I have been following this discussion with great interest. Here is what I know
(or think I know):
Angra is a very old Diocese and has had a resident Bishop (who was sometimes
absent) since its creation. Traveling to the other 8 islands, before the modern
age, by boat, across stormy seas was a real obstacle. Confirmations did not
happen on an annual basis.
It might be many years between pastoral visits when the Sacrament was
administered.
My parents (who were from different churches in Bretanha) received confirmation
on the same day in the church in Ajuda, which was not the parish church for
either of them, and despite the fact that my mother was 3 years younger than my
father. The Bishop had not visited in many, many years. Many adults were
confirmed that day because they had been too young to be confirmed when the
Bishop had last made a pastoral visit. And it would be several years before he
made another visit.
Today things are different. Since then, fast boats and air transportation have
made the Bishop's visits more routine. In addition, the Bishop has Vicars on
each island who can administer the Sacrament in his absence and even the parish
priest can be delegated as an extraordinary minister of the Sacrament, and can
administer the Sacrament of Confirmation.
In my own experience in the Diocese of Fall River, the Sacrament used to be
administered every other year by the Bishop. For the last several years, the
Sacrament has been administered yearly, sometimes by the Bishop, sometimes by
his vicar and sometimes by the pastor.
The age for reception of the Sacrament has varied over the years (in my
lifetime) from 12 to 16 years old. The Roman church seems always to have been
ambivalent about when this Sacrament should be confirmed. The Eastern rite has
always been much less ambivalent: the Sacrament of Confirmation is conferred
immediately following Baptism.
It has been an interesting discussion.
John Miranda Raposo
On Sunday, February 14, 2016 2:24 AM, Mary Bordi <busybo...@gmail.com>
wrote:
On Saturday, February 13, 2016, George Medeiros <migueldeav...@gmail.com>
wrote:
Does anyone know if the Bishops lived in the Azores during this period or were
they coming from Portugal ?
I am only researching Sao Jorge. The documents often refer to the Diocese of
Angra. There would be a bishop there unless it was a time between appointments.
I'm not sure if there was only the one diocese in the Azores--as I said, I've
only looked at the Sao Jorge documents.
I'm sure someone else will be able to quote a genuine source for you, but
that's my take on it. :)
Mary--
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