Confirmation before First Communion - Another US Bishop Restores Order of Sacraments

Bishop William Wack of Pensacola-Tallahassee in Florida is restoring the order of the sacraments. Confirmation will now take place at a younger age, before First Communion.

In his pastoral letter, 'Reborn, Anointed, Nourished', dated 28 May, Bishop Wack announced that the age for Confirmation would be lowered to seven years old.

Bishop Wack criticises the modern tendency to separate the sacraments. He wants to emphasise the theological significance of Confirmation as the completion of baptismal grace and the preparation of the soul for Holy Communion.

Historically, the Church confirmed children before their First Communion. However, the practice was changed by Pope Pius X (1835-2014), who lowered the age for First Communion to seven in 1910 without addressing Confirmation.

The move follows a growing trend in other US dioceses, including Baltimore, Boston, Baton Rouge and Seattle. They have all recently lowered the Confirmation age.

Picture: © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk, CC BY-NC-ND, #newsDsgmiqxjvn

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P. O'BJun 25

I have attended a few Confirmation/First Communion Masses -- both sacraments given at the same Mass. My impression is that having both at the same Mass detracts from each.
My archdiocese of Denver, when it went to this practice more than a decade ago, put out a glossy pamphlet entitled "Saints in our Time," as if restoring the order of these sacraments would make saints. Hmm. I know a lot of Ukrainian Catholics who were confirmed immediately after Baptism, and they aren't saints. And I have known Catholics from New Mexico where the same practice was followed decades ago, and they aren't saints -- well, except for my friend Arturo, who now in his 80s is very close to being a saint. But hey, Denver, the change in practice might have its merits. But don't give us the BS public relations nonsense about it.

laurelmaryceciliaJun 25

Graces of a sacrament are not received while in the state of mortal sin. So, this practice is spiritually helpful if Confirmation IMMEDIATELY follows Baptism or, if necessary, a good confession. Of course, regardless of the state of one's soul, the sacramental character is conferred and the grace gained after a good confession.