- Apr 11, 2005
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The sacrament was never discerned - in how to practice it - the West maintains the Bishops position in doing so - as they do for ordinations...Agreed. Some Church dogma seemed to be discerned over time, such as the Sacrament of Confirmation and the infallibility of the Pope when speaking from the Chair of Peter.
Thats how the split in time occurred. Besides the Apostles later confirming those who were baptized - it 'became' a union at baptism - not the other way around.
However; putting it together as one time for the sacraments of initiation - baptism, confirmation, Eucharist - was a novel idea compared to Apostolic times - the timing doesnt matter - but that they are received.
The split of time came when the Bishops were unable to keep up with the demands of confirming at each baptism - which baptism can be done by priests.
So the time they could do it kept extending. In the East the Bishops just authorize the priests to do it. The West maintained the Bishop himself do it. Just as only Bishops could ever ordain.
Giving authority to priests is ok... but the earlier Church it was always reserved for Bishops.
There was never a discernment of the sacrament itself - but more or less who could do it.
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