Denver Archdiocese Returns to the Traditional Sacramental Schedule

Winchester, VA –  The National Catholic Register reports that Archbishop Samuel Aquila has announced that in his archdiocese, the order of Sacramental reception will return to Baptism, Confirmation, and then Holy Eucharist. This is a reversal of the century-long practice in the Latin Rite which differed from the traditional order dating back to the Apostles. The age of the reception of Confirmation will be lowered to third grade and the children will receive both the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist at the same Mass. When asked how Pope Benedict XVI impacted his decision, the Archbishop responded, “During my 2012 ad limina visit while I was Bishop of Fargo, I shared with Pope Benedict and the other bishops present what I had done to restore the order of the sacraments of initiation for children baptized in infancy. After my presentation, his response surprised me, “You have done what I always wanted to do.”

Photo Credit: Elise Harris/Catholic News Agency