. So high school is the perfect time to be confirmed.
 
First communion at 7yrs. I voted for Confirmation at junior high, BEFORE highschool. Lord knows, kids need the graces available to them through Confirmation BEFORE they enter the rough-n-tumble years of high school in our modern times.
 
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jlw:
First communion at 7yrs. I voted for Confirmation at junior high, BEFORE highschool. Lord knows, kids need the graces available to them through Confirmation BEFORE they enter the rough-n-tumble years of high school in our modern times.
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But don’t they need the graces for their whole life? Why out of order?

Can someone explain the rational behind First Eucharist before Confirmation.

I understand the reasons that the Latin Church severed the Sacraments of Initiation, part of it being that the Bishop is the Ordinary Minister of Confirmation, where the priest is in the Byzantine Churches, but why First Eucharist before Confirmation?
 
Byzcath,

I’d sure like to read this answer. It makes no sense to me.

Dan L
 
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alterserver_07:
I just confirmed this year and I am in high school. It I was 7 years old and got confirmed, I wouldn’t have understood the whole concept behind it. I did uderstand the presence of Christ in the Eucarist, but confrimaton would have been over my head, even in junior high. So high school is the perfect time to be confirmed.
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I agree with you here. However, I do have my reservations. High schoolers are still very impressionable and if you don’t have the right ‘Youth Minister’ to direct these kids, they won’t know what is going on and have no respect for what they are about to do…confirm their faith. I was told Confirmation is right up there with Matrimony, it’s that serious of a Sacrament. I was an aid when my son went through his classes for Confimation and even though they understood it, they didn’t want to be there, it was like their time was being wasted. When I asked why they told me their parents for the most part told them they had to do it regardless. I do, however, believe the sooner the better just for the fact that when you put something off as important like this, you may get busy in your life after high school let’s say, and never ‘get around’ to getting it done.
 
Sarah Jane:
Ask an apologist. 😉

forum.catholic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=4
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Why ask an apologist? All they can give is thier opinion on the matter.

It seems that sometimes people forget that apologists are nothing more than laity like us. Yes some of them may have some knowledge we do not have, but they are laity none the less.

It seems that some here are pushing the idea of a very late Confirmation, one that is years after First Eucharist. I would like it if they would articulate thier thoughts on that.
 
As a catechist I am very interested in this question. I voted middle school/junior high. Here are some of my reasons:

The three sacraments of initiation are separate. If I understand the CCC a Roman Catholic family needs to have their children baptized as infants. First Communion and Confirmation should be received when the child is past the age of reason. A formal catechesis is normally required prior to receiving these two sacraments. This is a preparation phase not part of the reception of the sacrament, but still a necessity for the children of a Roman Catholic family. My conclusion from this is the two sacraments (Holy Eucharist and Confirmation) should not be received together for the children of Roman Catholic families. Understand one and receive it then understand the other and receive it. We do not earn the sacrament, but we should apply ourselves with some prayer and study prior to reception.

The interesting question is which first? I say Holy Eucharist because it is the central part of our life. We must receive the Eucharist at least annually. We should receive our Lord through the Eucharist weekly. It would be great if we could receive our Lord’s body and blood daily. My point is this gift sustains our life. Our faith grows because of the Eucharist. We become more mature.

However, Confirmation happens once. It should be received when one is mature in their faith. I take this to mean the person receiving the sacrament consciously understands at a basic level the very sacrament they are receiving. Yes I do think those receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation should assent to the faith. The whole adult in their faith/soldier of the Church concept, however incomplete, does offer a perspective that can help, if presented well.

I also think there is a powerful symbol involved with the sacrament of confirmation. The laying on of hands by the Bishop speaks to the soul. The sacramentals used have power. We are marked with the Holy Spirit as a grace from God. Anyway the person can understand this, consciously or unconsciously, is good. This is not necessary, but it is good.

My thoughts – Christ’s Peace,
 
the person must be baptist in the Catholic Church and of the age of reasoning. Only a bishop can make the Sacrament of Confirmation.
 
I voted other and here is why. I’ve read alot of posts and they are all good. Some have said at the age of reason, and when is that? For some people it is different. Some said in middle/high school, why because our kids should be more mature? Someone posted that they received the Sacrament of Comformation in the 5th grade. Some said they received it in the 8th grade. Some of us received it as adults. Now are we all at the age of reason? It doesn’t matter at what age you receive it, it is what you do after you receive it that is more important.
 
Age of discretion doesnt state what the specific age is. As long as the Child can understand fully the sacrament.
**1307 **For centuries, Latin custom has indicated “the age of discretion” as the reference point for receiving Confirmation. But in danger of death children should be confirmed even if they have not yet attained the age of discretion.125
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vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a2.htm
 
Two thoughts:


  1. *]My personal preference would be to return to the ancient method of dispensing the three sacraments of initiation together, to infants (as is the unchanged tradition in the East).
    *]Since I do not believe the US latin-rite bishops would ever do such a thing, I would like those to receive the sacrament to have been prepared properly, and be of sufficient age to request the sacrament of their own accord (rather than just a “stock” age of _____.) Way too many children are not prepared and do not understand the sacrament of Confirmation.

