CONFIRMATION
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The Sacrament of ConfirmationBaptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church 1285)
When is Confirmation given to our children? It depends, and that does take some explaining. The Catechism of the Catholic Church groups three Sacraments together under Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion. Each of these three Sacraments offers an essential part of the full level of grace granted to the members of the Church. In Baptism, we are freed from original sin and become a new creation, both in spirit and in body, adopted as children of God our Father. We receive in this Sacrament the special Grace of Salvation, and the mark of grace that we will need in this life to be true followers of Christ. Confirmation is the strengthing of the grace received in Baptism, to be able to do more than the ordinary, but also the extraordinary as leaders in faith, heroic in spirituality, and examplary in Christian charity. Holy Communion, or the Eucharist, continually feeds us the very vital 'life of Christ' that helps us to draw more and more on the graces of Baptism and Confirmation, and to turn less and less to occasions of sin. Together, these Sacaments are what St. Paul describes as the armor of our Spiritual Battle against all that is evil.
With this in mind, let's return to the question of 'when' to Confirm our children. Two factors determine the answer: The nature of the Sacraments as a group, and the Authentic Authority of the Bishop as the Ordinary Conferrer of the Sacrament of Confirmation. As to the first factor, it is most appropriate to Confirm a child at the same time as he or she receives the Sacrament of Baptism, since one is the completion of the other. However, the reality is that children who attend only weekly instruction in the faith at parishes are more and more likely to be removed from this instruction by their parents as soon as the Sacrament of Confirmation is given. Then, until marriage or illness comes up, we won't see many of them. So, the Bishop, factor two, generally decides to postpone the Sacrament of Confirmation to give parents more incentive to keep their children in the faith formation program until high school graduation.
To add to those factors is a third. If a child is not Baptized before the age of reason, age 8, then the Sacrament of Confirmation is strongly encouraged at the same time as the Sacrament of Baptism. The decision then rests solely on the Pastor's descression. This is also the time for First Holy Communion. -
Are you an adult who needs Confirmation?
If you are an adult who has been baptized but has not yet received the Sacrament of Confirmation, you are welcome to attend adult faith formation classes at our parish, so long as this is your parish of registration, and be prepared for this Sacrament. Our Bishop Michael Mulvey sets aside two days a year, one in the spring and the other in December, for the Confirmation of adults. For inquiry about being Confirmed as an adult you may contact the Director of Religious Education at our parish office: (361) 348-2202.