Nature

Confirmation – it has been variously designated: bebaiosis or confirmatio, a making fast or sure; teleiosis or consummatio, a perfecting or completing, as expressing its relation to baptism. With reference to its effect it is the "Sacrament of the Holy Ghost", the "Sacrament of the Seal" (signaculum, sigillum, sphragis). From the external rite it is known as the "imposition of hands" (epithesischeiron), or as "anointing with chrism" (unctio, chrismatio, chrisma, myron). The names at present in use are, for the Western Church, confirmatio, and for the Greek, to myron.

Confirmation

• is a sacrament in which the Holy Ghost is given to those already baptized in order to make them strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ. It builds on what was begun in Baptism and what was nourished in Holy Eucharist. It completes the process of initiation into the Christian community, and it matures the soul for the work ahead.

BRIEF HISTORY OF CONFIRMATION

Confirmation began as one and the same sacrament as baptism. While it is true that whole families were brought into the Church at once (Acts 16:15, 31-34), at this time, adult baptism was the norm. At the Easter Vigil, deacons would baptize converts who would then go immediately to their bishop, who was present at the baptism, and the bishop would confirm (i.e. acknowledge) their baptism. With baptism complete, these neophytes were brought to the Eucharistic table for the first time.

•300s: As Christianity continued to grow, bishops could no longer be at every baptism. Instead, they would come later to confirm those already baptized. We can already see a president for this separation between baptism and confirmation at the time of the Apostles (Acts 8:14-17). Eventually, confirmation and first Eucharist became sacraments associated not with infants but with older youths.

•1000s: Confirmation and First Eucharist became separate rites from each other.

• Early 1900s: Many Catholics, while having received baptism, confirmation, and First Eucharist, were not receiving Communion regularly. Pope Pius X moved First Communion from after confirmation to around age seven. This was done in hopes of instilling the habit of regular Communion from an early age, and today many Catholics do receive Eucharist regularly. Thus, First Communion now normally precedes confirmation.

•  Late 1900s: The RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, revives the original sacramental order. Since RCIA candidates are confirmed at the Easter Vigil, the bishop appoints delegates, parish pastors, to confirm in his absence, for he cannot be at all of the parishes in a diocese in one evening. Outside of the RCIA, the Church typically still follows the order recommended by Pope Pius X.

Biblical Bases

Luke 2:25 “Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.”

John 1:33 . . . “He on whom you see the Spirit descends and remain…

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you . . .

and many more…

Matter Chrism - For olive-oil, being of its own nature rich,

diffusive, and abiding, is fitted to represent the copious outpouring of sacramental grace, while balsam, which gives forth most agreeable and fragrant odours, typifies the innate sweetness of Christian virtue. Oil also gives strength and suppleness to the limbs, while balsam preserves from corruption. Thus anointing with chrism aptly signifies that fullness of grace and spiritual strength by which we are enabled to resist the contagion of sin and produce the sweet flowers of virtue.

Form

•During the anointing with chrism, the bishop says, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

MINISTER

Bishop - Each bishop is a successor

to the apostles, upon whom the Holy

Spirit descended at Pentecost—the

first Confirmation.

Those to be Confirmed

The faithful are obliged to receive this sacrament at the appropriate time; their parents and shepherds

of souls, especially pastors, are to see to it that the faithful are properly instructed to receive it and approach the sacrament at

the appropriate time.

Requirements for Confirmation

• Select a sponsor.  Sponsors will share this sacramental time with you.  Sponsors need to be:  over 18, Confirmed Catholic, not a parent. 

• Complete 4 Acts of Service (2 in parish life, 2 in community life)

• Attend the Confirmation Retreat.

• Participate in Mass each week and turn in attendance envelopes.

• Attendance at all Confirmation sessions is essential and required. These dates are listed on the calendar. If a candidate must miss a session, make-up work will need to be completed.

• A Candidate must be baptized Catholic or have been received into the Catholic Church.

• Candidates must have been enrolled in either a Catholic High School or a parish Religious Education Program in their freshmen and sophomore year prior to entering immediate preparation for Confirmation.

• Candidates must freely choose to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

EffectsConfirmation imparts:• an increase of sanctifying grace which makes the recipient a

"perfect Christian"; • a special sacramental grace consisting in the seven gifts of the

Holy Ghost and notably in the strength and courage to confess boldly the name of Christ;

• an indelible character by reason of which the sacrament cannot be received again by the same person.

• A further consequence is the spiritual relationship which the person confirming and the sponsor contract with the recipient and with the recipient's parents. This relationship constitutes a diriment impediment to marriage. It does not arise between the minister of the sacrament and the sponsor nor between the sponsors themselves.

You stand or kneel before the bishop. Your sponsor lays one hand on your shoulder and

speaks your confirmation name. The bishop anoints you by using chrism to make the

Sign of the Cross on your forehead while saying your Confirmation name and “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” You respond, “Amen.”

The bishop then says, “Peace be with you.” You respond, “And with your spirit” or “And also with you.”

Rite

Photos of Confirmation

FIN