Confirmation
Confirmation is a Sacrament of initiation which confirms ones initiation into the Catholic Church. Confirmation is performed after baptism, and is thought to 'seal in' the Holy Spirit. Confirmation is one of the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church.
There are Seven Sacraments which are:
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Penance,
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage
- Holy Orders
In the Catholic Church, anyone that has been baptised can and should be confirmed (About Catholics, 2013).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “Bishops are the successors of the apostles. They have received the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders. The administration of this sacrament by them demonstrates clearly that its effects is to unite those who receive it more closely to the Church, her apostolic origins, and her mission of bearing witness to Christ.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1313). The priest is also able to administer this sacrament, provided it is performed with chrism oil that has been consecrated by the bishop expressing the apostolic unity (About Catholics, 2013).
As stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "like Baptism, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the ‘character,’ which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1304). Confirmation can be administered along with Baptism in older children/adults (About Catholics, 2013).
How is Confirmation performed?
Catholic Confirmation is performed with the ordinary minister extending his hand over the one to be confirmed and anointing his/her head with the oil of chrism saying, “be sealed with the Holy Spirit.” The actual Confirmation ceremony is much longer than this, but this is the “meat” of the action.
The oil of chrism is consecrated by the bishop at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday and is reserved for special things like Baptism, Confirmation,
Holy Orders, blessing of tower bells, consecration of churches, altars, chalices and patens (About Catholics, 2013).
Confirmation is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost (About Catholics, 2013). Confirmation brings Catholics a deepening of baptismal grace and unites us more firmly to Christ. It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit and leaves an indelible mark on the soul just like baptism (About Catholics, 2013).
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
What does a Confirmation sponsor do?
Confirmation sponsors “bring the candidates to receive the sacrament, present them to the minister for anointing, and will later help them fulfil their baptismal promises faithfully under the influence of the Holy Spirit whom they have received.” (Rite of Confirmation, 5)
There are a few requirements to be a Confirmation sponsor. They must be spiritually ready to take on this responsibility meaning they are:
- sufficiently mature to fulfil their role
- member of the Catholic Church and having received all of the sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist)
- freedom from any impediment of law. This means that a sponsor must be in good standing with the Church (no public dissent, believes in the teachings of the Church, and in full communion with the Church), (About Catholics, 2013).
A sponsor has a significant role to play in the development of confirmation candidate, therefore it is important that this person be one who is a living example of faith and whose actions reflect the actions of Jesus (About Catholics, 2013). A confirmation sponsor offers support and encouragement during the confirmation preparation process. The Church encourages people to consider their godparents as sponsors for confirmation. Confirmation’s strong connection to baptism means a persons godparent is a natural choice if this person meets the requirements above (About Catholics, 2013).
Confirmation in the Bible
Confirmation is referred to within the bible in a number of passages. In the Acts of the Apostles (8:14-17) after the Samaritan converts had been baptized by Philip the deacon, the Apostles "sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost; for he was not yet come upon any of them, but they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus; then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost" (New Advent, 2009).
Again (19:1-6): St. Paul "came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples; and he said to them: Have you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? But they said to him: We have not so much as heard whether there be a Holy Ghost. And he said: In what then were you baptized? Who said: In John's baptism. Then Paul said: John baptized the people with the baptism of penance . . . Having heard these things, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had imposed his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied"(New Advent, 2009).
From these two passages we learn that in the earliest ages of the Church there was a rite, distinct from baptism, in which the Holy Ghost was conferred by the imposition of hands, and that the power to perform this ceremony was not implied in the power to baptize (New Advent, 2009).
While no exact mention is made of anointing with chrism, the idea of unction is commonly associated with the giving of the Holy Ghost. Christ (Luke 4:18) applies to Himself the words of Isaias (61:1): "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, wherefore he hath anointed me to preach the gospel" (New Advent, 2009). St. Peter (Acts 10:38) speaks of "Jesus of Nazareth: how God anointed him with the Holy Ghost". St. John tells the faithful: "You have the unction from the Holy One, and know all things"; and again: "Let the unction, which you have received from him, abide in you" (1 John 2:20-27) (New Advent, 2009).
