Q: We have two baptized, uncatechized Catholics ready for confirmation and communion at the Easter Vigil this year, but no catechumens. Would you have the presentation of these candidates by name made before the Homily? == A: Yes, I’d follow the Order of Confirmation. I presume your priest knows that he needs the bishop’s permission to confirm them because they are baptized Catholics.
Confirmation
Q: I have a question about initiation. I have 3 children above the age of reason, who were baptized as infants but remained uncatechized until this year. In addition to celebrating the sacraments of penance and first holy communion, do I confirm them? I think not, but the catechist thinks I do confirm. == A: If they were baptized Catholic, then you are correct. You cannot confirm them without the bishop’s permission, and there would have to be some compelling reason for him to give it. When they reach the diocesan confirmation age, they may be confirmed. However, if they …
Confirmation readings
Q: Thank you for your patience, time and insight answering our never ending liturgical questions! If we celebrate Confirmation on a Sunday at a regularly scheduled Mass during Ordinary Time (and Advent, Lent or Easter for that matter), should we use the readings of that given Sunday, or are we allowed to use the Confirmation readings? == A: Thank for your comments on my work. You are allowed to use the Confirmation readings at a Sunday mass in Ordinary Time, but not in Advent, Lent or Easter.
Confirmation
Q: Last evening we had a tragedy at the confirmation mass. The father of one of the candidates died suddenly at the age of 41 shortly before the ceremony. The candidate does not want to go to another parish to be confirmed. May the pastor confirm her in a separate ceremony? == A: I’m very sorry to hear this news. I extend my prayers for all concerned.The pastor needs to request permission from the bishop. He should send a letter explaining the reasons. If the bishop agrees, then the pastor may confirm.
Confirmation permission
Q: Does a priest only ask for permission from the Bishop to confirm already baptized Catholics at the Easter Vigil; or does he also need permission for any baptized Christians fully professing the faith and being confirmed at the Vigil. He does not need permission to confirm the catechumens, right? == A: He only needs permission to confirm the baptized Catholics.
Confirmation question
Q: We have a young woman in our confirmation group who has never received her first communion. What are the options for her? Confirmation is coming up this week. Should we have her wait until Easter? == A: I suggest you offer her first communion informally during the confirmation mass. You could wait, especially if you want to give more formation for first communion. You could offer both sacraments at the Easter Vigil, which the RCIA envisions for uncatechized adult Catholics who were baptized as infants, but then you’d need the bishop’s permission to confirm. Give her communion. Get her …
Conditional confirmation
Q: Could you explain conditional Confirmation? If the Celebration of Confirmation for an individual was not recorded and there is no documentation or witness that remembers it, what do you do? Many thanks! == A: The Catholic Church has no instructions concerning conditional confirmation. If I had an individual with no documentation or witnesses, I’d do my due diligence to locate the place where the confirmation was to have occurred to locate a record. If unable to turn up anything, I would simply consider that person a candidate for confirmation and make the appropriate preparations.
Confirmation and Eucharist for uncatechized Catholics
Q: Hello! I continue to follow and learn from your blog and the variety of questions and responses! THANKS!! I was interested to read your response to the questions about Confirmation and Eucharist for uncatechized Catholics. Our diocese, and others that I know of, “reserve” Easter Vigil for Elect being fully initiated (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) and, if they are ready, candidates for Reception into Full Communion. We discern another time for First Communion for adult Catholics and of course, adult Catholics for Confirmation, as approved by the Bishop (in our Diocese, by himself at Pentecost). If the candidates for …
Confirmation and Eucharist
Q: There seems to be an inconsistency between the RCIA (409) and the National Statutes (26) regarding the time of celebration of Confirmation and Eucharist for baptized Catholics. 409 says they “normally” will receive the sacraments at the Easter Vigil. NS 26 implies that it is “not recommended” that they complete their initiation on the same occasion of the full initiation of unbaptized persons (which would usually be the Easter Vigil). My question arises because I have been asked if a baptized Catholic who has been preparing for full initiation, but whose family will be out of town on the …
Confirmation or Marriage?
Q: I have two Catholics in RCIA preparation. Both were baptized but got no further sacraments. They are civilly married to each other. Which comes first: their confirmation and communion or their sacramental marriage? == A: Their sacramental marriage. In fact, you may do that at any time now when you feel that they have completed marriage preparation. It’d be good for them to go to confession first. Because they were baptized Catholics, the bishop is the ordinary minister of confirmation, but he may give the priest permission to confirm in the parish. Or they may go to the bishop …