| Preliminary Questions Bibliography Sequence of the Sacraments of Initiation | Eucharist as the Culmination of Initiation Jesus and Meals | Eucharist before Baptism To Think About |
Fresh from the waters and resplendent in these garments, God's holy people hasten to the altar of Christ, saying: I will go in to the altar of God, to God who gives joy to my youth. They have sloughed off the old skin of error, their youth renewed like an eagle's, and they make haste to approach that heavenly banquet." Saint Ambrose, from the treatise "On the Mysteries," Liturgy of the Hours, Reading for the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Friday.)
Have we experienced "Infant Baptism, Second Grade First Communion, and Sophomore Confirmation" so frequently that we think of Confirmation as the culmination of Initiation? What can be done to remedy this?
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Maxwell E. Johnson. The Rites of Christian Initiation: Their Evolution and Interpretation (Revised and Expanded edition). A Pueblo Book Published by the Liturgical Press, 2007.
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Sequence of the Sacraments of Initiation
Stage 1: Baptism, (Confirmation), Eucharist (with bread and wine) for everyone (adults, children, infants) in both East and West.
This sequence continues in the East. The next sequences occur only in the Western (Roman) Church.
Development of the Catechumenate and Initiation at Easter
Stage 2: Catechumenate. Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist at Easter Vigil.
Confirmation reserved to the bishop.
After all the adults are initiated, emphasis shifts to infants.
Confirmation becomes separated from Initiation in the West.
Confirmation becomes its own sacrament with its own theology
Babies refused Bread (they might spit it up). Adults refused cup.
Babies refused the cup.
Original Sin fades in / Catechumenate fades out.
Baptism of Infants "quam primum" [as soon as possible]
Lost the "Easter" connection
Confirmation all but disappears
Scholastic confession becomes a sacrament
Stage 3: Adults: Baptized with Emergency Rite. Receive Eucharist the next time they attend Mass. Confirmed (with the children) the next time the Bishop visits the parish.
Infants [and adults rarely] baptized with the adult Emergency Rite. Confirmation when Bishop visits the parish or when the parents visit the Cathedral. First Eucharist when "adults" (age 16-21) [= Origins of "Solemn Communion"] preceded by First Confession.
Jansenism becomes an issue in Europe.
Pope lowers age of First Communion
Priests as "extraordinary ministers" can confirm Adult "converts"
Stage 4: Infants baptized with the adult Emergency Rite. First Communion at "age of reason" (5 or 6?) preceded by First Confession. Confirmation when bishop visits the parish (second, third or fourth grade). NOTE: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ANYONE RECEIVED EUCHARIST WITHOUT HAVING FIRST RECEIVED CONFIRMATION!!!!!
Psychological studies on the faith development of children and adolescents.
Confirmation takes the place of "Believer Baptism" and becomes "Adult Baptism" (age moved up gradually from grade school to middle school to high school, age 12-18).
Stage 5: Infants baptized with the adult Emergency Rite. First Communion at "age of reason" (5 or 6?). Confirmation when bishop visits the parish and child is in middle school or high school, (age 10-18).
Vatican II 1) RCIA
RCIA is normative for the theology and understanding of the Sacraments of Initiation
RCIA is the normative Rite for adults and children (everybody except infants)
Restores unity of the sequence Baptism / Confirmation / Eucharist
Restores "Easter" context.
"The Bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation" is changed to "the Bishop is the original minister of Confirmation."
2) [New / First] Rite for Infants (which acknowledges that they are infants)
Original sin fades out / importance of faith development fades in (e.g. 1983 Code of Canon Law; Do not baptize infants unless there is assurance they will be raised Catholic.)
Stage 6: Adults and children initiated with the RCIA. / Infants baptized with the new Rite for Infants. First Communion at "age of reason" (5 or 6?). First Confession also moved to "age of reason" before First Eucharist. Confirmation when bishop visits the parish and child is in middle school or high school, (age 10-18).
Fewer parents attend Sunday Eucharist. First Eucharist is moved from end of first grade to beginning of second grade so that they won't forget how over the summer.)
Psychological studies regarding the moral development of Children (Sense of sin does not develop until about age 10 or 11)
Stage 7: Baptism (with 1969 Rite for Infants), Eucharist at beginning of second grade, First Reconciliation in fourth grade, Confirmation in tenth or eleventh grade.
Code of 1983 legislates that First Reconciliation comes before First Eucharist [provided the infant has committed a mortal sin???]
Return to Stage 6: Baptism (with 1969 Rite for Infants), First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (at beginning of) second grade. Confirmation in tenth or eleventh grade.
Growing awareness of the 1) history of the initiation process; 2) the normative nature of the RCIA; 3) the role of the Holy Spirit; and 4) Eucharist as the Culmination of the initiation sacraments – leads to some bishops authorizing pastors to confirm children before First Eucharist thus restoring the order: Baptism Confirmation Eucharist.
