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Being a good Catholic lies not so much in doing as it is in BEING. This is not to say that living out our Faith is irrelevant, it is to say that the way we live our lives flows from who we are. We live as Catholics because we ARE Catholic. Catholicism is something that permeates every aspect of our being. It is our life. All of the external rituals of the Church are meant to express the Faith that the Church has received from the apostles and therefore believes with her heart. Being a good Catholic means believing what the Church believes, and professing the Faith that the Church has received both in word and DEED. This is why deeds are so important- they give evidence of where ones heart truly lies. If one claims to be Catholic, yet does not attempt to live as a Catholic, then it stands to reason ones heart is not fully Catholic.

One becomes a Catholic through Baptism- that is to say one enters into communion with the Body of Christ through Baptism. One who is baptized Roman Catholic enters into full and complete union with the Body of Christ. One who is not baptised Roman Catholic is in union with the Body of Christ but that union is not full or complete.

Do you need to be confirmed to be a good Catholic? The question is not framed correctly. Underlying the question is the presumption that Catholicism is only about the rituals and Sacraments. The Sacraments are indeed vital to the life of the Church for they are specific encounters with some aspect of the ministry of Christ, they are the core of who and what the Catholic Church is, but there is so much more to the life of the Church.

The real question is "What is necessary to have the fullest, most complete union and participation in the life of the Church that God wants us to have?" The answer is it is necessary to be baptized and confirmed, and to attend Mass consistently- that is to say weekly and receive Holy Communion. One should go to Confession prior to the reception of Holy Communion if one is conscious of Mortal Sin, for one cannot participate in the eternal banquet of the Lamb without first being reconciled to the Lamb seeking forgiveness for sins. Receiving the Sacraments of Initiation give one the fullest ability to live as Son's in the Son, to resist temptation, and ultimately to persevere as Christians in a world hostile to the Christian Truth. Baptism is a sacrament of Sonship for it makes us Son's in the Son. Confirmation is a sacrament of mission for it completes the work of Baptism and gives us a special grace for evangelizing. Holy Communion is meant for God to renew the covenant he made with us in our baptism and confirmation and nourish us on our spiritual journey on earth.

Unfortunately in many CCD programs Confirmation is all to often mis-represented, misconstrued, and egregiously misunderstood. It can be presented as "In Baptism God choose you, now in Confirmation, you choose God." Nonsense. Every sacramental celebration is the work of God, and every sacramental celebration is God's election of the person. Indeed the celebration can involve an active choice of the person, (though not necessarily as in infant baptism) but that choice is always secondary to God's choice and election.

Another error has Confirmation being presented as a sort of "Catholic Graduation" "Sacrament of Maturity" or "Sacrament of Adulthood." Again, this is nonsense. Confirmation does not mark an END of a person's spiritual journey, but rather a BEGINNING. Confirmation is for the purpose of being more intimately joined and united to the Body of Christ- such that a person has an even fuller participation in the Mass and the life of the Church. If Confirmation can be said to be a Sacrament of Maturity it is in the sense of a maturing and completion of the work of Baptism, not in the sense of adulthood.

As I said above Confirmation is the sacrament of mission- it gives one a special grace for the work of evangelizing, and it gives one a special grace to strengthen one in times of persecution for the Christian truth.

If you are not confirmed, make an appointment with your parish priest and inquire about receiving the sacrament.

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13y ago
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12y ago
Roman Catholic AnswerYes, for a time, but you really need to be confirmed. Confirmation is the sacrament that completes baptism. It is not absolutely necessary for salvation, but necessary enough that priests are supposed to carry oils when visiting the sick so that, if there is danger of death, and the person (even an infant) is not confirmed, the priest can go ahead and confirm the individual before they die.
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10y ago

You are a Catholic either from the moment you are born into a Catholic family, or the moment you are baptized in the Catholic Church, or accepted into the Catholic Church with a valid baptism elsewhere. So the answer is that you are a Catholic whether you are confirmed or not.

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Q: Can you be a practicing Catholic without being confirmed?
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Can the sponsor be Anglican if the person being confirmed is catholic?

No. The sponsor MUST be a practicing Catholic who has been confirmed previously (such as the year before) and at least 18 or older and is never (a) (the) parent of the person who is to be confirmed as a Catholic. The sponsor may not/cannot be a member of any other Christian Church or Community, only Catholic. It can be a close friend, a godparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, whoever, but they must be Catholic, period. Any guests of the person to be confirmed who are not Catholic are welcome to observe the sacrament during the Mass, but are refrained from taking Holy Communion during the Mass.


What does the priest say when you are being confirmed?

Congrates bro, ur a catholic!


You are a confirmed Protestant converted to Catholicism in World War 2 and baptised Catholic receiving the Eucharist regularly and active in your parish may I be a sponsor in a Catholic Confirmation?

There are only 3 requirements for being a confirmation sponsor: 1) You must be a practicing Catholic and already have been Confirmed. 2) You cannot be the parent of the person you sponsor. 3) After becoming a person's sponsor, you cannot marry them. If you fulfill all of these, you can most definitely be a sponsor.


Does a sponsor have to be the same sex as the person being confirmed?

No, a sponsor can be male or female, so a boy can have a female sponsor and a girl can have male sponsor if they choose. The sponsor should be practicing Catholic who has received Confirmation, age 16 or more, and not a parent.


Can you be confirmed at baptism and confirmation service?

Roman Catholic AnswerIf you have completed instructions and being approved by the priest, then you can be confirmed along with the rest.


How does the sponsor connect with confirmation?

.Catholic AnswerBy putting his hand on the shoulder of the person while he is being confirmed by the Bishop.


What church is almost the same as the Catholic church without being Catholic?

Episcopal Church is pretty close


Can a Confirmation proxy be a non-Catholic?

A non catholic person needs to receive Baptism first in the Roman Catholic Church in order to receive confirmation. Actually for adult catecumens three sacraments (Baptism , Confirmation and Holy Communion) are incurred on the same day i.e. Easter Sunday.


Is Martha Raddatz Mormon?

no. She was being raised as a Catholic by her Catholic dad, until he died when she was 4years old. Her older sister joined the Mormon church when she was in High School. Martha's mother was a non-practicing Mormon


What was confirmation so called?

It confirmed you have accepted Christ as your savior.Catholic AnswerBecause it completes your baptism and confirms you in your faith.


Can a priest become a child's god father?

No. The godparent must be a practicing Catholic, because their job as a godparent is to guide the child in practicing their faith. If the godparent isn't Catholic, then they can't fulfill their duties: they can't be a godparent.


IS BEING BAPTIZED AND CONFIRMED MEAN I AM Catholic INSTEAD OF Christian?

Because you were baptized in the Catholic Church, you have the fullness of Christianity. I don't understand the question, because you are Catholic, you are a Christian. You need to talk to the local priest and start RCIA classes to learn about the great and wonderful gift you have been given as a Christian. You are in my prayers, I am so happy for you.