Rachel Evans
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and is considered a major source of grace. The sacrament is conferred on the faithful at about the age of discretion, which is traditionally understood to be seven years old. However, the age at which confirmation is received can vary across different cultures and dioceses, with some individuals receiving confirmation in their early teens, mid-teens, or even as young as seven or eight years old. In recent years, there has been a shift towards administering confirmation at a more mature age, with some individuals receiving the sacrament in their late teens or early 20s.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age of confirmation | Varies across cultures and countries, ranging from 7 to the early 20s |
| Traditional age | 11-12 or early teen years |
| Age of discretion | 7 |
| Age of communion | 9-10 |
| Preferred age range | 14-16 |
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What You'll Learn
Confirmation age varies across cultures
Confirmation in the Catholic Church is one of the seven sacraments and is also one of the three sacraments of initiation into the faith, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. The sacrament of confirmation is conferred on the faithful at about the age of discretion, which is traditionally understood to be seven years old. However, the age for confirmation varies across different cultures and dioceses.
In the Western tradition, Catholics receive the sacraments of Eucharist and confirmation later than infancy, unlike in the Eastern churches. The age for confirmation in the Western tradition has shifted over time. Until the 20th century, young people aged anywhere from 11 to 12 or well into their teen years were confirmed. With the Second Vatican Council, some places abandoned the tradition of setting a later age, such as the mid-teens in the United States, in favor of restoring the traditional order of the sacraments of initiation.
Today, the age for confirmation can vary from as early as 7 or 8 years old to the mid-teens or even early 20s. For example, in Philadelphia, the current practice is to administer confirmation in the seventh or eighth grade. In the United States, confirmation typically occurs in the mid-teens, while in Ireland and Britain, it is more common in the early teens. In some cultures, people may receive confirmation at 16, 18, or even in their early 20s.
The variation in the age of confirmation can be attributed to different perspectives on the sacrament. From a theological viewpoint, confirmation should happen right after baptism to grant the seal and extra graces that are useful for living a Catholic life. On the other hand, a pastoral perspective argues for a later confirmation to allow the communicant to understand the sacrament better and to rekindle faith in families. While some parishes administer confirmation to young adults, others may confer the sacrament on children just reaching the age of reason.
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The age of discretion
Confirmation in the Catholic Church is one of the seven sacraments and one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation is seen as an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.
The sacrament of confirmation is traditionally conferred on the faithful at about the age of discretion, which is generally taken to be around seven years old. This is based on the Church's traditional understanding that seven is the age of reason. However, the age can vary, and some individuals may receive confirmation in their early teens, mid-teens, or even as young as eight years old. In some cultures, people may receive confirmation at an older age, such as 16, 18, or even in their early 20s.
The age of confirmation has shifted over time, and there are different practices in Eastern and Western Catholic traditions. In the Eastern Churches, including Orthodox and those in union with the Holy See, the sacraments of baptism, Eucharist, and chrismation (confirmation) are typically administered to infants. In contrast, in the Western tradition, these sacraments are usually conferred later, with young people historically receiving confirmation anywhere from 11 to 12 years old or into their teen years.
The appropriate age for confirmation is a matter of ongoing debate within the Catholic Church. From a theological viewpoint, confirmation should occur right after baptism or as soon as possible to receive the seal and extra graces for living a good Catholic life. In contrast, a pastoral perspective argues for later confirmation, allowing the individual to better understand the sacrament and its significance.
Ultimately, the age of confirmation can vary depending on the episcopal conference's decision and the judgment of the minister, who may consider factors such as the individual's maturity, understanding, and ability to renew their baptismal promises.
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Confirmation after baptism
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and is required for full membership. It is the completion of the process of initiation into the family of Christ and is preceded by Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. Confirmation involves being responsible for one's faith and actions and is a coming-of-age ceremony.
In the Latin Church, the sacrament is to be conferred on the faithful above the age of discretion, which is generally taken to be about seven. However, the episcopal conference may decide on a different age, usually in the range of 7-18 years old. In some regions, it is customary for the person being confirmed to choose the name of a saint, which they adopt as their confirmation name.
The Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic churches refer to this sacrament as chrismation, a term also used by western rite Catholics. In Eastern Catholicism, priests are those who normally administer the Chrismation with holy Myron, and this sacrament can be administered conjointly with baptism. In the Eastern Catholic Churches, the usual minister of this sacrament is the parish priest, who uses olive oil consecrated by a bishop (i.e., chrism) and administers the sacrament immediately after baptism.
In the mid-20th century, confirmation began to be seen as an occasion for professing personal commitment to the faith on the part of someone approaching adulthood. However, the Catechism of the Catholic Church warns against confusing adult faith with the adult age of natural growth and emphasizes that baptismal grace does not need "ratification" to become effective.
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The episcopal conference's role
An episcopal conference, also called a bishops' conference or conference of bishops, is an official gathering of Catholic Church bishops within a given territory. These conferences are generally defined by geographic borders, often national ones, with all the bishops in a given country belonging to the same conference, although neighbouring countries may also be included.
The role of the episcopal conferences in setting the age for confirmation has been specifically defined by the 1983 Code of Canon Law. According to this code, the sacrament of confirmation is to be conferred on the faithful at about the age of discretion (generally considered to be around seven years old), unless the episcopal conference decides on a different age. This flexibility allows the Church to adapt the confirmation age to the specific needs and circumstances of different communities.
The work and responsibilities of episcopal conferences vary globally, but they typically provide opportunities for bishops to discuss broad thematic issues, issue teaching documents, and provide ministry resources to dioceses. They also engage in lobbying with civil governments and make binding norms for their territories, known as particular law, within the parameters set by the Code of Canon Law.
The Holy See has communicated its intention to allow individual conferences of bishops to set a normal age of reception for confirmation for their entire conference, rather than having the variety of ages currently seen from diocese to diocese. This has been the case in the Archdiocese of Boston, where the age for the Sacrament of Confirmation was changed from around 16 years old to around 13 years old.
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Confirmation in the Eastern Catholic Churches
Confirmation in the Catholic Church is one of the seven sacraments and one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. The sacrament of confirmation is to be conferred on the faithful at about the age of discretion, which is generally taken to be around seven years old. However, the age of confirmation can vary depending on the region and the decisions of the episcopal conference.
In Eastern Catholic Churches, confirmation is called "Chrismation with holy Myron" or "Chrismation." The canons concerning this practice are can. 692-697 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. In Eastern Catholicism, priests are typically the ones who administer the sacrament of Chrismation with holy Myron, and this sacrament is often administered conjointly with baptism. The practice of Eastern Churches emphasizes the unity of Christian initiation, marking the recipient permanently, just like baptism. It is impossible to receive the sacrament of confirmation twice.
The sacrament of Chrismation in Eastern Catholic Churches is closely linked to the sacred mystery of baptism. It is typically conferred immediately after baptism, usually on infants. The practice of anointing with chrism (consecrated oil) instead of the laying on of hands is believed to have been established by the Apostles themselves. As the number of converts grew, it became physically challenging for the Apostles to lay hands on each newly baptized individual. The oil of chrism is consecrated by the bishop during the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday.
The sacrament of confirmation or Chrismation is a significant rite of passage for Catholics, marking a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It completes baptism by sealing the recipient with the Holy Spirit and anointing them as priest, prophet, and king. The recipient is believed to receive the spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, and reverence, as well as the spirit of holy fear in God's presence. Confirmation is a permanent mark on the soul, just like baptism, and it cannot be received twice.
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Frequently asked questions
The age of confirmation varies across different cultures. In the Western tradition, confirmation usually occurs later than in the Eastern tradition, where infants are administered the sacrament. In the West, confirmation typically happens anywhere from ages 7 to 18, with some receiving it in their early 20s.
The age of confirmation is decided by the episcopal conference, which considers factors such as the age of discretion, danger of death, and other grave reasons. The pastoral perspective argues for a later confirmation to allow the individual to understand the significance of the sacrament.
Historically, confirmation occurred when individuals were aged between 11 and 12 or in their early teen years. However, there has been a shift towards restoring the traditional order of sacraments, with some dioceses now conferring the sacrament at an earlier age, such as grades seven and eight.
