Michael Brooks
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and is one of three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. In the Latin Church, the sacrament is conferred on the faithful at about the age of discretion, generally taken to be around 7 years old, unless decided otherwise by the Episcopal Conference. In Eastern Catholicism, priests normally administer the sacrament conjointly with baptism, and it can be conferred more than once. The practice of confirmation has been the subject of much discussion and debate within the Church, with some arguing that it must be reserved for the bishop, while others prioritize preserving the ancient rite of performing the sacraments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Confirmation in the Catholic Church | One of the seven sacraments and the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church |
| Other initiation sacraments | Baptism and First Communion |
| Confirmation in Eastern Catholic Churches | Called Chrismation with holy Myron |
| Administered by | Priests |
| Administered with | Baptism |
| Confirmation in the Latin Church | Conferred on the faithful at about the age of discretion (generally interpreted as 7) |
| Confirmation in the Eastern Churches | Administered to infants |
| Confirmation in the Western tradition | Administered later, from 11 to 12 or into the teen years |
| Confirmation in Catholic theology | The Holy Spirit strengthens a baptized individual for their faith journey |
| Confirmation in Lutheran theology | A public profession of faith |
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What You'll Learn
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church
The history of Confirmation is complex and varied. In the early Church, there was debate about whether to preserve the ancient rite of performing the sacraments or whether Confirmation should be reserved for the bishop, as the visible head of an individual diocese. The Latin rite, or the Roman Catholic Church, generally does not celebrate Confirmation at the same time as Baptism. In the ninth century, Ratramnus of Corbie, a French monk, argued that only a bishop should perform Confirmation, as they ordain priests and Confirmation is, in some sense, the ordination of the laity.
In the Eastern Catholic Churches, the sacrament of Confirmation is called Chrismation with holy Myron. Here, priests usually administer the sacrament, which can be performed at the same time as baptism. In the Latin Church, Confirmation is typically conferred on the faithful above the age of discretion, which is generally taken to be around seven years old. However, there is no fixed age, and the Episcopal Conference may decide on a different age.
Confirmation is not a celebration of human action and God's response; rather, it is about God's action and how humans should respond to Him. It is a significant source of grace and a necessity for one's future life in the Church.
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Confirmation is distinct from baptism
Confirmation and baptism are distinct from one another. Baptism is the first of the seven sacraments and is absolutely necessary to receive any of the others. Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration, where a person is born anew in Jesus and becomes a member of Christ. Through baptism, we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God, and it is only after baptism that confirmation can take place.
Confirmation is the sealing of the Holy Spirit and completes what was started by baptism. It is the second of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being baptism and first communion. Confirmation is not a celebration of what we do and how God responds, but rather, it is about what God does and how we respond to Him. It is a sacrament that is misunderstood and underestimated.
Historically, the Eastern and Western churches performed Holy Baptism followed by Holy Chrismation (confirmation) back-to-back, with Holy Communion offered to the infant or adult at the liturgy that follows. In the Latin rite or the Roman Catholic Church, confirmation is not usually celebrated at the same time as baptism. In the Eastern Catholic Churches, priests administer the sacrament of confirmation conjointly with baptism.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church warns against confusing adult faith with the adult age of natural growth, emphasising that baptismal grace does not need "ratification" to become effective. It further clarifies that confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace, rooting us more deeply in the divine filiation.
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Confirmation is required for full membership in the Catholic Church
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 completes the grace of Baptism, and a Catholic must have been baptised before they are confirmed.
In Catholic theology, it is the sacrament of baptism that confers membership, but the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. Confirmation is not practised in Baptist, Anabaptist and other groups that teach believer's baptism. Thus, the sacrament or rite of confirmation is administered to those being received from those aforementioned groups, in addition to those converts from non-Christian religions.
The traditional age for confirmation in the Catholic Church has varied over time and by region. In the Eastern Catholic Churches, confirmation is administered to infants along with the sacraments of baptism and Eucharist (chrismation). In the Western tradition, confirmation and Eucharist came later, with young people historically being confirmed anywhere from 11 to 12 years old or into their teen years. The present Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church, which maintains the rule from the 1917 Code, specifies that the sacrament is to be conferred on the faithful at about 7–18 years old, unless a different age is decided on by the episcopal conference or there is a danger of death or another grave reason.
The sacrament of Confirmation is administered by a bishop, who is considered the ordinary minister of confirmation. The bishop ordains priests, and Confirmation has been described as being the ordination of the laity or the sacramental celebration of the priesthood of the people of God.
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The age for confirmation varies
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and is one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion.
Historically, confirmation was administered to infants in the Eastern Churches, including both Orthodox and those in union with the Holy See. In the Western tradition, confirmation came later, with young people aged anywhere from 11 to 12 or well into their teen years being confirmed. For example, St. Katharine Drexel is assumed to have been confirmed at the relatively early age of 11.
The age of confirmation has shifted over time, and there are different perspectives on the ideal age. From a theological viewpoint, confirmation should happen right after baptism to grant the seal and extra graces for living a Catholic life. In contrast, a pastoral perspective argues for later confirmation, allowing the communicant to understand what is happening and providing an opportunity to rekindle faith in families. Some individuals have expressed a preference for confirmation to occur before the age of 12 to 18, as this is when individuals may start doubting and questioning their beliefs.
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Confirmation is not celebrated with baptism in the Latin Rite
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and is one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. In the Latin Rite, or the Roman Catholic Church, Confirmation is typically not celebrated at the same time as Baptism.
Historically, the undivided Eastern and Western churches performed Holy Baptism followed by Holy Chrismation, with Holy Communion offered to the individual at the subsequent Liturgy. In Eastern Catholicism, priests usually administer the Chrismation with holy Myron, and this sacrament can be administered conjointly with baptism. In the Latin Rite, however, the sacrament of Confirmation is typically conferred by a bishop through the anointing with chrism on the forehead, accompanied by the laying on of hands.
The separation of the bishop's anointing from Baptism in the Western Church occurred due to several reasons. The primary reason was Constantine's proclamation of Christianity as the state religion in the fourth century, leading to a significant increase in baptisms. Additionally, there were debates within communities regarding the importance of preserving the ancient rite of performing the sacraments versus reserving Confirmation for the bishop, the head of an individual diocese. Both perspectives were recognised as valid by the Catholic Church.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1308, clarifies that Confirmation, while sometimes referred to as the "sacrament of Christian maturity," should not be confused with natural adult growth. It emphasises that baptismal grace is a free and unmerited gift that does not require ratification to be effective. The Code of Canon Law, established in 1983, specifies that Confirmation is typically conferred on individuals between the ages of 7 and 18, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
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Frequently asked questions
Confirmation 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 roots of confirmation can be traced back to the early days of the Church. The practice of confirmation has evolved over time, with different traditions and rituals in Eastern and Western Catholicism.
The traditional age for confirmation has varied over time and across different traditions. In the Latin Church, the sacrament is typically conferred on individuals around the age of discretion, which is generally considered to be around 7 years old. However, the Episcopal Conference or the minister may decide on a different age based on specific circumstances.
Confirmation is seen as a completion of baptismal grace, where the Holy Spirit strengthens a baptised individual for their faith journey. It is not a confirmation of one's faith to God but a response to God's grace.
Yes, according to Canon 1065, Catholics who have not received the sacrament of confirmation are expected to do so before being admitted to marriage, unless there is a severe inconvenience in doing so.
