Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 4th Sunday during Lent.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are seven (7) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation. The following is a reflection on article 1321.
The “when” of Confirmation is not only a question concerning the age of reason (normally considered to be seven (7) years of age). Two (2) possibilities are raised by the Catechism regarding the “when” of the celebration of Confirmation, namely separately from Baptism and during the Eucharist. The first of these seems to presuppose that Confirmation may also be celebrated together with Baptism, as in fact is the case in the East, and with those who are of “catechetical age” (seven (7) or older) in the West, providing us with a third “when.” A fourth “when” might even be as a part of a Liturgy of the Word or Liturgy of the Hours, but these are not specifically mentioned here by the Catechism.
For centuries in the West the norm has been for Confirmation to be celebrated separately from Baptism. The scenario plays out like this: once the person who was baptized as an infant reaches the age of reason further sacraments are received, namely: Penance, First Eucharist and Confirmation. More often than not, the first Confession and first Communion are pared together leaving Confirmation seemingly as a stand alone. Confirmation, however, presupposes Baptism. Before we can be strengthened for Christian living in Confirmation we must be living Christian lives, which begins with grace and faith and Baptism. Regularly and faithfully making a good Confession and worthily receiving Holy Communion helps to keep us faithful to both our Baptism and Confirmation.
When Confirmation is not celebrated together with Baptism it is most often and perhaps best celebrated during the Eucharist. The celebration of Confirmation within the Eucharist highlights the unity of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Of these three (3) only the Eucharist is received repeatedly, even daily, but especially on Sundays and other Holy Days of Obligation.
Regardless of when the celebration of Confirmation occurs after Baptism, the renewal of baptismal promises in all the rites of Confirmation, reaffirms the link between Baptism and Confirmation. The baptismal promises are manifold: against the devil, his empty works, his empty promises; for God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. These are promises are made with the aid of God’s grace. These promises can only be kept thanks to God’s grace at work in us and our cooperation with God’s grace. The graces, of course, linked especially with Baptism are Faith, Hope, and Charity (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:13). While the graces especially linked with Confirmation are seen in the prophetic utterance of Isaiah, namely: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord (cf. Isaiah 11:2–3). These graces are enduring in those who have received these sacraments and may be called upon by the faithful to live holy lives pleasing in the sight of God.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr