> I must disagree that the East is somehow defective because they do not
have a 'Konfirmation' as opposed to 'Firmung'. I grew up with Greek
Orthodox people and they were a lively, devoted group who rightly
considered the little ones full members of the Church from the day of
their Baptism/Firmung (which was often the day of their first HC). There
is something almost Gnostic about the way some of the West (esp the
Anglicans)seem to approach Confirmation. I sometimes wonder if they
really think it a Sacrament so much as an excuse for the Bishop (in the
East priests are the normative/correct ministers of the sacrament of
Confirmation) to show up for tea on the Vicarage lawn!. Blessings. GDVW+
n a message dated 8/22/2003 12:11:26 PM Central Daylight Time,
> mward@... writes:
>
> <<But it is interesting that you mention not confusing chrismation and
> confirmation. While the Eastern Church doesn't have an exact parallel
> to confirmation, there is a period of instruction that corresponds to
> our confirmation classes. Yet at the end of this period, there is no
> formal liturgical "rite" of initiation into the Church. It is simply
> seen as learning what it means to be a part of the Church.>>
>
> DKD: IMO, it's to their loss not to have a liturgical rite of
> Confirmation subsequent to catechism, and it's to our loss not to have
> a distinct rite of "Chrismation" (in association with Baptism) and
> thus, in principle, a discipline which naturally assumes
> paedocommunion.
>
> Perhaps I'm one of those guys who fancies having his cake and eating it
> too, but I'd rather like to think that I'm one of those who sees an
> opportunity to turn a vice into a virtue.
>
> Hence, a separate rite of Confirmation need not be understood as
> detrimental to a unified rite of Initiation
> (baptism/chrismation/eucharist), nor should the revival of a
> post-baptismal anointing (in conjunction with the traditional signing
> of the Cross) be understood as rendering the later rite of Confirmation
> redundant.
>
> Regards,
> Daniel
>
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