Chapter III. On the Subject of Confirmation

I say. The subject of the Sacrament of Confirmation is every and only baptized man not yet confirmed, although lacking the use of reason. For Confirmation perfects spiritual life, which is received in Baptism and was instituted for all, as Baptism was. From the practice, however, generally in force in the Church, children who have not yet attained the use of reason are not to be confirmed, unless the legitimate custom of places, which is in force somewhere, bears this, or a grave cause persuades otherwise. Wherefore the Fathers of Baltimore established that the Sacrament of Confirmation is to be administered to no one who is less than seven years old, unless because of peculiar reasons, for example, in danger of death. - Cf. Second Plenary Council of Baltimore, n. 252. - Benedict XIV, de Synod. dioec., lib. 7, cap. 10, n. 8.

Question 1. Whether, or what kind, is the obligation of receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation?

Resp. Although this sacrament is not of the necessity of means for salvation, nevertheless it is licit for no one, when the occasion has been offered, to neglect it; indeed parish priests are to take care that the faithful approach it at a suitable time (Can. 787).

Is the obligation on account of which it is licit for no one, when the occasion has been offered, to neglect the Sacrament grave or light? To us the obligation of not neglecting it, when the occasion has been offered, seems grave. Thus the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, instruction, 4 May 1774: "For although this Sacrament is not of the necessity of means for salvation, nevertheless without the guilt of grave sin it cannot be rejected and neglected when the occasion of receiving it is present. Now this doctrine, if it is true for all who are Christians everywhere, has place much more in those who dwell in the lands of heretics or pagans, in which persecutions sometimes press upon Catholics. Whence there is need that they be strengthened by the power of the Sevenfold Spirit, etc., etc." And indeed, to neglect the Sacrament "through which, by the supreme benefit of God, the strength of special grace is conferred for constantly professing the Catholic faith even in graver dangers," as Pius IX says in the encyclical letter Nostis et Nobiscum, when the occasion of receiving it is offered, is also to neglect the supreme benefit of God, which wholly strengthens us in the spiritual battle against the internal and external enemies of the faith, and which from its institution was born to be the ordinary means of protection and strength in this battle which every Christian man must wage. But to reject, neglect, cast aside such a means, when by extending, as it were, the hand we can obtain it, is without cause to reject the supreme benefit of God, that special armor by which Christians, by the will of Christ, may become most strong. Now this seems to us to have in itself a special malice, and a grave one, of carelessness for salvation. Therefore we judge that Confirmation is not necessary by necessity of means, nor in general is there a grave precept of receiving it, but that there is a grave precept of not neglecting it, when a suitable occasion of receiving it is offered, and therefore in that case also of receiving it; to say nothing of scandal or of the particular necessity of the grace of the Sacrament.

Question 2. What dispositions are required in those to be confirmed?

Resp. For validity there is required the baptismal character, and in an adult some intention, at least that which is called habitual implicit intention. - But for liceity, thus Canon 786: "that someone may licitly and fruitfully be confirmed, he must be constituted in the state of grace and, if he has the use of reason, sufficiently instructed" concerning the rudiments of Christian doctrine, especially those things which are of necessity of means and which regard the Sacraments of Penance and Confirmation.

Question 3. What age is required for receiving Confirmation?

Resp. Although the administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation is fittingly deferred in the Latin Church to about the seventh year of age, nevertheless it can also be conferred before that time, if the infant is constituted in danger of death, or if this seems expedient to the minister for just and grave causes (Can. 788). - Second Plenary Council of Baltimore, n. 252.

Question 4. Are sponsors required in Confirmation, as in Baptism?

Resp. From the most ancient custom of the Church, as in Baptism, so also in Confirmation, a sponsor is to be employed, if he can be had (Can. 793).

§ 1. Let the sponsor present only one to be confirmed or two, unless something else for a just cause seems good to the minister.

§ 2. Likewise let there be one sponsor for each of those to be confirmed (Can. 794).

Question 5. What conditions are required that someone be a sponsor?

Resp. In order that someone be a sponsor, it is necessary that:

1st. He himself also be confirmed, have attained the use of reason, and have the intention of carrying out that office;

2nd. He be enrolled in no heretical or schismatic sect, nor marked by any of the penalties of which in can. 765, n. 2, through a declaratory or condemnatory sentence;

3rd. He be not the father, mother, or spouse of the one to be confirmed;

4th. He be designated by the one to be confirmed or by his parents or tutors, or, if these are lacking or refuse, by the minister or by the parish priest;

5th. In the very act of confirmation, either through himself or through a procurator, he physically touch the one to be confirmed (Can. 795).

Question 6. What is required that someone be licitly a sponsor?

Resp. In order that someone be licitly admitted to the office of sponsor, it is necessary that:

1st. He be other than the sponsor of baptism, unless a reasonable cause, according to the judgment of the minister, persuades otherwise, or confirmation is legitimately conferred immediately after baptism;

2nd. He be of the same sex as the one to be confirmed, unless something else seems good to the minister in particular cases from a reasonable cause;

3rd. Besides these things, the prescriptions of can. 766 are to be observed (Can. 796).

Question 7. Does a sponsor in Confirmation contract spiritual kinship?

Resp. Even from valid confirmation there arises between the confirmed person and the sponsor spiritual kinship, from which the sponsor is held by the obligation of having the confirmed person perpetually commended to himself and of taking care of his Christian education (Can. 797).

Cf. Second Plenary Council of Baltimore, n. 253. Nevertheless, no matrimonial impediment arises from this.

Question 8. To whom can a Bishop and a privileged presbyter confer this Sacrament?

Resp. § 1. A Bishop in his own diocese legitimately ministers this sacrament even to outsiders, unless an express prohibition of their own Ordinary stands in the way.

§ 2. In another diocese he needs the permission of the local Ordinary at least reasonably presumed, unless there is question of his own subjects, to whom he confers confirmation privately and without staff and mitre (Can. 783).

It is also licit for a presbyter, if he is furnished with an apostolic local privilege, to confirm even outsiders in the territory designated to him, unless their Ordinaries have expressly forbidden this (Can. 784).

Question 9. What is the proper place of administering Confirmation?

Resp. Although the proper place of administering confirmation is a church, nevertheless from a cause which the minister has judged just and reasonable, this sacrament can be conferred in any other decent place (Can. 791).

The Bishop has the right of administering confirmation within the boundaries of his diocese even in exempt places (Can. 792).

Question 10. At what time can this Sacrament be conferred?

Resp. This sacrament can be conferred at any time; but it is especially fitting that it be administered in the week of Pentecost (Can. 790).

Question 11. Must the custom be observed by those to be confirmed of carrying a ticket?

Resp. Affirmatively, for the Fathers of Baltimore say: "Whenever Confirmation is administered to many, we establish that certain tickets, on which the names of those who are to be confirmed are inscribed, are to be given by the Pastor to each one, which they are to show to the Bishop about to administer the sacrament." - Cf. Second Plenary Council of Baltimore, n. 252.

Note. - I. Let the parish priest inscribe the names of the minister, of the confirmed, of the parents and sponsors, and the day and place of confirmation in a particular book, besides the notation in the book of the baptized of which in can. 470, § 2 (Can. 798).

II. If the proper parish priest of the confirmed person was not present, concerning the confirmation conferred let the minister, either by himself or through another, make the same certain as soon as possible (Can. 799).