Confirmation/ Eucharist

[track2004]

Ok, I was given First Communion when I was 8 (I think) and Confirmed at 14, now I'm 18.

I think I am just getting, in the last two years, that Eucharist is the Real Presence and that Jesus is the Lamb of God. I know that they told me that when I was 8, but I don't think I was old enough at all to really understand. I think maybe I was ready for confirmation, but I don't think I knew enough about myself to be really ready to say that I wanted to be in the Church and claim myself in this Church. It's hard to say in retrospect. I just don't like that there are classes for this stuff. I went to a Catholic school and I don't think any one of us could have said in second grade that we weren't ready and therefore would not be recieving. It feels now like I was forced to make these huge steps in my faith before I could actually acknowledge that I was. I don't really remember my First Communion, I wish I did, I think I should.

Anyway, to my question, Why do we have these Sacraments at such a young age? Wouldn't the Church rather have people understand the Real Presence than recieve? Why do schools force kids into conforming?

[cappie]

This is a question that people ask me on a regular basis. It betrays a certain "Western" intellectual basis to belief, which I might add is not bad. However the reception of the sacraments does not depend on the faith of the person who receives the sacraments otherwise we would not have infant baptism.

Baptism in the Code of Canon Law:

Can. 867 §1 Parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptised within the first few weeks. As soon as possible after the birth, indeed even before it, they are to approach the parish priest to ask for the sacrament for their child, and to be themselves duly prepared for it.

§2 If the infant is in danger of death, it is to be baptised without any delay.

Can. 868 §1 For an infant to be baptised lawfully it is required:

1° that the parents, or at least one of them, or the person who lawfully holds their place, give their consent;

2° that there be a well-founded hope that the child will be brought up in the catholic religion. If such hope is truly lacking, the baptism is, in accordance with the provisions of particular law, to be deferred and the parents advised of the reason for this

Confirmation:

CHAPTER III : THE PERSONS TO BE CONFIRMED

Can. 889 §1 Every baptised person who is not confirmed, and only such a person, is capable of receiving confirmation.

§2 Apart from the danger of death, to receive confirmation lawfully a person who has the use of reason must be suitably instructed, properly disposed and able to renew the baptismal promises.

Can. 890 The faithful are bound to receive this sacrament at the proper time. Parents and pastors of souls, especially parish priests, are to see that the faithful are properly instructed to receive the sacrament and come to it at the opportune time.

Can. 891 The sacrament of confirmation is to be conferred on the faithful at about the age of discretion, unless the Episcopal Conference has decided on a different age, or there is a danger of death or, in the judgement of the minister, a grave reason suggests otherwise.

Eucharist:

ARTICLE 2:PARTICIPATION IN THE BLESSED EUCHARIST

Can. 912 Any baptised person who is not forbidden by law may and must be admitted to holy communion.

Can. 913 §1 For holy communion to be administered to children, it is required that they have sufficient knowledge and be accurately prepared, so that according to their capacity they understand what the mystery of Christ means, and are able to receive the Body of the Lord with faith and devotion.

§2 The blessed Eucharist may, however, be administered to children in danger of death if they can distinguish the Body of Christ from ordinary food and receive communion with reverence.

Can. 914 It is primarily the of parents and of those who take their place, as it is the of the parish priest, to ensure that children who have reached the use of reason are properly prepared and, having made their sacramental confession, are nourished by this divine food as soon as possible. It is also the of the parish priest to see that children who have not reached the use of reason, or whom he has judged to be insufficiently disposed, do not come to holy communion.

You can see from these canons that people need have preparation suitable for their age and intellectual capacity. It is always hoped that there will be ongoing catechesis and that people will grow in the grace of the sacrament. If you like you could compare the sacraments to packages which are given to us to be unwrapped as the years go on. Remember Jesus said "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them."

I am sure the discussion will go on.........

[homeschoolmom]

If I had to wait until I understood fully the awsomeness of the sacraments, I'd never be worthy to partake. Thank God I don't have to understand fully, but only believe...

