My comment is not directed toward the Salt Lake City situation but is more general. I am firmly of the opinion that Confirmation, in most cases, needs to happen in proximate conjunction with first Reconciliation and Eucharist between 5-10 yrs old (rough numbers). Baptism > (Reconciliation) Confirmation > Eucharist. This is the preferred …
My comment is not directed toward the Salt Lake City situation but is more general. I am firmly of the opinion that Confirmation, in most cases, needs to happen in proximate conjunction with first Reconciliation and Eucharist between 5-10 yrs old (rough numbers). Baptism > (Reconciliation) Confirmation > Eucharist. This is the preferred order of the sacraments of initiation, and the Eucharist is rightly the summit. Why should confirmation be earlier? It reflects a proper theology of the sacraments and grace! Why do we hold out confirmation like a carrot on stick to teenagers, when they could have already lived +5 years with the sacramental grace of confirmation? We must not underestimate the power of God's grace. The reasons I've heard for a later age are 1) it will keep them active in the parish or 2) it will be an opportunity for them to "confirm their faith" and "make it their own." Neither of these are at all satisfactory to me, so if someone is able to offer other reasons that have a bit more meat to them, I would sincerely appreciate it.
And of course, catechetical formation is certainly important. I'm not denying that. What did Jesus command the apostles to do? "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing (sacraments) them... teaching (catechesis) them to observe all that I have commanded you.
Yeah, growing up in the Episcopal Church i never even understood what confirmation was. We were literally told, by everyone from the priests on down, that it was about confirming the choice your parents made for you in baptism. I don't think that's actually what TEC teaches about confirmation but how should I know, it's hard to pin them down on anything.
Anyway I did not wind up doing their confirmation ceremony because it seemed to me that I was being asked to sign on the dotted line about something that I still didn't understand. I couldn't even find a "faithful Episcopalian" to be my sponsor because the only ones I knew were my mom and grandma.
To the extent that some catholic parishes/ dioceses are still using this kind of language, it needs to stop. It's almost exactly contrary to the point of the sacrament and the teens can sense that there's something off about it
I grew up Episcopal and ACNA, and I had the same experience. Went through confirmation with little explanation further than 'choosing the faith for yourself' and something about church membership.
I'm guessing in ACNA they probably didn't have you read selections from the Baghavad Gita though? 😭 the confirmation teacher said it had been a really important part of his spiritual journey...
The only scripture I remember reading was the story of the talking donkey. I don't remember what they were using that passage to teach.
We also watched The Motorcycle Diaries, and wrote our very own Creeds.
“Why should confirmation be earlier? It reflects a proper theology of the sacraments and grace! Why do we hold out confirmation like a carrot on stick to teenagers, when they could have already lived +5 years with the sacramental grace of confirmation? We must not underestimate the power of God's grace”
Yes, I couldn’t agree more! Most catechists are frustrated that the teens (and parents) think that Confirmation is graduation, but our system sends that message.
If it’s all about grace, why can’t our kids have it at least by the age of reason?
My comment is not directed toward the Salt Lake City situation but is more general. I am firmly of the opinion that Confirmation, in most cases, needs to happen in proximate conjunction with first Reconciliation and Eucharist between 5-10 yrs old (rough numbers). Baptism > (Reconciliation) Confirmation > Eucharist. This is the preferred order of the sacraments of initiation, and the Eucharist is rightly the summit. Why should confirmation be earlier? It reflects a proper theology of the sacraments and grace! Why do we hold out confirmation like a carrot on stick to teenagers, when they could have already lived +5 years with the sacramental grace of confirmation? We must not underestimate the power of God's grace. The reasons I've heard for a later age are 1) it will keep them active in the parish or 2) it will be an opportunity for them to "confirm their faith" and "make it their own." Neither of these are at all satisfactory to me, so if someone is able to offer other reasons that have a bit more meat to them, I would sincerely appreciate it.
And of course, catechetical formation is certainly important. I'm not denying that. What did Jesus command the apostles to do? "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing (sacraments) them... teaching (catechesis) them to observe all that I have commanded you.
Yeah, growing up in the Episcopal Church i never even understood what confirmation was. We were literally told, by everyone from the priests on down, that it was about confirming the choice your parents made for you in baptism. I don't think that's actually what TEC teaches about confirmation but how should I know, it's hard to pin them down on anything.
Anyway I did not wind up doing their confirmation ceremony because it seemed to me that I was being asked to sign on the dotted line about something that I still didn't understand. I couldn't even find a "faithful Episcopalian" to be my sponsor because the only ones I knew were my mom and grandma.
To the extent that some catholic parishes/ dioceses are still using this kind of language, it needs to stop. It's almost exactly contrary to the point of the sacrament and the teens can sense that there's something off about it
I grew up Episcopal and ACNA, and I had the same experience. Went through confirmation with little explanation further than 'choosing the faith for yourself' and something about church membership.
I'm guessing in ACNA they probably didn't have you read selections from the Baghavad Gita though? 😭 the confirmation teacher said it had been a really important part of his spiritual journey...
The only scripture I remember reading was the story of the talking donkey. I don't remember what they were using that passage to teach.
We also watched The Motorcycle Diaries, and wrote our very own Creeds.
Yeah it ... wasn't like that lol
“Why should confirmation be earlier? It reflects a proper theology of the sacraments and grace! Why do we hold out confirmation like a carrot on stick to teenagers, when they could have already lived +5 years with the sacramental grace of confirmation? We must not underestimate the power of God's grace”
Yes, I couldn’t agree more! Most catechists are frustrated that the teens (and parents) think that Confirmation is graduation, but our system sends that message.
If it’s all about grace, why can’t our kids have it at least by the age of reason?
Parents tend to pull their children from catechesis once they have received all the sacraments.