Wherein Fr Z Responds to a Question by Beans About the Traditional Rite of Confirmation

For an historian, Beans Faggioli shows an abysmal ignorance of recent Church history. Once again he parades his lack of knowledge. 

From Fr Z's Blog 

I have been informed by a reader that Massimo “Beans” Faggioli posted a tweet in which he thanked me for my prayers after his seriously rude attack on my person and against Bp. Hying.  HERE

I couldn’t see his tweet because he blocks me.

For those of you who are NOT blocked by Beans, here is the tweet…

I would add that what I did was more than say “prayers”.  I celebrated the Sacrifice of Calvary, Holy Mass, for his and his family’s intention.

Screen shot sent by a reader.   It really isn’t fair to ask a question of someone whom he blocks.

Since Beans has asked, I will respond.

Those older forms were never suppressed or abrogated in such a way that they absolutely could not be used.

Firstly, Beans would do well to read the text of Benedict XVI’s Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum (Italian).

In SP….

Art. 9, §1  The parish priest, after careful consideration, can also grant permission to use the older ritual in the administration of the sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, Penance and Anointing of the Sick, if advantageous for the good of souls.

§2  Ordinaries are granted the faculty of celebrating the sacrament of Confirmation using the old Roman Pontifical, if advantageous for the good of souls.

This is underscored in 2011 by Universae Ecclesiae:

29. Permission to use the older formula for the rite of Confirmation was confirmed by the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum (cf. art. 9 § 2). Therefore, in the forma extraordinaria, it is not necessary to use the newer formula of Pope Paul VI as found in the Ordo Confirmationis.

Before that, however, after Ecclesia Dei adflicta of John Paul II, the Holy See permitted the use of the liturgical books in force in 1962.  That included, of course, the Pontificale Romanum.

As a matter of fact, after 1988 there was a challenge by the French bishops (if my memory serves) to the use of the Rite of Confirmation.  This was because the SSPX bishops were confirming in the old Rite.  They questioned the validity of confirming with the older, traditional form, because of what Paul VI changed.  However, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith clarified that the older, traditional form remained valid and that the older Rite of Confirmation could be used.

The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei had the authority to grant the use of those books, in line with the Holy See’s previous legislation.

So, Confirmation with the older, traditional Rite has been going on all this time.  It is now much more frequent because more and more people are choosing to attend the Traditional Latin Mass and they want traditional Confirmation for their children.  Also, more and more bishops are finding it opportune to administer Confirmation in the older Rite and they are generous with their time and effort.

This is simply a normal pastoral activity of bishops that shouldn’t surprise or disturb anyone.

Also, it will become more and more prevalent in the future, I predict.

A demographic sink hole has been opening up underneath the Church for a long time.  COVID has accelerated the sink hole.   Large numbers of Catholics in name and baptism only will fall through that hole not to be seen again anytime soon.   The Church’s landscape is going to change.  I think that a few groups will remain strong in the Church, including Traditionalists (who are having lots of children, who are dedicated and generous with their money) as well as converts from a more Evangelical background and also some charismatics who have strong Eucharistic and Marian devotion.   These groups will find each other out of necessity.  There will be some friction, but I think something amazing will grow out of it.  And what binds them together will the TRADITIONAL LATIN  RITE, not the Novus Ordo.

This is the direction I see opening up for us.