[franciscanheart]

HSMom is right on!!

But in response to your question, I would not push my kids to be confirmed at 14. I was confirmed at 14 and at the time I wasn't sure I should do it, but I did because all of the other kids were going through it and I didn't want my parents to feel bad. I didn't want to give them the impression that I didn't want to be Catholic.

In Keller, they wait until their junior year to be confirmed. I would have preferred to do mine then!! By that point I knew that there was no faith but our faith for me!! I knew how totally awesome the Church is and how much I was devoted to living my life for Christ.


So I would want the age for my children to be in the late teens. I know, however, that depending on where you live, the age will differ.

[track2004]

The thing with my First Communion isn't that I didn't understand, because I do realize it's a mystery, but that I didn't grasp the importance. I remember dressing up and I remember being all nervous about when to stand up, but I don't really remember Recieving. That makes me sad because that's the part I was supposed to remember. I wish I had wanted it more than I did, more than just being jealous of all the adults who got to eat in the middle of Mass. Can a second grader even really graps that something is that important?

[quote]Can. 913 §1 For holy communion to be administered to children, it is required that they have sufficient knowledge and be accurately prepared, so that according to their capacity they understand what the mystery of Christ means, and are able to receive the Body of the Lord with faith and devotion. [/quote]

I bet I could have answered any question put forth about the Eucharist, but only because I'd had it in class; I could also tell you about the visible spectrum. I don't know that many second graders could "understand what the mystery of Christ means". Why did we change when people finish the scraments of iniation to children anyway?

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Code of Canon Law - Latin Rite'] Canon 913 §1 For holy communion to be administered to children, it is required that they have sufficient knowledge and be accurately prepared, so that according to their capacity they understand what the mystery of Christ means, and are able to receive the Body of the Lord with faith and devotion. [/quote]
This canon only applies to the Latin Rite.

[phatcatholic]

well, what i think this amounts to is a misunderstanding of what the sacrament of confirmation is all about. confirmation does not mark an age of intellectual maturity or assent to the church. it is not a rite of passage that says "this person has an adult faith." instead, the purpose of confirmation is to grant you the power of the Holy Spirit that will prompt you to grow in your faith and defend you against the temptations of the world. it is a catalyst for mature faith, not the benchmark of a mature faith already obtained.

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='phatcatholic' date='Sep 20 2004, 01:16 PM'] well, what i think this amounts to is a misunderstanding of what the sacrament of confirmation is all about. confirmation does not mark an age of intellectual maturity or assent to the church. it is not a rite of passage that says "this person has an adult faith." instead, the purpose of confirmation is to grant you the power of the Holy Spirit that will prompt you to grow in your faith and defend you against the temptations of the world. it is a catalyst for mature faith, not the benchmark of a mature faith already obtained. [/quote]
I agree, and that is why the Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome give the sacrament of Confirmation (Chrismation) right after the baby is baptized.

[Cure of Ars]

[quote name='Apotheoun' date='Sep 20 2004, 05:40 PM'] I agree, and that is why the Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome give the sacrament of Confirmation (Chrismation) right after the baby is baptized. [/quote]

I am a confirmation teacher of junior high kids and the ironic thing is that I agree with the Eastern Church and Apotheoun that it is a better idea to give the sacrament of confirmation as a baby. Children are being confronted at earlier and earlier ages with evil and sin. And they can use all the grace that they can get as early as they can get it. But I’m not the boss so I follow my Shepard.

Edited September 21, 2004 by Cure of Ars

[let_go_let_God]

I was Confirmed about 2 months before I turned 18. For about three years before that, my mom was always upset that I didn't get Confirmed in 10th grade when one of my friends from the other church in our parish was Confirmed. I knew even then that you had to be spiritually ready to be Confirmed, but I kept my mouth shut so I wouldn't hurt my mom by saying I wasn't ready to be Confirmed.