Stage 8: Baptism (with 1969 Rite for Infants), First Reconciliation and Confirmation and First Eucharist at beginning of second grade. [Catechists begin to die of heart failure!!!]
Stage 9: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist in one liturgical ceremony for Adults, children, and infants (e.g. return to stage 1).
Note: Stage 8 is possible within the current legislation. Stage 9 would require a change in the Code of Canon Law.
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Eucharist as the Culmination of Initiation
That "Eucharist is the culmination of the initiation process" was the consistent teaching of all Church writers until the dissolution of the rite in the West.
Have we experienced "Infant Baptism, Second Grade First Communion, and Sophomore Confirmation" so frequently that we think of Confirmation as the Culmination of Initiation?"Fresh from the waters and resplendent in these garments, God's holy people hasten to the altar of Christ, saying: I will go in to the altar of God, to God who gives joy to my youth. They have sloughed off the old skin of error, their youth renewed like an eagle's, and they make haste to approach that heavenly banquet." (Saint Ambrose, from the treatise "On the Mysteries," Liturgy of the Hours, Reading for the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Friday.)
It is difficult to see Eucharist as the culmination of initiation in those situations where the apparent "culminating" sacrament is Confirmation when Confirmation is celebrated years after "First Communion" with all the pomp and circumstance that accompany an Episcopal liturgy. Confirmation certainly "looks bigger" -- the Bishop comes; parish celebration; two years of preparation; service projects; etc ...
Any celebration (adults / children / infants) of the rites of initiation must make it clear that Eucharist is the culmination and completion of the initiation process.
The theology is often contained in the Rite itself (Lex Orandi) and becomes most evident when one examines carefully the structure of the Eucharistic Prayer and its berakah shape which shifts emphasis of the prayer from the institution narrative (consecration) to the epiclesis.
The word "culmination" has several meanings. However, in the present context, "culmination" does not necessarily imply "last in sequence". At the present time, even in parishes and dioceses which have the sequence "Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation," Eucharist is the culmination of initiation, and the catechetical instructions and formation should be done in that perspective.
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Jesus and Meals
1. Jesus' culture was different from ours. In our culture where McDonald's drive through serves anybody and everybody, it is hard to imagine anyone getting upset about "table companionship." But remember the bishop in Uganda who began giving Holy Communion at Mass to everybody who came forward -- Catholic, Baptists, Jews, Muslims, Witches, Pagans -- even parakeets and puppy dogs. Divorced and remarried Catholics who could not get an annulment and who were longing to receive Holy Communion were overjoyed! But the other bishops (especially the one in Rome) were quick to get rid of him.
It is a good question to ask "how hospitable" should we be? Jesus sat at table not as the charming, congenial, ringleted centerpiece of a Rembrandt painting, but as a vulnerable vagrant willing to share potluck with a household of strangers...Normally, a meal is about social identification, status, and power... But the very randomness of Jesus' table habits challenged this system of social relations modeled on meals and manners... It was not simply that Jesus ate with objectionable persons - outcasts and sinners but that he ate with anyone, indiscriminately. The table companionship practiced by Jesus thus recreated the world, redrew all of society's maps and flow charts. Instead of symbolizing social rank and order, it blurred the distinctions between hosts and quests, need and plenty. Instead of reinforcing rules of etiquette, it subverted them, making the last first and the first last. (Nathan Mitchell [quoted by] Maxwell E. Johnson, The Rites of Christian Initiation: Their Evolution and Interpretation, Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1999, p 3.)
2. Strict rules. Reordering of society - those in power will loose power.... need to kill the messenger of this new kingdom.
3. Jesus' disregard for these rules leads to his death. This "being God" as the "original sin" is the reason for death of Jesus.
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Eucharist before Baptism
There are serious thinkers and theologians and pastors who both advocate and practice open communion, even to the non-baptized. For example, one of the study groups of the North American Academy of Liturgy is devoted to this issue.
Eucharist is open to all so that all may profit from this experience of hospitality -- this experience of the presence of Jesus -- and grow in faith and love to the point where they wish to become Christian. Then the people might request baptism.
[The official Roman Church might not adopt this practice in the near future, but it is important to know that there are serious theologians who are discussing the merits of this sequence.]
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Have we experienced "Infant Baptism, Second Grade First Communion, and Sophomore Confirmation" so frequently that we think of Confirmation as the culmination of Initiation? What can be done to remedy this?
Return to the top of this page -- Initiation Index -- Tom Richstatter Home Page
Copyright: Tom Richstatter, Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, Cincinnati Ohio, Order of Friars Minor. All Rights Reserved. This page was created by Fr. Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M. Every effort has been, and is being made, to acknowledge sources when the ideas are not my own. Any failure to comply with the United States Copyright Act (Title 17, United States Code) will be corrected immediately should I become aware of it. This site was updated on 01/27/12 . Your comments on this site are welcome at trichstatter@franciscan.org