Practical Consequences

If the theological development of Confirmation runs into a blank wall, then the practice of Confirmation also has a problem with its meaning.  The current western administration of episcopal Confirmation as a more or less finishing school concept demands some practical changes.  The current general practice of receiving Confirmation after Communion has never received any official Roman Catholic Church approval, because Confirmation that follows the reception of the Eucharist is senseless.  There is no liturgical or doctrinal foundation for the administration of Confirmation after the reception of the Eucharist.  In fact, this maturity age reception of Confirmation is only a 20^th century phenomenon.  After Pope Pius X (1903-1914) lowered the age of discretion for First Communion to seven, from the normal traditional twelve, he forgot to do anything with Confirmation.  Liturgically and dogmatically, the tradition of the Church indicates that Confirmation must normally precede full participation at the Eucharistic table.  At what age should one receive the sacrament of Confirmation?  The practical difficulties are due to the common spirituality of Confirmation as an aid in the struggles of a mature life.  Since when has age ten, twelve, fourteen, or sixteen been considered the age of maturity?  In reality, this is the most troubled time of adolescence.  Roman Catholic Confirmation practice has become an adolescent sacrament with an adolescent theology.  Paul Paul VI spoke about this over forty years ago in his introduction to the Roman Catholic rite of Confirmation.  Anyone who is baptized when they are old enough for catechesis should be confirmed, and receive Communion, in a complete initiation rite.  As far as children are concerned in current canon law, seven is the most suitable age, but the bishop’s conferences may choose a different age.  As for the appropriate age for the recipient of Confirmation, the answers range from infant to adult.  The age of the recipient is not as important as the theological sacramental economy.  Nothing is as clear in this work as that the initiation order should be Baptism – Confirmation – Eucharist.  The current initiation of adults (RCIA) does have this order of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, without any difficulty.  When there is an emphasis on the robur theology and psychological maturity, infant Confirmation seems to run into many problems.  If there is any justification for infant Baptism, there are at least as many arguments in favor of Confirmation for infants.  The practice of the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches is a prime example of infant Confirmation or chrismation.  At what age were you confirmed?