Posted on 05/25/2015 6:53:20 AM PDT by marshmallow
Denver, Colo., May 23, 2015 / 04:01 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In an unprecedented change for an archdiocese, Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of Denver announced that the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion – will be restored to their original order.
“In an increasingly secular world, the reality is this: the souls of our children are the battleground. As the shepherd of the Archdiocese of Denver, I must do everything I can to help those who form children win that battle,” he explained in his pastoral letter “Saints Among Us” released May 23.
“The world needs saints. Even as our society becomes more distant from faith and more forgetful of God, it still hungers for joyful witnesses who have been transformed by Christ,” he explained. “At the same time, new generations of Catholics need grace to sustain them in a non-Christian environment.”
In response to those needs, Archbishop Aquila said he’s chosen to restore the sacraments to the original order.
While the majority of dioceses and archdioceses have children baptized in infancy, receive the First Communion in first or second grade and Confirmation sometime in middle or high school, the original order placed Confirmation and First Communion in the same ceremony.
“This will make available every sacramental grace the Church has to offer to children who have reached the age of reason,” he explained.
When he made the change in his then-Diocese of Fargo in 2002, he said he was convinced by the “theological and pastoral reasons” that it was the right decision, but the feedback from parents after it was implemented further confirmed the change.
In his pastoral letter, Archbishop Aquila detailed a five year plan that will help parishes in Northern Colorado implement the changes by 2020.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicnewsagency.com ...
Sounds good.
When he made the change in his then-Diocese of Fargo in 2002, he said he was convinced by the “theological and pastoral reasons” that it was the right decision, but the feedback from parents after it was implemented further confirmed the change.
The article did not mention when/at what age, first communion and confirmation would be done. Am I correct to guess 6th through 8th grade years? Or 12-14 as some Protestant congregations do for Baptism?
From the article:
“This will make available every sacramental grace the Church has to offer to children who have reached the age of reason,” he explained.That would make it around the age of 7 or 8, usually the 2nd Grade, which is the present age for First Communion.
I did notice that, but was/am courious as to the definition of ‘age of reason’ by the Archbishop. I remember my 6th grade students having confirmation and first communion during that school year. Yes, I a Protestant, once taught in a Catholic parochial school.
Going back to the “roots” of how the Church did the first 3 sacraments, in the first few centuries.
This is the way it has always been done in the Eastern Churches.
Catholic ping!
At what age is it usually done?
I was confirmed at age 8, First Communion at age 7
Going back to the “roots” of how the Church did the first 3 sacraments, in the first few centuries.
I wish we would go back even more completely and restore the sacraments of initiation to infancy. We already baptise infants and so it makes no sense to me to withhold God's further graces from those who are already within the Church.
Aquila is one of about ten American bishops who will not allow pro-abort apostate “Catholics” to receive Communion.
What this means is that Aquila is one of about ten American bishops NOT walking around habitually in the state of mortal sin.
In the Diocese of Fargo, children make their first Confession at seven. At eight (i.e., in third grade), they receive Confirmation and First Communion at the same Mass. That puts the sacraments in their original order.
In Canon Law, the “age of reason” is seven. That’s why First Communion has generally been at seven.
Who are the other bishops in the group of ten who are not in a state of mortal sin?
“Or 12-14 as some Protestant congregations do for Baptism?”
Non-Baptist congregations usually do Confirmation at 7th grade and Baptism as infants. If you were not baptized, you are baptized at Confirmation if you choose.
LCMS baptizes as an infant, confirmation as at the end of 8th grade - usually age 14. You must be baptized in order to be confirmed. First communion is at the confirmation service
None of the loudest-mouthed ones. Vasa is one.
Wuerl, Dolan, O’Malley, Cupich, Chaput, DiNardo, McElroy, Gomez—all give Communion to abortionists.
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