Q: Do priests concelebrating a confirmation Mass with the bishop extend their hands during the prayer of confirmation? == A: It appears that I never corrected this post from 2016, when I gave the wrong answer: https://paulturner.org/handlayings-at-confirmation/ . Only priests who will confirm some of the candidates extend their hands with the bishop. If the bishop is confirming alone, the priests do not participate in the prayer of confirmation, nor in the act of confirmation. Look at Order of Confirmation 8, 9, 24 and 25.
Order of Confirmation for teenagers
Q: In the Introduction to the Order of Confirmation, n. 11/1 says that an adult who has been baptized into the Catholic Church but has not yet received First Communion should receive both Confirmation and First Communion at the same Mass. Does that apply to teenagers too, who have passed the age of discretion? Thank you. == A: That paragraph refers to several different scenarios: * Unbaptized adult and child catechumens, who should receive all three initiation sacraments together. * Those in that category who were not confirmed—perhaps because someone other than a priest conducted the baptism—and who should then …
First Communion and Confirmation
Q: What are your thoughts on this situation? I have had teens who are Baptized Catholic, had left the church with their families after Baptism, but who have returned and been practicing the faith for several years who now need both First Communion and Confirmation. Their peers are in the Teen Confirmation program and they would like to participate in that program verses RCIA (OCIA) / Adult Confirmation. We have been allowing them to make that choice and we simply have them receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion prior to Confirmation with their peer group. Do you see …
Confirmation names
Q: If someone wants as their confirmation Saint “Virgen de Guadalupe ” what would you tell them? Have them change it to “Virgen Maria de Guadalupe” or “María” or is a title of our Lady acceptable for Confirmation as they asked about? == A: There are surprisingly no universal rules governing confirmation names because the custom is pretty much limited to the US. I would follow the lead of canon 855 that a baptismal name should not be “foreign to Christian sensibility.” In my view, Virgen de Guadalupe is acceptable. Many hispanic men and women are named “Guadalupe”, which isn’t …
Weekday confirmation mass
Q: During a weekday confirmation mass (ordinary time) do we usually skip the Gloria and Creed (reserved for feast and solemnities)? == A: The Confirmation Mass always has a Gloria—as long as the presidential prayers are from the Ritual Mass of Confirmation and not, say, the Third Sunday of Lent. It includes the creed only if it is a Sunday or solemnity. A Saturday late afternoon confirmation Mass in Ordinary Time, for example, would include the creed because the celebration replaces the usual liturgy for Sunday.
Confirmation sponsor
Q: I have two sets of twins in my Confirmation classes this year and they asked a great question to which I don’t have an answer, can they both use the same Confirmation sponsor? == A: Yes, they can.
Confirmation
Q: We recently welcomed four adults into the Catholic Church. We learned shortly before the ceremony that one of them had been baptized Catholic. So we conducted the rite of reception for the other three, and then included the Catholic in the confirmations. All received their first communion later at the Mass. Did we do it right? == A: Yes, IF IF IF IF IF the priest got the bishop’s permission to confirm the Catholic. The priest may not confirm a Catholic on his own authority outside of emergency situations.
Confirmation readings
Q: We are celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation on the Third Sunday of Easter so we’ll be using the readings for the day. Do we have to use the psalm or can we use Psalm 104? == A: Sorry you’re having trouble with the blog. Occasionally people report difficulties with it, but I get lots of questions through it. I’m not sure what causes the discrepancy. You’re always welcome to email me here. You’re correct that Ritual Masses may not be celebrated on the Sundays of Easter Time, so a confirmation on that Sunday requires the readings and presidential prayers …
Confirmation sponsor proxy
Q: Thank you so much for your insights and responses on liturgical questions. The question I have is on a confirmation sponsor proxy. There seems to be a bit of disagreement even within our diocese. Must the proxy adhere to the same requirements as the confirmation sponsor. i.e., requirements of age, being confirmed, etc., etc.? I really don’t see anything in canon law about the proxy requirements. == A: When I wade into the waters of canon law, I quickly get in over my head. You really need a canonist to answer this. I’ve consulted one here, and looked up …
Confirmation any time of the year
Q: I have someone (candidate) inquiring to be in full communion with the church. She is ready to start formation as soon as possible but I don’t think she will be ready to be received and confirmed on Easter Vigil this year. My question is, can candidates be confirmed outside Easter vigil by their own pastor and do I need delegation from my Bishop? Does this change from one diocese to another? == A: A validly baptized candidate may be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church at any time of year. Even though priests have commonly received …