Responsa Magisterii AI non semper perfecta sunt. In dubio, hominem consule.
Can you choose a Blessed as your confirmation Saint even if they aren't close to canonization?
While the resources don't explicitly address whether a Blessed who is not close to canonization can be chosen as a confirmation saint, they do provide information about the general requirements and nature of choosing a confirmation saint.
Here's what can be inferred from the provided resources:
Based on this, it can be inferred that the primary consideration for choosing a confirmation saint is that the saint serves as a good role model and intercessor for the candidate, helping them to live out their faith more fully. The individual should ideally embody the virtues and characteristics that the candidate wishes to emulate in their own life.
The title of "Blessed" signifies that the Church has officially recognized the individual as being in Heaven and worthy of public veneration in certain localities. While the process of canonization involves further investigation into the individual's life and miracles, the fact that someone is recognized as "Blessed" indicates that they lived a life of heroic virtue and are considered a model of Christian living.
Therefore, it is permissible to choose a Blessed as a confirmation saint, regardless of how close they are to being canonized, as long as the Blessed serves as a suitable role model and intercessor for the candidate. The key factor is that the Blessed lived a life of faith and virtue that inspires the candidate in their own journey of faith.