When it comes to Church practices, we often talk about change as if the Church has always done things a certain way, and we are the first ones to encounter shifts. This is especially true when it comes to the ordering of the Sacraments of Initiation—Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Here is a broad timeline of how the order of these sacraments has evolved, from the beginning of Christianity through the 19th century.
Early Christian communities, following the examples of the Apostles, initially baptized entire households, which may have included children and infants (see Acts 16:15 and Acts 16:33). However, in the early years of Christianity, adult baptism was still the norm.
By the 3rd and 4th centuries, theologians like St. Augustine (4th–5th centuries) emphasized the doctrine of original sin and the belief that Baptism was necessary for salvation. Infant baptism freed infants from original sin and allowed them to receive God’s grace. For centuries, however, the “original order” of the sacraments was preserved, with children often receiving Confirmation at an earlier age than today.
As the Church grew during the early Middle Ages (5th–10th centuries), the increasing number of baptisms and the challenges of bishops traveling to administer the sacraments led to a gradual separation of Baptism and Confirmation. By the High Middle Ages (11th–13th centuries), Confirmation became increasingly associated with strengthening baptismal grace. While the original order of the sacraments remained ideal, practical realities led to widespread variations in practice..
The Council of Trent (1545-1563) reaffirmed Confirmation as a separate sacrament, with an emphasis on strengthening and deepening baptismal grace. The Council recommended that children receive Confirmation when they were capable of understanding its significance, usually the age of reason (about 7 years).
By the medieval period, infant Baptism had become the standard practice across the Christian world. This led to the separation of the other two Sacraments of Initiation (Confirmation and Eucharist) from Baptism, allowing children to receive further formation and preparation for each sacrament over time.
Next week, we will venture into the 20th century to look at how events have led to the current attempts to restore the order of the Sacraments of Initiation.