>Frater: The problem with Confirmation as expressed by Daniel+ is that it
seems too much a 'graduation' ceremony and to exclude children from the
Altar untill this time is wrong. The East has it right(Confirmation done
by the priest with oils/chrism from the Bishop blessed on Maundy
Thursday) and we can / should change our practice to return to the
primitive norm. I personally am nervous when I see phrases like
"Baptismal Covenant". The phrase 'Baptismal Promises/ Vows' would be much
better. Blessings. GDVW+
In a message dated 8/22/2003
1:21:23 PM Central Daylight Time,
> mward@... writes:
>
> << So, are you saying keep confirmation at the age it's traditionally
> done
> (12-13)? Or compact it as is done in the East to combine it with
> Baptism?>>
>
> DKD: For better or for worse, Confirmation has developed into a "coming
> of age" rite, in which those who have been adequately catechised in the
> faith are confirmed in their Baptismal Covenant by the laying on of
> hands. The new REC BCP even goes so far as to express this very
> understanding in the presentation:
>
> "Reverend Father in God, I present unto you these persons who now desire
> to confirm their Baptismal Covenant through the laying on of hands."
>
> Thus, I see no reason to change the "traditional" age or practice of
> Confirmation, viewing these things as providential developments in our
> liturgical/sacramental history, serving pastoral ends, and further
> augmenting the relationship between the confirmand and the Church
> Catholic through one's re-affirmation of one's baptismal vows along
> with a sacramental laying-on-of-hands by a bishop (i.e., the Church's
> witness and confirmation of those vows). Incidentally, the new REC
> Confirmation service also contains an interogatory form of the
> Apostles' Creed along with the other interogations - an improvement over
> the 1928, IMHO.
>
> A better question, however, would be how we might adapt our baptismal
> practice and theology to better fit a more Patristic pattern. And here
> I think we need to revive the practice of chrismation, which can be
> easily done at the signing of the Cross by using consecrated oil at the
> signation. Indeed, most modern Anglican rites have already done just
> that. Furthermore, a Eucharist immediately following the Baptismal
> Office where consecrated wine is (as I suggested before) touched to the
> lips of newly baptized infants, would all but re-unite the ancient
> pattern.
>
> Regards,
> Daniel
>
>
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