Chapter IV: On the Ceremonies of Confirmation

1502. Some ceremonies of Confirmation precede, others accompany, others follow the conferral of this Sacrament. Since they are prescribed in the Pontifical, it must be said that they, in general, oblige under grave obligation, so that it would certainly be mortal to omit them all.²⁵ Thus commonly.

We shall treat specifically: 1. of the sponsor; 2. of the other ceremonies.

1503. I. A SPONSOR is required, and indeed under grave obligation, as is commonly taught. "He who receives this Sacrament," says St. Thomas,¹ "is held by another, as if to be instructed by another in spiritual combat." Yet if a sponsor could not be had, it would be licit to confer Confirmation without one.²

1504. II. That someone VALIDLY be sponsor, it is necessary: 1. that he be in possession of reason, although still before puberty. 2. That he be designated by the one himself to be confirmed, or, if this one is a child, by the parents, or at least by the Bishop. 3. That he physically touch the one to be confirmed; whether the latter, according to the rubric of the Pontifical, places his foot upon the right foot of his sponsor; or the former, according to approved custom, puts his right hand upon the right shoulder of the one to be confirmed (S. Rit. C., September 20, 1749, in Laurin.).³ 4. That he himself be confirmed; for in the Roman Pontifical it is had: "No one who has not been confirmed can be a sponsor in Confirmation." This is understood not only concerning a grave prohibition, as is certain among all, but more probably also concerning nullity of the act. And this, at least for practice, is safe from the declaration of the S. C. C., which in Lycien., June 13, 1654, decreed: "One not confirmed does not contract spiritual relationship."⁴

"But, because it can happen that in places of the Missions no one is present who had previously been confirmed, it is permitted, in this case, that some be confirmed without a sponsor, who afterwards will be able to be sponsors of the others." Instruction of the S. C. PROP. FIDE, May 4, 1774.

1505. III. That someone LICITLY be sponsor, there is moreover required: 1. that there be only one man, or one woman, from canon law; 2. one diverse from the sponsor of Baptism, unless there is a just cause to the contrary; 3. of the same sex as the one himself to be confirmed, and not less than fourteen years old, from the cited Instruction of the S. C. PROP. FID., May 4, 1774; 4. that he not be a Religious or a Nun, unless the person to be confirmed is likewise a regular, from canon law; 5. nor the father or mother, husband or wife of the one to be confirmed, from the Roman Pontifical; 6. not excommunicated, interdicted, contaminated by graver crimes, or ignorant of the rudiments of faith, from the same Pontifical.⁵

1506. Note. 1. Formerly in the Diocese of Fiesole the usage had prevailed that one sponsor for all males, and one sponsa for all females, be deputed by the pastor or by the Bishop. Since from this it had happened that the spiritual sons for the most part did not know the sponsors, nor the sponsors the spiritual sons, the following doubt was proposed: Whether and how the usage of the Diocese of Fiesole is to be approved in the case? And the S. C. CONC., July 12, 1823, responded:⁶ "It is not to be approved, but to be tolerated in a case of necessity to be judged by the Bishop, according to the form of the Roman Pontifical." But this form is: "Let no one present except one or two, not more, unless necessity advises otherwise, at the judgment of the Bishop." If the Bishop wishes to perform not only the office of minister, but also of sponsor, let him perform the office of sponsor through a proxy (S. Rit. C., June 14, 1873, in Policastren.).⁷

2. Concerning SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIP, which is contracted in this Sacrament, the Tridentine Synod established these things:⁸ "Let that relationship also, which is contracted from Confirmation, not go beyond the one confirming and the confirmed, and his father and mother, and the one holding him, all impediments of this spiritual relationship among other persons having been altogether taken away." This decree of the Council indeed has place in those who are bound to observe the Tridentine statutes. But the rest should conform themselves, in this part, to the discipline in force in their own regions. Thus the Instruction of the S. C. PROP. FID., May 4, 1774 (cf. n. 2021).

1507. Let the following things be noted: 1. The Sacrament of Confirmation can be conferred less solemnly, on any day, hour, and place, from a just cause, at the judgment of the Bishop. But to minister this Sacrament without cause outside a church or chapel cannot be excused from venial sin.⁹

2. "The Bishop ought to be vested with amice over rochet, or over surplice if he is a Religious, and with stole, cope of white color, miter, and staff." And, according to the truer opinion, "it is mortal to omit all the aforesaid instruments, since they pertain to reverence for the Sacrament; otherwise, if only one is omitted, because this does not seem to be grave matter."¹⁰ Yet the use of Pontificals is prohibited to a simple priest administering this Sacrament from the concession of the Supreme Pontiff, unless he has a special privilege.¹¹

3. To omit the candle and the slap does not exceed venial sin.

4. It is licit to change the name in Confirmation.¹² Indeed, "if someone has a shameful name, or one not fitting for a Christian man, let him assume another in Confirmation." From the Instruction of the S. C. PROP. FID., May 4, 1774.

5. After the anointing, the forehead ought to be bound with a linen band, from the Pontifical; but now wiping of the forehead has prevailed in its place.

6. The blessing is given by the Bishop to all at the end: yet this ceremony is customarily omitted, as also the admonition that they not depart beforehand, when there is a great concourse of those to be confirmed.¹³

7. Let the pastor note in the Book the names of those confirmed and of the sponsors: both for detecting spiritual relationships and on account of the reception of sacred Orders.¹⁴