Another passage in the Corinthians is that of St. Paul: "He that confirmeth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God, who also hath sealed us, and given us the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts" (2 Corinthians 1:20-21) (New Advent, 2009). No mention is made of any particular words accompanying the imposition of hands on either of the occasions on which the ceremony is described; but as the act of imposing hands was performed for various purposes, some prayer indicating the special purpose may have been used: "Peter and John . . . prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost". Further, such expressions as "signing" and "sealing" may be taken as referring to the sacrament: "You were signed with the holy Spirit of promise"; "Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30) (New Advent, 2009).
Excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, 2013)
1285 Baptism, the Eucharist and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptised] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed."
1286 In the Old Testament the prophets announced that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the hoped-for Messiah for his saving mission. The descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at his baptism by John was the sign that this was he who was to come, the Messiah, the Son of God.<91> He was conceived of the Holy Spirit; his whole life and his whole mission are carried out in total communion with the Holy Spirit whom the Father gives him "without measure."
1287 This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah's, but was to be communicated to the whole messianic people. On several occasions Christ promised this outpouring of the Spirit, a promise which he fulfilled first on Easter Sunday and then more strikingly at Pentecost. Filled with the Holy Spirit the apostles began to proclaim "the mighty works of God," and Peter declared this outpouring of the Spirit to be the sign of the messianic age. Those who believed in the apostolic preaching and were baptised received the gift of the Holy Spirit in their turn.
1288 "From that time on the apostles, in fulfilment of Christ's will, imparted to the newly baptised by the laying on of hands the gift of the Spirit that completes the grace of Baptism. For this reason in the Letter to the Hebrews the doctrine concerning Baptism and the laying on of hands is listed among the first elements of Christian instruction. The imposition of hands is rightly recognised by the Catholic tradition as the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation, which in a certain way perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church."
Read more at:
About Catholics, 2013 - http://www.aboutcatholics.com/beliefs/catholic-confirmation-explained/
Beginning Catholic, 2006 - http://www.beginningcatholic.com/confirmation.html
Catholic Encyclopaedia - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04215b.htm
Faith First - http://www.faithfirst.com/html/catechist/sacramentPrep/images/ConfProcessJH.pdf
Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, 2013 - http://www.cam.org.au/Catholic-Faith/Sacraments/Confirmation
- http://www.cam.org.au/Catholic-Faith/Sacraments/Confirmation
There are Seven Sacraments which are:
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Penance,
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage
- Holy Orders
In the Catholic Church, anyone that has been baptised can and should be confirmed (About Catholics, 2013).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “Bishops are the successors of the apostles. They have received the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders. The administration of this sacrament by them demonstrates clearly that its effects is to unite those who receive it more closely to the Church, her apostolic origins, and her mission of bearing witness to Christ.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1313). The priest is also able to administer this sacrament, provided it is performed with chrism oil that has been consecrated by the bishop expressing the apostolic unity (About Catholics, 2013).
As stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "like Baptism, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the ‘character,’ which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1304). Confirmation can be administered along with Baptism in older children/adults (About Catholics, 2013).
How is Confirmation performed?
Catholic Confirmation is performed with the ordinary minister extending his hand over the one to be confirmed and anointing his/her head with the oil of chrism saying, “be sealed with the Holy Spirit.” The actual Confirmation ceremony is much longer than this, but this is the “meat” of the action.
The oil of chrism is consecrated by the bishop at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday and is reserved for special things like Baptism, Confirmation,
Holy Orders, blessing of tower bells, consecration of churches, altars, chalices and patens (About Catholics, 2013).
Confirmation is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost (About Catholics, 2013). Confirmation brings Catholics a deepening of baptismal grace and unites us more firmly to Christ. It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit and leaves an indelible mark on the soul just like baptism (About Catholics, 2013).
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
- Wisdom
- Understanding
- Knowledge
- Fortitude or Courage
- Counsel
- Piety or Love
- Fear of the Lord.
What does a Confirmation sponsor do?
Confirmation sponsors “bring the candidates to receive the sacrament, present them to the minister for anointing, and will later help them fulfil their baptismal promises faithfully under the influence of the Holy Spirit whom they have received.” (Rite of Confirmation, 5)
There are a few requirements to be a Confirmation sponsor. They must be spiritually ready to take on this responsibility meaning they are:
- sufficiently mature to fulfil their role
- member of the Catholic Church and having received all of the sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist)
- freedom from any impediment of law. This means that a sponsor must be in good standing with the Church (no public dissent, believes in the teachings of the Church, and in full communion with the Church), (About Catholics, 2013).
