Grace Thompson
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and is considered one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation is a vow to live within the Church, and those who have been baptised are considered Catholics. If there is no record of baptism, one can become a Catholic by participating in their parish's RCIA program, which will prepare them for baptism, confirmation, and first communion. Confirmation typically takes place during adolescence, but there is no age requirement.
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What You'll Learn
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments
The sacrament of Confirmation is the supernatural equivalent of the natural growth process. It builds on what was begun in Baptism and what was nourished in the Holy Eucharist. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptised person is "sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit was first introduced to a Catholic on the day of their baptism, as the entire Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—are invoked during the ceremony.
The Catholic being confirmed stands or kneels before the bishop, and the sponsor lays one hand on the shoulder of the one being confirmed. The Confirmation name is spoken, and the bishop puts Chrism Oil on the person's forehead, says their name aloud, and then says, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit." The person responds, "Amen." The bishop then says, "Peace be with you," to which the person responds, "And with your spirit" or "And also with you."
In Eastern Catholic Churches, the sacrament is called Chrismation with holy Myron. In these churches, priests are those who normally administer the Chrismation with holy Myron, and this sacrament can be administered conjointly with baptism. In the Latin Church, the sacrament is to be conferred on the faithful above the age of discretion, which is generally taken to be about seven years old.
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Confirmation ceremony
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 baptism through sealing in the Holy Spirit and anoints the recipient as priest, prophet, and king.
The actual Confirmation ceremony involves the ordinary minister extending their hand over the person being confirmed and anointing their head with the oil of chrism, saying, "be sealed with the Holy Spirit". The oil of chrism is consecrated by the bishop on Holy Thursday and is used for special occasions like Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, and the blessing of churches, among others. The ceremony is much longer, but this is the most important part.
In some countries, it is customary for the person being confirmed to adopt a new name, generally that of a biblical character or saint, thus gaining an additional patron saint as a protector and guide. This practice is not mentioned in the official liturgical book of the rite of confirmation and is not used in some countries.
In the mid-20th century, Confirmation began to be seen as an occasion for professing personal commitment to the faith on the part of someone approaching adulthood. However, the Catechism of the Catholic Church warns that "Although Confirmation is sometimes called the 'sacrament of Christian maturity,' 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."
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You don't need to attend church to be Catholic
Attending church is not a prerequisite for being Catholic. While it is true that confirmation in the Catholic Church is one of the seven sacraments, and typically occurs in the early teens, it is not necessary to attend church regularly to be considered Catholic.
Being Catholic is not about birthright or inheritance; it is an individual decision. Even those born to Catholic parents must go through the catechism and confirmation process. This involves learning and examination before being officially baptized and accepted as a member of the Church. If you have been baptized, you are considered Catholic, regardless of your knowledge of Catholicism or church attendance.
However, it is important to note that not attending church may impact how one practices their faith. For example, some individuals may find it challenging to remain engaged with their faith without regular church attendance. Additionally, the Mass is considered the most important aspect of Catholicism, as it is seen as an opportunity to give oneself to God and receive the Eucharist.
Despite this, there are alternatives to attending Mass in person, such as watching it on television or online, or attending weeknight services, which are typically shorter and may have different priests or choirs. Ultimately, while attending church is not a requirement for being Catholic, it can enrich one's faith and provide a sense of community and engagement with the Catholic Church.
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You can be conditionally baptised
Confirmation in the Catholic Church is one of the seven sacraments and three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Even children born to Catholic parents must go through a Confirmation ceremony, typically in their early teens.
If you are unsure whether you have been baptised, you can be baptised conditionally after going through the RCIA (a programme that prepares you for baptism, confirmation, and first communion). A conditional baptism is a baptism performed in such a way that it is only effective if the person has not already been baptised. This is because mainline Christian theology (including Catholic theology) traditionally holds that only one baptism is valid.
A conditional baptism is administered when a person questions the "validity" of their previous baptism and it can be ascertained that the baptism was indeed invalid. For example, if the previous baptism was performed using impure water, or if there is uncertainty about whether the Triune name of God was used by the person administering the baptism, a conditional baptism may be performed. In such cases, a conditional baptism is later performed by an ordinary minister of the sacrament with certainly valid matter.
In a typical baptism, the minister of the sacrament says, "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." In a conditional baptism, the minister says, "If you are not yet baptized, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
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Confirmation is not dependent on age
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 not dependent on age. While the traditional age for confirmation has been around seven years old, the age can vary across different cultures. For instance, in the United States, confirmation typically takes place in the mid-teens, while in Ireland and Britain, it occurs in the early teens. In some cultures, confirmation can even take place at 16, 18, or in the early 20s.
The age of confirmation is generally determined by the episcopal conference, which may decide on a different age based on various factors. The sacrament of confirmation is typically conferred on individuals at the age of discretion, which is understood to be around seven years old. However, if an individual is younger than this age but has reached the age of reason, they may still be able to receive confirmation. The age of reason is the age at which a child can distinguish right from wrong and is considered capable of making moral decisions. This age can vary from child to child but is typically reached around the age of seven.
While confirmation is often associated with maturity and is sometimes referred to as the "sacrament of Christian maturity," it is important to note that this refers to spiritual maturity rather than physical age. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1308, clarifies this distinction:
> "Although Confirmation is sometimes called the 'sacrament of Christian maturity,' 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 a significant step in the Catholic faith, as it involves renewing one's baptismal vows and confirming one's commitment to the Church. While it is typically received at a younger age, it is not uncommon for individuals to receive confirmation later in life if they were not raised in the Catholic faith or if they are returning to the faith after a period of absence. In such cases, individuals can participate in their parish's RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program, which will prepare them for confirmation, along with baptism and first communion if they have not already received these sacraments.
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Frequently asked questions
If you were baptized as a baby, you are considered Catholic. If you were baptized in another faith, you can become Catholic by participating in your parish's RCIA program, which will prepare you for confirmation and first communion.
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and is considered one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being baptism and first communion. Confirmation is a vow to live within the Church. Teenagers are typically confirmed during the Easter season of their 10th-grade year, but there is no age requirement.
The person 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 person's forehead, says their name aloud, and then says, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit." The person responds, "Amen." The bishop then says, "Peace be with you," and the person responds, "And with your spirit" or "And also with you."
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
