Michael Brooks
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, and one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation is not mandatory for Catholics, but it is a way for Catholics to attain full membership in the Catholic Church. It is a sacrament that will instill God's grace within an individual to strengthen and sustain them in their journey of faith. Confirmation is usually performed by a bishop, but can also be performed by a priest.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Confirmation in the Catholic Church | One of the seven sacraments |
| Confirmation as a rite | Seen as a rite by many Anglicans |
| Confirmation as a sacrament | The sacrament of baptism that confers membership |
| Confirmation as a double sacrament | Connected to baptism |
| Confirmation as a mystery | A sacrament established by God |
| Confirmation as a process | Completes the process of initiation into the Christian community |
| Confirmation as a choice | Catholics choose their confirmation name |
| Confirmation as a ritual | Atheist regimes have replaced Christian rituals such as confirmation with non-religious ones |
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What You'll Learn
Confirmation as a sacrament
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. It is also one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation completes the process of initiation into the Christian community, bringing the individual being confirmed deeper into communion with the Church.
Confirmation is a sacrament in which the one being confirmed (confirmandi) receives the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is first introduced to a Catholic on the day of their baptism, as the entire Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—are invoked at the ceremony. The Holy Spirit is then bestowed upon the confirmandi through the imposition of hand and anointing with oils by the bishop. The bishop extends his hand over the confirmandi and anoints their forehead with Chrism Oil, saying, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit." The confirmandi then respond, "Amen."
Confirmation is often performed when the individual is approaching adulthood. However, the Catechism of the Catholic Church warns that "we must not confuse adult faith with the adult age of natural growth, nor forget that the baptismal grace is a grace of free, unmerited election and does not need 'ratification' to become effective." Confirmation is only given once, and it is fully completed and does not expire.
In the Latin Church, the sacrament is to be conferred on the faithful above the age of discretion (generally taken to be about 7), unless the Episcopal Conference has decided on a different age. In the Eastern Catholic Churches, priests are those who normally administer the sacrament, and it can be administered conjointly with baptism.
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Confirmation as a rite of passage
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and is considered a rite of passage by many Catholics. It is seen as a significant step in a person's spiritual journey and a way to attain full membership in the Catholic Church.
In the Catholic Church, Confirmation is often conferred upon adolescents or teenagers, marking a transition from childhood to adulthood and a personal commitment to their faith. This is in contrast to Baptism, which is typically administered during infancy. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1308, clarifies that Confirmation is not merely a "coming of age" sacrament but a spiritual maturation that completes the initiation into the Christian community.
During the Confirmation ceremony, the bishop or priest extends their hand over the individual and anoints their head with holy chrism oil, bestowing the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, and reverence. The recipient of Confirmation chooses their Confirmation name, typically the name of a saint or a biblical figure, which symbolizes their new identity in Christ.
The preparation for Confirmation involves studying Catholic beliefs, morals, and ethics, as well as performing community service and volunteer work. This period is intended to help individuals deepen their faith, connect their lives to the Lord, and discern how they will use their gifts in service to others.
While Confirmation is a significant milestone in the Catholic faith, it is important to note that it is not merely a ritual or rite of passage. It is a sacrament that empowers individuals with divine grace and transforms them into active participants in the life of the Church.
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Confirmation as a personal commitment
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and is one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation is a personal commitment to completing one's initiation into the Catholic Church.
Confirmation is a significant step in the spiritual journey of Catholics, marking a person's commitment to their faith and their willingness to be "sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit". The Holy Spirit is first introduced to a Catholic on the day of their baptism, and Confirmation completes this process of initiation. It is a way for Catholics to attain full membership in the Catholic Church, and it matures the soul for the work ahead.
The age at which Confirmation is received varies. In some places, it is common for adolescents or young adults to be confirmed, while in other places, it may be administered to younger children. The timing of Confirmation is not as important as the individual's willingness to make a personal commitment to their faith and to renew their baptismal promises.
Preparation for Confirmation involves attending classes or meetings to ensure that the individual is suitably instructed and able to make an informed decision about their commitment to the Catholic Church. During the Confirmation ceremony, the bishop or priest will extend their hand over the person being confirmed and anoint their forehead with Chrism Oil, saying, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit." The person responds, "Amen."
Confirmation is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and it is a permanent and fully completed sacrament that does not need to be repeated or renewed. It is a celebration of the fullness of the Holy Spirit in the Church and a personal commitment to continuing one's spiritual journey as a Catholic.
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The process of confirmation
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. It is also one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation completes the process of initiation into the Christian community and marks the recipient as having attained full membership in the Catholic Church.
Confirmation is a gift of God's grace, increasing the presence of the Holy Spirit in one's life. It is not to be confused with adult faith, nor does it need to be ratified to become effective. It is a permanent thing that is fully completed and does not expire.
- Preparation: In the Archdiocese of Denver, for example, confirmation requires two years of preparation in the second and third grades. First Reconciliation occurs in second grade, and confirmation and First Communion are received together in third grade. Confirmation candidates are expected to have a basic understanding of Catholic teachings and be suitably instructed.
- Choosing a Sponsor: Each individual being confirmed chooses their own sponsor, who can be their godmother or godfather if they are still practising Catholics. The sponsor must be at least 16 years old, already confirmed, and in good standing with the Church. The sponsor lays a hand on the shoulder of the person being confirmed during the ceremony.
- Selecting a Confirmation Name: The individual selects their confirmation name, which is typically the name of a saint or a hero from the Bible. This name is in addition to their first and middle names and is considered a pious practice.
- The Ceremony: The confirmation ceremony is usually performed by a Bishop, although in some cases, it can be delegated to a priest. The Bishop or priest extends their hand over the person being confirmed and anoints their forehead with Chrism Oil, saying, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit." The person responds, "Amen." The Bishop then says, "Peace be with you," and the response is, "And with your spirit" or "And also with you."
- Receiving the Holy Spirit: Through the sacrament of confirmation, Catholics believe they receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, reverence, and wonder and awe. These gifts empower the recipient to live a Christian life and give them the strength to resist sin and help others.
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Confirmation and conversion
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and is one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation completes the process of initiation into the Christian community.
In Catholic theology, it is the sacrament of baptism that confers membership, while the "reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace". The Catholic and Methodist denominations teach that in confirmation, the Holy Spirit strengthens a baptised individual for their faith journey.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
> It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:15); ... it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.
In Eastern Christianity, the sacrament of confirmation is called chrismation and takes place immediately after baptism. In the West, confirmation typically takes place when a child reaches the age of reason or early adolescence, or in the case of adult baptism, immediately afterwards in the same ceremony.
Non-Catholics interested in converting to Catholicism attend RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) classes. Adult converts who have never been baptised are baptised when they become Catholic; they are confirmed and receive their First Communion at the same Mass. If they were baptised in a Protestant Church, they make a Profession of Faith, are confirmed, and receive Holy Eucharist at the Easter Vigil Mass.
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Frequently asked questions
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. It is not necessary for membership, but it completes the process of initiation into the Catholic Church.
Confirmation is a sacrament that matures the soul for the work ahead. It is a supernatural equivalent of the natural growth process.
The Catholic being confirmed stands or kneels before the bishop, and the sponsor lays one hand on the shoulder of the person being confirmed. The confirmation name is spoken, and the bishop puts chrism oil on the forehead of the person being confirmed, saying, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit."
The sponsor can be the godmother or godfather if they are still practising Catholics, or the individual may choose someone else (other than their parents) who is over the age of 16, already confirmed, and in good standing with the Church.
Confirmation is often done in adolescence, but it is not restricted to any age.