A sponsor has a significant role to play in the development of confirmation candidate, therefore it is important that this person be one who is a living example of faith and whose actions reflect the actions of Jesus (About Catholics, 2013). A confirmation sponsor offers support and encouragement during the confirmation preparation process. The Church encourages people to consider their godparents as sponsors for confirmation. Confirmation’s strong connection to baptism means a persons godparent is a natural choice if this person meets the requirements above (About Catholics, 2013).
Confirmation in the Bible
Confirmation is referred to within the bible in a number of passages. In the Acts of the Apostles (8:14-17) after the Samaritan converts had been baptized by Philip the deacon, the Apostles "sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost; for he was not yet come upon any of them, but they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus; then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost" (New Advent, 2009).
Again (19:1-6): St. Paul "came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples; and he said to them: Have you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? But they said to him: We have not so much as heard whether there be a Holy Ghost. And he said: In what then were you baptized? Who said: In John's baptism. Then Paul said: John baptized the people with the baptism of penance . . . Having heard these things, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had imposed his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied"(New Advent, 2009).
From these two passages we learn that in the earliest ages of the Church there was a rite, distinct from baptism, in which the Holy Ghost was conferred by the imposition of hands, and that the power to perform this ceremony was not implied in the power to baptize (New Advent, 2009).
While no exact mention is made of anointing with chrism, the idea of unction is commonly associated with the giving of the Holy Ghost. Christ (Luke 4:18) applies to Himself the words of Isaias (61:1): "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, wherefore he hath anointed me to preach the gospel" (New Advent, 2009). St. Peter (Acts 10:38) speaks of "Jesus of Nazareth: how God anointed him with the Holy Ghost". St. John tells the faithful: "You have the unction from the Holy One, and know all things"; and again: "Let the unction, which you have received from him, abide in you" (1 John 2:20-27) (New Advent, 2009).
Another passage in the Corinthians is that of St. Paul: "He that confirmeth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God, who also hath sealed us, and given us the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts" (2 Corinthians 1:20-21) (New Advent, 2009). No mention is made of any particular words accompanying the imposition of hands on either of the occasions on which the ceremony is described; but as the act of imposing hands was performed for various purposes, some prayer indicating the special purpose may have been used: "Peter and John . . . prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost". Further, such expressions as "signing" and "sealing" may be taken as referring to the sacrament: "You were signed with the holy Spirit of promise"; "Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30) (New Advent, 2009).
Excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, 2013)
1285 Baptism, the Eucharist and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptised] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed."
1286 In the Old Testament the prophets announced that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the hoped-for Messiah for his saving mission. The descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at his baptism by John was the sign that this was he who was to come, the Messiah, the Son of God.<91> He was conceived of the Holy Spirit; his whole life and his whole mission are carried out in total communion with the Holy Spirit whom the Father gives him "without measure."
1287 This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah's, but was to be communicated to the whole messianic people. On several occasions Christ promised this outpouring of the Spirit, a promise which he fulfilled first on Easter Sunday and then more strikingly at Pentecost. Filled with the Holy Spirit the apostles began to proclaim "the mighty works of God," and Peter declared this outpouring of the Spirit to be the sign of the messianic age. Those who believed in the apostolic preaching and were baptised received the gift of the Holy Spirit in their turn.
1288 "From that time on the apostles, in fulfilment of Christ's will, imparted to the newly baptised by the laying on of hands the gift of the Spirit that completes the grace of Baptism. For this reason in the Letter to the Hebrews the doctrine concerning Baptism and the laying on of hands is listed among the first elements of Christian instruction. The imposition of hands is rightly recognised by the Catholic tradition as the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation, which in a certain way perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church."
Read more at:
About Catholics, 2013 - http://www.aboutcatholics.com/beliefs/catholic-confirmation-explained/
Beginning Catholic, 2006 - http://www.beginningcatholic.com/confirmation.html
Catholic Encyclopaedia - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04215b.htm
Faith First - http://www.faithfirst.com/html/catechist/sacramentPrep/images/ConfProcessJH.pdf
Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, 2013 - http://www.cam.org.au/Catholic-Faith/Sacraments/Confirmation
- http://www.cam.org.au/Catholic-Faith/Sacraments/Confirmation