As time progressed and it got nearer to the date of my Confirmation I still didn't know if I was ready to be Confirmed. So our deacon gave us certian prayers to help us prepare, about a month before my Confirmation I knew I was ready. I was almost 18 and I knew I was ready.

My mom has told me that she wished that she was Confirmed at about 15 instead of 13 (she was the youngest in her class) but I think that A) you have to be prepared properly B) Spiritually ready and C) want to be Confirmed.

[Cure of Ars]

[quote name='let_go_let_God' date='Sep 21 2004, 12:51 AM'] I was Confirmed about 2 months before I turned 18. For about three years before that, my mom was always upset that I didn't get Confirmed in 10th grade when one of my friends from the other church in our parish was Confirmed. I knew even then that you had to be spiritually ready to be Confirmed, but I kept my mouth shut so I wouldn't hurt my mom by saying I wasn't ready to be Confirmed.

As time progressed and it got nearer to the date of my Confirmation I still didn't know if I was ready to be Confirmed. So our deacon gave us certian prayers to help us prepare, about a month before my Confirmation I knew I was ready. I was almost 18 and I knew I was ready.

My mom has told me that she wished that she was Confirmed at about 15 instead of 13 (she was the youngest in her class) but I think that A) you have to be prepared properly B) Spiritually ready and C) want to be Confirmed. [/quote]
Have you ever considered that you may have been more spiritual at an earlier age if you had the extra grace of confirmation at a younger age?

If you are right and these things are the determining factor;

A) you have to be prepared properly
B) Spiritually ready and
C) want to be Confirmed

Then in all reality we should probably hold off confirmation until the age of 25 or so and maybe even later.

Just some thoughts.

Edited September 21, 2004 by Cure of Ars

[let_go_let_God]

I should have added one other bit of knowledge about me at that earlier time. Sorry bout that.

At the time my friend was Confirmed, (10th grade) I was finally coming back to the church, in the sense that I was again beginning to see what it meant to be Catholic and still at that point I didn't know if Catholocism was the faith that I believed in. I was scared confused and in all actuallity if you had asked me to defend the faith at all during that time, I would have said don't ask me ask them. I am glad though I was older when I was Confirmed and yes, gaining those graces when I was younger may have helped me to see the Church better at that time, I am glad that I didn't get Confirmed as a senior. However in retrospect I don't know what my thoughts will be.

Peace,
--lglG-

[track2004]

I was looking at the Refrence Section about Confirmation and it talks about putting yourself into God's hands to fight for The Faith, or at least that's what I got out of it. It also talks about the soon to be confirmed having a mature faith (no matter what the age). I think that considering these two specification of what it means to be confirmed, I was not ready as an 8th grader. I wouldn't have fought to defend the faith nor could I have.

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='track2004' date='Sep 21 2004, 04:49 PM'] I was looking at the Refrence Section about Confirmation and it talks about putting yourself into God's hands to fight for The Faith, or at least that's what I got out of it.  It also talks about the soon to be confirmed having a mature faith (no matter what the age).  I think that considering these two specification of what it means to be confirmed, I was not ready as an 8th grader.  I wouldn't have fought to defend the faith nor could I have. [/quote]
You have things backwards, because it is the grace of the sacrament of Confirmation that empowers one to defend the faith, and without that grace a person is not empowered to act in an authoritative sense. Moreover, it is not the person's understanding of the sacrament that gives the sacrament its power; instead, it is the energy of God's grace, i.e., the infusion of the uncreated divine life into the person, that empowers him to act in the spiritual order.

The Eastern Catholic practice keeps the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) united as a single whole by Baptizing and then immediately Confirming the baby, at which point the child is then given First Communion uniting him to Christ by the reception of the Lord's sacred Body and Blood. Through the reception of these three sacraments the child is fully incorporated into the Church, and is configured to Christ the priest, prophet, and king.

[phatcatholic]

this conversation has got me thinking that the Easter Rite confirmation is the better way.....