Grace Thompson
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and is considered an initiation rite for new members. The Catholic Church keeps track of the number of confirmations each year, with the latest yearbook noting over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide as of December 31, 2021. While specific confirmation numbers are not readily available, the Church recorded over 13.7 million baptisms in 2021, with more than 11.1 million of those being children under seven. The number of confirmations each year varies, with the rite undergoing revisions over the years, allowing for flexibility in its administration.
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What You'll Learn
- Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church
- The Vatican tracks the number of confirmations each year
- In 2021, there were 3.1 first communions per 1,000 Catholics in Canada
- The Chrismation with holy Myron is another name for confirmation
- Confirmation is a public affirmation of faith
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church
Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation, along with Baptism and First Communion (Eucharist). It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. Confirmation perfects our baptism and brings us the graces of the Holy Spirit. The rite of confirmation can occur as early as age 7 for children who were baptised as infants but is commonly received around age 13. It is performed immediately after baptism for adult converts.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms that for believers, the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. However, not all are necessary for every individual. The sacraments of initiation establish the foundations of Christian life. The faithful born anew by Baptism are strengthened by Confirmation and are then nourished by the Eucharist.
The rite of confirmation includes the laying on of hands in prayer and blessing and the anointing of the forehead with chrism (holy oil) with the words, "Be sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit." This sealing signifies the inner presence of the Holy Spirit, who is believed to provide the strength to live out a life of faith. At confirmation, a Catholic may symbolically take the name of a saint as their patron.
While the Vatican tracks the number of confirmations reported worldwide, it is unclear how many Catholics get confirmed each year. The Statistical Yearbook of the Church 2021 reported over 13.7 million baptisms, with more than 81% of those being children under the age of 7. It also noted a general downward trend in the relative number of baptisms, following the birth rate trend in most countries.
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The Vatican tracks the number of confirmations each year
The Vatican's Central Office of Church Statistics, a department of the Vatican Secretariat of State, tracks the number of confirmations each year. This information is gathered from dioceses around the world and published in the Statistical Yearbook of the Church. The yearbook provides a wealth of information on the Catholic Church's sacramental practices, including baptisms, first communions, confirmations, and marriages.
The yearbook offers a global perspective on Catholic sacramental practices, listing the number of confirmations reported by country and continent. It also calculates the number of these sacraments per 1,000 Catholics in each region, providing insights into the religious upbringing of children within the faith. For example, the 2021 yearbook reported a global average of 6.2 first communions for every 1,000 Catholics, with Asia having the highest ratio of 9.1 and the Americas the lowest at 5.2.
The Statistical Yearbook of the Church is more than just a collection of data. It serves as a tool to understand the adherence to and practice of the Catholic faith over time. By tracking these sacraments, the Vatican gains valuable insights into the continuing practice of the faith and the missionary activity of the Church. This information is essential for the Church's leadership to make informed decisions and guide the faith's propagation.
While the yearbook provides a comprehensive overview of sacramental practices, it is worth noting that the data may not capture the complete picture. The statistics rely on reporting from dioceses, and there may be variations or discrepancies in the reporting practices across different regions. Additionally, the yearbook focuses on sacramental milestones and may not fully represent the day-to-day religious practices and beliefs of Catholics worldwide.
Despite these potential limitations, the Vatican's effort to track and publish sacramental statistics showcases its commitment to transparency and provides valuable insights into the global Catholic community's religious practices and trends over time.
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In 2021, there were 3.1 first communions per 1,000 Catholics in Canada
The Catholic Church keeps a close eye on its members' adherence to the faith through the Central Office of Church Statistics, a department of the Vatican Secretariat of State. The Statistical Yearbook of the Church is a 512-page volume that tracks the number of sacraments such as baptisms, first communions, confirmations, and marriages reported by dioceses worldwide.
The Statistical Yearbook of the Church for 2021 reported that there were 3.1 first communions for every 1,000 Catholics in Canada. This is lower than the global average of 6.2 first communions per 1,000 Catholics and the ratio of 7.3 in the United States. The Americas had the lowest ratio of first communions per 1,000 Catholics of all continents, at 5.2.
