Confirmaciones

["Steve G. Apodaca" <sgapodaca@...>]

Hola Chris

Well I was raised Catholic in Mexico. I got my confirmation when I 
was 13 or 14, I do not remember exactly. The same thing happened to 
my brother who is 3 years older. However, my oldest brothers and 
sisters, as well as my parents, were confirmed on their childhood 
soon after they were born. Once, I asked my grandma why I did not 
have my confirmation when I was baptized, and she told me that in the 
past, it was a common practice to confirm children before their 
second birthday; however, some priests adviced the parents no to get 
the confirmation at that age and wait until the child was 13 years 
old, so that he/she could be able to understand the real meaning of 
confirmation. I remember that I had to go to saturday classes to 
prepare for my first communion for a couple years, and an extra year 
of classes to get my confirmation. 

After that year of studying, I received my confirmation from the 
bishop of Ciudad Guzman who put some oil on my forehead and then 
slapped me on the face. :) For those who are not familiar with some 
catholic traditions, this might sound like abuse, but normally, when 
receiving the confirmation at 13, the bishop (not the parish priest, 
but the actual bishop) puts some oil on his thumb, then he puts it on 
the forehead of the person, gives him the sign of the cross, and then 
he gives them a small slap, according to how he thinks the kid has 
behaved in the past 13 years. Mine did not really hurt, it kind of 
had a paternal touch, but some of my friends received good slaps!



--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, Chris Pineda <pineda37@y...> wrote:
> I appreciate all the help people have given me on my
> questions. 
> 
> In regard to the 'Expuestos" question, I did notice
> that what followed the 'Expuestos' heading were a
> series of names without last names or parental
> information (unlike the regular baptism records). So
> the notion that these children were abandoned makes
> sense. This was for baptism records in the 1850s for
> Monterrey, Nuevo Leon.
> 
> As for the Confirmations question, the timeframe I was
> looking was for in the Tlaltenango records was 1895 or
> so, so if I find anything I'll be sure to let you
> know. 
> 
> Again, I really appreciate all the emails.
> 
> Chris Pineda
> 
> --- readysetgo95814 <nena@a...> wrote:
> 
> > 
> > No offense taken.  We are all here to learn and
> > benefit from each 
> > other's experiences.  I myself was born in
> > Guadalajara and I was 
> > confirmed shortly after I was baptized. Within a
> > year of my 
> > baptism.  So was everyone I knew. I think Chris'
> > question was 
> > related to an ancestor so I answered it according to
> > the timeframe 
> > Chris was referring to (1800's or so) for a
> > gggreat-grandfather.
> > 
> > The records I have examined for expuestos are pretty
> > clear in the 
> > language they use that the child was abandoned. 
> > They list no 
> > parents' names and the child is not given a surname.
> >  They are also 
> > very specific as to the location where the child was
> > left.  Such as, 
> > being left on the doorstep of Don Ygnacio Sánchez. 
> > They also say 
> > the child is being baptized, not just blessed. 
> > Thus, you find them 
> > in the baptismal books, as Chris did.
> > 
> > I also do not profess to be an authority on the
> > subject, but only 
> > speak from my own limited experience.
> > 
> > Maria
> > 
> > --- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, Smiley
> > <smileysway2@y...> wrote:
> > > ...I'm not going to beg to differ with anyone, as
> > I am NOT an 
> > authority on this subject. I spoke in more detail
> > with my MIL and 
> > she said that the child is baptized when they are
> > under 1 year old, 
> > then at the age of 3 or later, they are then
> > confirmed.  The 
> > timeframe depends on the parents.  If the child has
> > NOT been 
> > presented to the church before this time, then
> > anyone can present 
> > the child to the Father to have that child blessed
> > (expuesto).  My 
> > MIL was born & raised in Mexico and up until a few
> > years ago, lived 
> > there her whole life.  I did not mean to upset
> > anyone with my reply 
> > so if I did, I apologize...
> > >  
> > > Smiley
> > >  
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Irma GomezLucero <igomezlucero@c...> wrote:
> > > I'm with Maria on this.  Confirmations in Mexico
> > take place at 
> > about 2 years old after the Baptism has been
> > received.  
> > >  
> > > In the USA, Confirmations take place or should I
> > say used to take 
> > place around 12-13 years of age when a child was old
> > of enough 
> > to "Confirm" that they wanted to be a member of the
> > church--This has 
> > changed quite recently to as early as 7 years of
> > age.    
> > >  
> > > Not so in Mexico--this  sacrament is usually
> > received at the age 
> > of 2.  
> > >  
> > > Expuesto means the child was left or abandoned on
> > someone's 
> > doorstep with parents unknown.  
> > >  
> > > Irma
> > > 
> > > 
> > > ---------------------------------
> > > From: Smiley [mailto:smileysway2@y...] 
> > > Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 6:09 AM
> > > To: ranchos@yahoogroups.com
> > > Subject: Re: [ranchos] Re: Question about
> > Confirmations, and 
> > Expuestos
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > ...baptisms usually happen within the 1st year of
> > a child's life; 
> > and the confirmations happen when they turn 12-13
> > years of age; and 
> > as far as "expuestos", my mother in law (who is a
> > devout Catholic) 
> > states this is a word used when the child has NOT
> > been confirmed.  
> > They are outside of the church, or possibly going to
> > another church 
> > or have moved out of the area.  I hope this helps
> > you out Chris...
> > >  
> > > Smiley 
> > >  
> > > 
> > > readysetgo95814 <nena@a...> wrote:
> > > 
> > > Hi Chris,
> > > 
> > > Confirmations usually occurred within the first
> > year of the 
> > child's 
> > > life.  Shortly after baptism. 
> > > 
> > > Expuestos means children who were abandoned in
> > front of somebody's 
> > > doorstep.  Sometimes it was a church, often times
> > it was a private 
> > > residence. 
> > > 
> > > Maria
> > > 
> > > --- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, Chris Pineda
> > <pineda37@y...> wrote:
> > > > Hey all,
> > > > 
> > > > I was hoping for some quick guidance. I
> > requested and
> > > > received the baptism microfilm to determine the
> > names
> > > > of the parents of my great-grandfather Nicanor
> > Pineda,
> > > > born in Tlaltenango.   
> > > > 
> > > > The problem is that this is the second time,
> > where I
> > > > haven't found him for the timeframe in which he
> > was
> > > > born.  This has led me to believe that perhaps
> > he was
> > > > born in some other city around Tlal! tenango and
> > later
> > > > moved there. 
> > > > 
> > > > Anyway, I'm requesting the marriage records for
> > the
> > > > timeframe I think he was later married in
> > Tlaltenango.
> > > >  But I was also thinking that I could request
> > the
> > > > Confirmation records but I really have no idea
> > when
> > > > this usually takes place in someone's life -- I
> > was
> > > > not raised Catholic. 
> > > > 
> > > > On another note, I've noticed a page after each
> > year
> > > > of baptism records that says "Expuestos"
> > followed by a
> > > > series of names.  Does anyone know what this
> > means?
> > > > 
> > > > Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks,
> > > > 
> > > > Chris Pineda
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > >             
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> === message truncated ===
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