Age of Confirmation

At what age should children be confirmed? Diocesan policies differ, but most require a delay beyond the norm set in canon law (age of reason) until pre-teen or teen years. However, a norm is a norm. According to Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university, if parents of a child who has reached the age of reason, or even the child herself, asks to celebrate confirmation before reaching the designated diocesan age, the bishop is bound to grant permission.

McNamara quotes the Congregation of Divine Worship:

Consequently, when a member of the faithful wishes to receive this Sacrament, even though not satisfying one or more elements of the local legislation (for example, being younger than the designated age), these elements must give way to the fundamental right of the faithful to receive the Sacraments. Indeed, the longer the conferral of the Sacrament is delayed after the age of reason, the greater the number of candidates who are prepared for its reception but are deprived of its grace for a considerable period of time.

Read more here.