The number of first communions per 1,000 Catholics is one way to gauge how many children Catholics are having and how they are choosing to bring them up. The yearbook also provides insight into the percentage of baptisms of people over the age of seven by continent from 2016 to 2021, indicating that missionary activity is holding steady in all regions except the Middle East.
In 2021, the Catholic Church baptized 13.7 million people globally, with more than 81% of those being children under the age of seven. This represents a general downward trend in the relative number of baptisms, which closely follows the trend in the birth rate in most countries.
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The Chrismation with holy Myron is another name for confirmation
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and is one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation is evident from its celebration, which involves the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. The Chrismation with holy Myron is what confirmation is called in Eastern Catholic Churches. The canons concerning this practice are the can. 692-697 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. In Eastern Catholicism, priests are those who normally administer the Chrismation with holy Myron, and this sacrament can be administered conjointly with baptism.
Chrism, also called myrrh, myron, holy anointing oil, and consecrated oil, is a consecrated oil used in the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian, Nordic Lutheran, Anglican, and Old Catholic churches in the administration of certain sacraments and ecclesiastical functions. The word "chrism" is derived from the Koine Greek word "khrîsma" (χρῖσμα), which means "anointing" or "unction".
The sacrament of chrismation can be observed in the New Testament in the Acts of the Apostles, which show that a form of confirmation was taking place in the early Church. As the Christian community expanded, the Apostles were no longer the only ones preaching the Gospel and baptizing people. For example, in Acts 19.1-12, St. Paul baptizes some who had previously been baptized by John the Baptist, and after this, he "laid [his] hands on them" and the "Holy Spirit came upon them" (verse 6).
In Eastern Catholicism, the sacrament of Chrismation with holy Myron does not require the anointing to be made by the imposition of the hand, unlike in the Latin Church. The "soldier of Christ" imagery, which was once commonly associated with Confirmation as a "sacrament of maturity", dates back to 350 and was used by Cyril of Jerusalem.
The Vatican's Statistical Yearbook of the Church for 2021 reported more than 13.7 million baptisms, with over 11.1 million, or 81%, involving children under the age of 7. The yearbook also noted a general downward trend in the number of baptisms, mirroring the trend in the global birth rate.
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Confirmation is a public affirmation of faith
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and is one of the three sacraments of initiation, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation is a public affirmation of faith, marking a person's commitment to the Catholic Church and their personal pledge to God.
The Catholic Church teaches that the Sacrament of Confirmation is a process of Christian maturity, marking the growth of the soul in the life of grace. It is a significant step in the initiation into the Christian community, completing the process that began with Baptism and was nourished by the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Spirit is introduced to a Catholic during their Baptism, and the Sacrament of Confirmation builds on this foundation, strengthening the individual for their future journey as a Christian.
During the Confirmation ceremony, the person being confirmed stands or kneels before the bishop, with their sponsor laying a hand on their shoulder. The Confirmation name is spoken, and the bishop anoints the person's forehead with Chrism Oil, saying, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit." The person responds, "Amen." The bishop then says, "Peace be with you," to which the response is, "And with your spirit" or "And also with you."
The ritual of Confirmation is a public declaration of the individual's commitment to their faith and their willingness to take on the responsibilities associated with it. It is a significant milestone in the life of a Catholic, marking their transition from childhood to young adulthood and their conscious decision to embrace the teachings of the Church.
While I could not find the exact number of Catholics who get confirmed each year, the Catholic Church keeps records of sacraments such as baptisms, first communions, and confirmations. The Statistical Yearbook of the Church for 2021 reported over 13.7 million baptisms, with more than 81% involving children under seven. This indicates a general downward trend in the relative number of baptisms, following the birth rate trends in most countries.
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Frequently asked questions
The Vatican's Statistical Yearbook of the Church reported more than 13.7 million baptisms in 2021, but it is unclear how many of those were confirmed.
The 1917 Code of Canon Law recommended that Confirmation be delayed until about seven years of age. In 2021, more than 81% of baptisms were of children under the age of 7.
You must first contact your pastor at your parish. Your pastor will determine the best means to prepare you for the Sacrament of Confirmation. You will learn about Catholicism, attend Mass every Sunday, meet with a Campus Minister and your sponsor, and participate in a retreat.