    God bless you all,
 
T.A.Stobie:
I answered “Other” as I feel it should depend on Spiritual maturity and not physical age.

There are children at age 8 that are ready for it. There are adults at age 31 that are not. Some of it has to do with preparation for the sacrament including understanding the basic doctrines of the Church and agreeing with them.

A good Confirmation class may adquately prepare someone for the sacrament, but may not in every case.
One-size fits all solutions do not fit all in every situation, and may never fit some in any situation.
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My thoughts exactly.
 
I voted Other. I prefere the ancient tradition that Confirmation should come before First Communion. However, I believe that both sacraments should be taken after High School, when reception is completely voluntary. Therefore, people actually come to a fuller understanding of what they are doing, unlike kids who got First Communion at 6 or 7 and don’t think much about the holiness of the sacrament for the rest of their lives.

I’m tired of people who take First Communion and Confirmation because their parents force them to. They usually don’t give the sacraments the proper reverence it deserves. If people could recieve the sacraments completely voluntarily, it would force them to really think about what they’re doing. That’s why I think that adult converts usually take their faith more seriously than cradle Catholics.
 
I work in a Catholic school, and have been around many, many second graders. I know of no group who, as a majority, take more gravely serious the fact that they are receiving the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus- provided they are properly catechized. This includes receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. They mean it with all their hearts. I don’t think St. Pius was wrong on this one. I think time, lack of catechesis, and the culture all work against our teenagers.

There is no set age for Confirmation in the Latin Rite in this country. Some dioceses do it as a part of First Reconciliation/ Eucharist at 7 or 8. Some do it in middle school or after eighth grade. Some do it in high school. Even in the same diocese, different parishes have different ages.

I think it is more in line with Scripture and Tradition that those who have been baptized be confirmed by the bishop, and that this happen as soon as possible after Baptism. Babies, little kids, middle school students, high schoolers and adults- If you haven’t been confirmed but have been baptized, line up!

A lot of people in the Latin Rite think of Confirmation as the individual’s confirming his or her baptismal vows. That’s not so. The bishop, or his appointed representative the priest, is the one confirming the fact that a baptism has occured, and therby dispatching the Holy Spirit into the person. It is not a disrespect for the sacrament for this to occur early, or before the candidate has “understanding” of it. To be brought in to the Household of Faith as an infant or small child requires that the parents promise to raise the child in that same Household. So the catechesis should be on-going. If the parents reneg on their promise, that falls on the souls of the parents.

It is interesting to note that in most hispanic cultures, a young woman generally renews her baptismal vows at her quinceanera, around her 15th birthday. Could not some ceremony be developed as a sacramental (NOT a sacrament) where both young men and women in this country make a public renewal of their baptismal vows in their parish church? I’m not talking about the big ball gown or the other little ceremonies and parties that go with “fifteens”. Such a renewal is part of the Liturgy at the Easter Vigil. It would be no big deal during the renewal to have the young adults or anybody else who feels the necessity walk up to the outside of the sanctuary and do this, maybe carrying their own baptismal candles if they still have them.

And this is a change of position for me, based on my research into the matter. I used to think that we direly needed a Catholic “rite of passage” in this country that putting Confirmation at the end of middle school created.

As for the Eucharist, when a child understands Who he or she is receiving into oneself; has a basic understanding of right and wrong, sin and its measures and consequences, and how to receive Reconciliation; has been properly catechized (that is JUST so important!!!); and has made their first Reconciliation- that is the time to receive First Eucharist. For some kids, that might be 7, 6, 5, 8, or even 9. I think DREs, Catholic school teachers and catechists are more and more looking into this, a very good thing.

BTW- I was confirmed at 10. It doesn’t matter that I remember it, because the action of the sacrament took place just the same. But I DO remember it.
 
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OutinChgoburbs:
I
There is no set age for Confirmation in the Latin Rite in this country. Some dioceses do it as a part of First Reconciliation/ Eucharist at 7 or 8. Some do it in middle school or after eighth grade. Some do it in high school. Even in the same diocese, different parishes have different ages…
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Yes, there is a set age for Confirmation of baptized Catholic children and youth in this country, it is anywhere between the age of discretion (generally age 7) and age 18. Each bishop is free to set the age or age range in his diocese. No individual pastor, DRE or Catholic school principal has the right to change that age. In some dioceses, Cleveland for one, certain parishes were given permission for a limited time to experiment with lowering the age of Confirmation as a test, but only parishes with that permission, who use the catechetical programs prescribed by the Diocese, were allowed to do so. What the final outcome is or whether on the basis of the experiment they changed the age, I don’t know. when my kids were there it was 8th grade.
 
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