Ever since Vatican II there has been major confusion about the Sacrament of Confirmation, what it is, when it should be celebrated and if it isn’t already celebrated when a baby is smeared with Sacred Chrism at his baptism.
Some dioceses have put the three sacraments of Initiation together, like the Eastern Churches, baptism, confirmation and Holy Eucharist offered at infancy.
Other dioceses have combined Confirmation with First Holy Communion normally in the Second grade.
Most dioceses celebrate Confirmation in the 8th grade, others earlier and still others later, like the 10th grade.
Most dioceses use the Sacrament of Confirmation as a hook to keep kids in catechetical programs.
And now Baltimore is mandating that Confirmation be celebrated at the age of 9 years old, or grade 4.
I was confirmed in 1962, prior to Vatican II, in the 4th grade at the age of 8.
But, with Americans highly mobile, moving from diocese to diocese, state to state, many kids miss Confirmation because of the various ages that each bishop mandates.
Let’s follow Baltimore’s lead. Put it back to the 4th grade and nationally! Let’s go back to the Pre-Vatican II custom in this country! At least there is no post-Vatican II confusion about anything!
1 comment:
"Ever since Vatican II there has been major confusion about the Sacrament of Confirmation,..."
The confusion pre-dates Vatican Two by centuries.
The Western Church began to separate the chrismation/confirmation from time of initiation in the fifth century. Since that time, we have had what one author has called "Confirmation: A Sacrament in Search of a Theology."
Restore the proper, historic order, to wit, Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, and all will be well. And why wait till 4th grade or age nine?
Celebrate the three sacraments of initiation together at.... INITIATION!
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