(7) CONFIRMATION

PROPER DISPOSITION

What is Confirmation?

Who can be Confirmed?

Effects

Sacramental Preparation

Matter and Form

Crowning of Baptism

Historically always together

Reserved it to the Bishop as a sign of Unity

Completes Initiation

Binds the faithful more fully to the Church

Imprints a character

Enriches the faithful with gifts of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of mission

Matter

Form

Sacred Chrism

Consecrated by a Bishop

If consecrated by another bishop other than local ordinary, valid but illicit

Paul VI: "conferred through the anointing with Chrism on the forehead, which is done by the laying-on of the hand, and through the words, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Chrism, the laying on of the hand, and "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit"

Long History of debate: laying on of hands or the anointing with Chrism or both

Minister of Confirmation

Extraordinary minister:

Ordinary minister: A bishop

Bishops can always validly confirm, but licity is tricky

click to edit

can administer confirmation licitly within his territory to anyone outside of his territory UNLESS there is a prohibition by their own Ordinary

need assumed permission of the ordinary or another subject is not his

Priests with Faculty by Law

Priests with Delegated Faculty
(Special Grant)

Those who are equivalent in law to a diocesan Bishop

Msgr. Steinsen, Diocesan Administrators when a See is vacant,

they cannot go outside their jurisdicition (only their territory)

jurisdiction does not include outside the territory

priest can receive a special grant or mandate (Episcopal Vicars or Vicar Foranes)

REASONS: Bishop is ill, unable to confirm in diocese

Invalid, if not within his territory (technically could be not his subject)

Chaplain

when there is danger of death

Priest by office: Pastor and parochial vicar

Sea Chaplain

who is designated by competent authority to exercise his ministry during voyages has the special faculty of administering confirmation to any faithful on board during voyage

Priest baptizes an adult (over 7)

Priest receives into full communion an adult (over 7)

Receive an apostate

Receive a baptized Catholic raised outside...

All priest in Danger of Death

Who has not already been confirmed

They have a right to it: those who duly and reasonably request it

Any baptized person

click to edit

To receive confirmation licitly outside of danger of death, persons to receive the sacrament

Lack the use of reason

properly disposed

able to renew the baptismal promises

suitably instructed

must be the age of reason (7)

Age

Those under the age of 7

Must receive at the opportune time (cf. can. 890; CCC #1306) which is generally around the age of discretion (7 years old per can. 97.2) unless the bishop’s conference has set another age (cf. can. 891). See also

Those over the age of seven

about the age of discretion

unless the conference of bishops has determined another age,

there is danger of death

in the judgment of the minister a grave cause suggests otherwise.

They receive all the sacraments immediately (not withheld from) not to be in CCD class

Place

It is desirable to celebrate the sacrament of confirmation in a church and during Mass; for a just and reasonable cause, however, it can be celebrated outside Mass and in any worthy place. (cf. can. 881). See also RConf. #13.

The general norms for place of baptism apply by analogy (cf. cc. 857-860). Therefore, confirmation should occur in their proper parish church unless a just cause suggests otherwise.

Time

If not at Baptism, any day, but preferably in Easter Season

Exclude on Triduum: except DOD