It would help me to know what has been researched on this in the past. My eldest son is now 10. He has some tremendous theological insights for a kid his age.

God bless,

-- Pat Delaney (pat@patdelaney.net), December 18, 2003

Answers

I'm not sure how others feel on this, but I don't think children should be made to go through it just because their peer group is (this happens more than you might think). I have always felt that the sacraments (except for perhaps Reconciliation) should wait until closer to the high school years, or even after what is considered legal age for other things.

That being said, some children are more ready to accept the sacrament than others, and you as parent would probably know when your child is ready.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), December 18, 2003.

Pat,

The norm here is for children to be confirmed at aged 8 prior to reception of First Eucharist (In the same order as adults being received). This illustrates the link between Baptism and Confirmation and puts the Eucharist in its rightful place as the summit of the sacraments, if you like, and shows more clearly that First Eucharist is the Sacrament which completes Christian Initiation. There's a lot of debate within the Church as to what's the best age, and often it varies from diocese to dioces according to how a particular bishop views the importance of different aspects of the Sacrament. In this area 90n percent of dioceses have children being confirmed at age 8, witht the other 10 percent being confirmed at around 11 or 12. We've found that because we have catechesis specifically written for younger children, they have no problem understanding at an age-appropriate level. Children of course continue to learn even after reception of whatever sacrament until as adults they come to a fuller understanding. It's interesting to note that in the Eastern Rites it's the norm to have confirmation conferred as infants, with catechesis coming much later.

I personally was confirmed at aged 7, which was the norm back in the 1960s, until it was changed to age 11 and now it's gone back to the younger age.

I have no doubt from what's been experienced here that it's perfectly possible that your ten-year old might be ready now to receive this sacrament. It's probably worth also asking if a child isn't ready at aged ten to be confirmed because of their level of understanding, what makes it different for them as regards their understanding of the Eucharist? I would say that if they're able to understand the importance of receiving Eucharist then they are also able to understand Confirmation.

God bless

Sara

p.s. It's never been the case here that children would wait until their teenage years to be confirmed

-- Sara (sara_catholic_forum@yahoo.co.uk), December 18, 2003.

But religion is different than say, some school subject. You can memorize, and perhaps demonstrate mastery of a subject (for example, doing well in catechism classes), but still not have full and complete faith, which is a problem with something as serious as a sacrament but of no importance whatsoever in a school subject.

So, it isn't just as simple as giving all the right answers when someone asks questions. Not everyone has the same depth of faith. And I don't know how one can measure it in another person with any degree of certainty. And if the person involved doesn't have that depth of faith required, is he/she wrong to go through with the sacrament? Would the Church be okay with someone holding off until he/she does feel ready? Is the Church going to tell the parents not to rush their children through something which is supposed to be important?

The reason I say this, is because people just assume that you are ready, whether or not that is the case.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), December 18, 2003.

Confirmation gives young people the strength, courage, and gifts of the Holy Spirit to confront the problems of today, attacks on their faith, and to live up to their faith. They need those gifts in this increasingly sinful world. The sacrament should not be put off until the child is "older." Years ago it was the norm in the US to receive it at about age 10.

-- Christina (introibo2000@nospam.com), December 18, 2003.

Hi,

A careful look at each of the Eucharistic prayers shows that the Holy Spirit is not just called upon to change the gifts of bread and wine, but is also called down upon the people of God who share the one Body and Blood or Christ. The Eucharist, then, can be said to renew our Confirmation and so Confirmation should, I believe, proceed First Holy Communion.

I understand that this was the usual order until First Communion was given to younger children; Confirmation was not moved as well.

Blessings,

Adrian

-- Adrian Lowe (adrianmlowe@yahoo.com), December 21, 2003.

As a footnote, last Sunday my eldest son helped serve his first mass ever. And it wasn't just any mass.

It was at the noon Mass of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Mass was a high holy mass, a bishop of the Military Archdiocese celebrating. In addition to the bishop, there were three priests, two deacons, eight servers including my son, and a choir behind the altar.

My son attended the bishop during the mass, following right behind him in succession durng the processions, holding his hat (bishop's miter) or staff when not being used.

He really took it very seriously and kept good form throughout, keeping a solemn expression, hands clasped in prayer at a forty-five degree angle (with all fingers extended).

He only broke form once. When he slipped getting into the kneeler. Hes always checking me out to see if I'm paying attention. I guess its his age. Anyway, I was in the front row so he looked over to see how I would react.

I only smiled. :)

-- Pat Delaney (pat@patdelaney.net), December 24, 2003.