Code of Canon Law: text (original) (raw)

CHAPTER II: THE MINISTER OF CONFIRMATION

Can.882 The ordinary minister of confirmation is a Bishop. A priest can alsovalidly confer this sacrament if he has the faculty to do so, either from thegeneral law or by way of a special grant from the competent authority.

Can.883 The following have, by law, the faculty to administer confirmation:

1° within the confines of their jurisdiction, those who in law are equivalent to adiocesan Bishop;

2° inrespect of the person to be confirmed, the priest who by virtue of his officeor by mandate of the diocesan Bishop baptises an adult or admits a baptised adult into full communion with the catholic Church;

3° inrespect of those in danger of death, the parish priest or indeed any priest.

Can.884 §1 The diocesan Bishop is himself to administer confirmation or to ensurethat it is administered by another Bishop. If necessity so requires, he may grant to one or several specified priests the faculty to administer thissacrament.

§2 For agrave reason the Bishop, or the priest who by law or by special grant of thecompetent authority has the faculty to confirm, may in individual cases inviteother priests to join with him in administering the sacrament.

Can.885 §1 The diocesan Bishop is bound to ensure that the sacrament ofconfirmation is conferred upon his subjects who duly and reasonably request it.

§2 A priestwho has this faculty must use it for those in whose favour it was granted.

Can.886 §1 A Bishop in his own diocese may lawfully administer the sacrament ofconfirmation even to the faithful who are not his subjects, unless there is anexpress prohibition by their own Ordinary.

§2 In order lawfully to administer confirmation in another diocese, unless it be to his ownsubjects, a Bishop needs the permission, at least reasonably presumed, of thediocesan Bishop.

Can.887 A priest who has the faculty to administer confirmation may, within theterritory assigned to him, lawfully administer this sacrament even to those from outside the territory, unless there is a prohibition by their ownOrdinary. He cannot, however, validly confirm anyone in another territory, without prejudice to the provision of can. 883, n.3.

Can.888 Within the territory in which they can confer confirmation, ministers may confirm even in exempt places.