Q: Bishop would like to begin rescheduling Youth Confirmations as soon as we have protocols in place. The current thorn is can he anoint using protection on his hand (say a glove) or a cotton ball or _______ ? given Divinum consortium naturae (1971) insistence on touch. He is 74, diabetic, with a heart condition.
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A: God bless your bishop for wanting to fulfill his ministry.
As I understand it, confirmation must be administered with the thumb because that constitutes the laying on of hands. He may not wear a glove or use cotton.
Given his condition, I strongly suggest he preside for the mass but have one or more priests confirm. He can associate priests with himself during the ceremony. When a bishop does this, the priests who will confirm also extend their hands during the prayer of confirmation.