On the Sacrament of Confirmation

On the Sacrament of Confirmation 1917 Code of Canon Law (Pio-Benedictine)1 Canon 780 The sacrament of confirmation must be conferred by the imposition of hands together with anointing by chrism on the forehead and with the words prescribed in the pontifical books approved by the Church. Canon 781 §1. The chrism that is to be used in the sacrament of confirmation must be consecrated by the bishop even if the sacrament, by law or apostolic indult, is administered by a priest. §2. Anointing is not to be made by an instrument, but by the very hand of the minister duly imposed on the forehead of the one to be confirmed.

Chapter 1: On the Minister of Confirmation Canon 782 §1. The ordinary minister of confirmation is only a bishop. §2. The extraordinary minister is a priest to whom the faculty has been granted, either by common law or by special indult of the Apostolic See. §3. Besides Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church according to Canon 239, § 1, n. 23, Abbots or Prelates of no one and Apostolic Vicars and Prefects enjoy this faculty by law, although they cannot act validly except within the limits of their territory and for so long as they hold their posts. §4. Priests of the Latin rite who have this faculty in virtue of an indult confer confirmation validly only on the faithful of their own rite, unless it is expressly provided otherwise in the indult. §5. It is nefarious for priests of the oriental rites who enjoy the privilege or faculty of confirming infants of their own rite at the same time of their baptism to administer [confirmation] to Latin rite infants. Canon 783 §1. A bishop in his own diocese legitimately administers this sacrament even to outsiders, unless there is an express prohibition from their own Ordinary. §2. In another diocese [a bishop] requires the permission of the local Ordinary, at least reasonably presumed, unless it concerns his own subjects whom he will confirm privately without a crosier and miter. Canon 784 A priest also, who has an apostolic indult for a local privilege, confirms even outsiders in his designated territory, unless they are expressly prohibited from this by their own Ordinary.

1 An official version of the 1917 Code was only approved in Latin. It can be viewed at: www.jgray.org/codes/1917CIC.txt. A good English translation is Dr. Edward N. Peters, The 1917 Pio-Benedictine Code of Canon Law (Ignatius Press, 2001). Canon 785 §1. A bishop is bound by the obligation of conferring this sacrament on his subjects who rightly and reasonably petition it, especially at the time of his diocesan visit. §2. A priest is bound by the same obligation, having an apostolic privilege, [to confirm] those on whose behalf the favor was granted. §3. An Ordinary, impeded by legitimate cause or lacking the power of confirming, must, insofar as possible, see that this sacrament is administered to his subjects at least every five years. §4. If the Ordinary gravely neglects to administer the sacrament of confirmation either himself or through another, the prescription of Canon 274, n.4 is followed.

Chapter 2: On the subject of confirmation Canon 786 One not washed by the water of baptism cannot be validly confirmed; moreover, in order that one be fruitfully and licitly confirmed, he must be constituted in the state of grace and, if he has obtained the use of reason, be sufficiently instructed. Canon 787 Although this sacrament is not necessary as a means of salvation, it is not permitted for anyone, when occasion arises, to neglect it; indeed, pastors shall take care that the faithful approach it at an opportune time. Canon 788 Although the administration of the sacrament of confirmation in the Latin Church is conveniently deferred until about the age of seven years, nevertheless, it can be conferred earlier if an infant is constituted in danger of death or there appear to the minister grave and just causes to expedite it. Canon 789 If there are many to be confirmed, they should be present for the first imposition of extension of the hands and should not leave until the rite has been completed.

Chapter 3: On the time and place for conferring confirmation Canon 790 This sacrament can be conferred at any time; it is most becoming that it be administered during Pentecost week. Canon 791 Although the proper place for the administration of confirmation is a church, for causes that the minister judges to be just and reasonable, the sacrament can be conferred in any decent place.

Canon 792 The right belongs to the bishop of administering confirmation within the limits of his diocese even in exempt places.

Chapter 4: On sponsors Canon 793 From the oldest practice of the Church, just as in baptism, so also in confirmation a sponsor is to be used, if this can be done. Canon 794 §1. A sponsor presents only one person to be confirmed, or two, unless it seems otherwise to the minister for just cause. §2. There is also only one sponsor for each person to be confirmed. Canon 795 In order to be a sponsor it is required that one: §1. Also be confirmed, having obtained the use of reason, and having the intention of fulfilling the role; §2. Not belong to any heretical or schismatic sect, or be under any penalty mentioned in Canon 765, n. 2, or be under a declaratory or condemnatory sentence; §3. Not be the father, mother, or spouse of the one to be confirmed; §4. Be designated by the one being confirmed or the parents or the guardians or, if these are absent or refuse to name a sponsor, by the minister or the pastor; §5. Physically touch personally or through a procurator the one being confirmed in the very act of confirmation. Canon 796 In order to be licitly admitted to the role of sponsor it is required: §1. That he be different from the sponsor at baptism unless for reasonable cause in the judgment of the minister it argues otherwise, or if confirmation is legitimately conferred immediately after baptism; §2. That he [or she] be of the same sex as the one being confirmed unless in particular cases it seems to the minister there are reasonable causes to do otherwise; §3. That the additional prescriptions of Canon 766 be observed. Canon 797 From a valid confirmation there arises between the one confirmed and the sponsor a spiritual relationship by which the sponsor is bound by the obligation of perpetual concern toward the one confirmed and of taking care for his Christian education.

Chapter 5: On recording and proving the conferral of confirmation Canon 798 The pastor will inscribe the name of the minister, the ones confirmed, the parents and sponsors, and the day and place of the confirmation in a special book, beyond the annotation [he needs to make] in the book of the baptized mentioned in Canon 470, §2. Canon 799 If the proper pastor of the one confirmed was not present, the minister himself or through another shall inform the pastor about the conferral as soon as possible. Canon 800 In order to prove the conferral of confirmation, if it is not prejudicial to anyone, it suffices that there be one witness above all exception, or the oath of the one confirmed [suffices], unless confirmation was received while an infant.