Symbols and Rituals in Confirmation
Laying on of hands
The Bishop stretches out his hand over the children and calls down the power of the Holy Spirit. This is a profound gesture which is also used in other sacraments including the anointing of the sick and ordination of a priest. This gesture is also used during the consecration of the bread and wine at Mass, so that they become the body and blood of Christ. In Confirmation, the Bishop or Priest calls upon the gifts of the Holy Spirit to overshadow the person being confirmed.
Anointing with Oil
Chrism, which is a special oil blessed by the Bishop is used for anointing during the confirmation ceremony. Anointing is a symbol of being called and strengthened for an important task, which is derived from ancient times. In Confirmation, the person is being anointed to go forth in life as a Catholic, as a disciple of Jesus, as a person of the Spirit, with confidence and strength.
Words
The bishop or priest performing the confirmation recites the words ‘Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit’. This symbolises a legal contract when
signed and sealed is considered authentic and binding. To be sealed with the Spirit is to be confirmed as a Christian believer.
The Sign of Peace
This Sign of Peace is used within the Confirmation ceremony as a sign of our unity and that we are one people of God, one body of Christ. When the bishop or Priest says ‘Peace be with you’ during the Confirmation ceremony or during Mass, he is saying it on behalf of the community to symbolise that we are all one with the Church.
White Garment
The person being confirmed usually wears a white garments to symbolise their purity.
The Bishop stretches out his hand over the children and calls down the power of the Holy Spirit. This is a profound gesture which is also used in other sacraments including the anointing of the sick and ordination of a priest. This gesture is also used during the consecration of the bread and wine at Mass, so that they become the body and blood of Christ. In Confirmation, the Bishop or Priest calls upon the gifts of the Holy Spirit to overshadow the person being confirmed.
Anointing with Oil
Chrism, which is a special oil blessed by the Bishop is used for anointing during the confirmation ceremony. Anointing is a symbol of being called and strengthened for an important task, which is derived from ancient times. In Confirmation, the person is being anointed to go forth in life as a Catholic, as a disciple of Jesus, as a person of the Spirit, with confidence and strength.
Words
The bishop or priest performing the confirmation recites the words ‘Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit’. This symbolises a legal contract when
signed and sealed is considered authentic and binding. To be sealed with the Spirit is to be confirmed as a Christian believer.
The Sign of Peace
This Sign of Peace is used within the Confirmation ceremony as a sign of our unity and that we are one people of God, one body of Christ. When the bishop or Priest says ‘Peace be with you’ during the Confirmation ceremony or during Mass, he is saying it on behalf of the community to symbolise that we are all one with the Church.
White Garment
The person being confirmed usually wears a white garments to symbolise their purity.
Symbols and Rituals in Baptism
Sign of the Cross
The priest will make the cross on the forehead of the person being baptised and will ask for the parents and/or godparents to do the same. The cross is a reminder of the love of Christ who gave his life for his friends. The tracing of a cross on the forehead of the person being baptised is an invisible 'branding' that says 'you belong to Christ'.
Baptismal Font
The baptismal font - a large bowl, usually of stone or marble or glass holding the waters of baptism. Usually the mother holds the child. The celebrant asks the parents what they want for the child. You reply, 'Baptism.' Then you make the baptismal promises on behalf of your child. These promises are based on the Apostles Creed.
Anointing with Oil
The celebrant anoints your baby with oil on the forehead and on the chest. To do this they use the Oil of Baptism (Catechumens) and the Oil of Chrism. The Oil of Baptism is olive oil which has been blessed by a Bishop.
The Oil of Chrism is a combination of olive oil and balsam which has also been blessed by a Bishop. It symbolises the sealing with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
This symbol comes from ancient times when athletes used to rub oil into their bodies before events to strengthen them and make their skin more supple. It
symbolises strengthening the baptised for the struggles of life ahead.
Baptism with Water
The priest pours water over the person being baptised (or immerses them in the water) and says "I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." The water is a sign of cleansing. The water symbolically washes the person being baptised of all sin and is also a sign of new life. It is a sign of the new spiritual life into which the baptised person is entering.
Candle
As a sign of the new life a candle will be lit, usually from the Easter Candle which symbolises the light of Christ. Usually the father of the child or a godparent will stand by the child and hold this candle.
White Garment
The person being baptised is given white garment as a sign of being clothed in Christ. Some families might have a Christening gown that is passed down for generations. The white garment is a symbol of purity and innocence.
Baptismal certificate and Baptismal register
At the end of the ceremony the parents and/or godparents will be asked to sign the parish Baptismal register and will be given a Baptismal Certificate. This certificate may be needed when you enrol your child in a catholic school or before he or she receives the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation.
Donation
Although a baptism is free, some churches ask families to give the priest a donation for his time and effort.
Read more at:
Catholic Australia- http://www.catholicaustralia.com.au/page.php?pg=sacraments-baptismal-ceremony
Archdiocese of Sydney - http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/media_releases/2005/2005519_891.shtml
Vatican - http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a2.htm
Faith First - http://www.faithfirst.com/html/catechist/sacramentPrep/images/ConfProcessJH.pdf
The priest will make the cross on the forehead of the person being baptised and will ask for the parents and/or godparents to do the same. The cross is a reminder of the love of Christ who gave his life for his friends. The tracing of a cross on the forehead of the person being baptised is an invisible 'branding' that says 'you belong to Christ'.
Baptismal Font
The baptismal font - a large bowl, usually of stone or marble or glass holding the waters of baptism. Usually the mother holds the child. The celebrant asks the parents what they want for the child. You reply, 'Baptism.' Then you make the baptismal promises on behalf of your child. These promises are based on the Apostles Creed.
Anointing with Oil
The celebrant anoints your baby with oil on the forehead and on the chest. To do this they use the Oil of Baptism (Catechumens) and the Oil of Chrism. The Oil of Baptism is olive oil which has been blessed by a Bishop.
The Oil of Chrism is a combination of olive oil and balsam which has also been blessed by a Bishop. It symbolises the sealing with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
This symbol comes from ancient times when athletes used to rub oil into their bodies before events to strengthen them and make their skin more supple. It
symbolises strengthening the baptised for the struggles of life ahead.
Baptism with Water
The priest pours water over the person being baptised (or immerses them in the water) and says "I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." The water is a sign of cleansing. The water symbolically washes the person being baptised of all sin and is also a sign of new life. It is a sign of the new spiritual life into which the baptised person is entering.
Candle
As a sign of the new life a candle will be lit, usually from the Easter Candle which symbolises the light of Christ. Usually the father of the child or a godparent will stand by the child and hold this candle.
White Garment
The person being baptised is given white garment as a sign of being clothed in Christ. Some families might have a Christening gown that is passed down for generations. The white garment is a symbol of purity and innocence.
Baptismal certificate and Baptismal register
At the end of the ceremony the parents and/or godparents will be asked to sign the parish Baptismal register and will be given a Baptismal Certificate. This certificate may be needed when you enrol your child in a catholic school or before he or she receives the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation.
Donation
Although a baptism is free, some churches ask families to give the priest a donation for his time and effort.
Read more at:
Catholic Australia- http://www.catholicaustralia.com.au/page.php?pg=sacraments-baptismal-ceremony
Archdiocese of Sydney - http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/media_releases/2005/2005519_891.shtml
Vatican - http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a2.htm
Faith First - http://www.faithfirst.com/html/catechist/sacramentPrep/images/ConfProcessJH.pdf