Chapter — Konings, Theologia Moralis
CHAPTER II: ON THE MINISTER OF CONFIRMATION
1274. - I. The Bishop alone is the ordinary Minister of this Sacrament. Thus Innocent III and the Council of Trent declared.2
II. A simple priest can confirm as extraordinary Minister by special delegation of the Supreme Pontiff. It is established from the practice of the Church, and from the Bull of Benedict XIV, Eo quamvis tempore. - See St. Alphonsus.3 - But the priest must use Chrism blessed by a Bishop. It is established from the Decree of Eugene IV, where the matter of Confirmation is said to be Chrism blessed by a Bishop.
1275. Questions. - Query 1° Can the Pope delegate even to a simple priest the power of making Chrism?
Resp. It is controverted. St. Alphonsus affirms.4
Query 2° Can a Bishop confirm faithful persons not subject to him?
Resp. 1° As regards validity, he can confirm all, as follows from the power of Orders.
Resp. 2° As regards lawfulness, he cannot confirm except those who are found in his diocese; and he would sin gravely by confirming even his own subjects in another diocese, because Confirmation is an exercise of jurisdiction of the external forum, which cannot be performed without the license of the Ordinary of the place.
But he can confirm outsiders in his own diocese, because, unless the contrary is established, the tacit consent of other Bishops is always presumed. - Thus more probably and more commonly.5
Query 3° When is a Bishop held to confirm?
Resp. 1° He is held to confirm those asking, as often as he conveniently can, if he cannot defer to another proximate time.
Resp. 2° He is also held sometimes to offer his subjects an opportunity of receiving this Sacrament. Hence he would sin gravely if for a long time he abstained from conferring Confirmation, for example for eight or ten years, and did not go around the diocese, at least through the principal places, unless he were excused by moral impossibility.1
Query 4° Does a Bishop sin gravely by omitting to confirm a dying person asking for the Sacrament?
Resp. Negatively, at least probably. The reason is because, since this Sacrament is not necessary for salvation, the inconvenience of going to the sick lying in their own homes excuses. This is also confirmed by common practice.2
Notes to n. 1275 - note sequence 1. (2) Sess. 7, Can. 3, de Confirm. (3) L. VI. 170. (4) Ib. 163. 170. (5) Ib. 171 sq. Notes to n. 1275 - note sequence 2. (1) L. VI. 175. (2) Ib.