Sarah Mitchell
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ and continued in the Catholic Church. Confirmation completes the graces that a soul received in the Sacrament of Baptism. To get confirmed, one must be a practicing and committed Catholic with a basic grasp of the Catholic faith. Confirmation classes are typically taken as part of a student's 8th-grade Catholic education, but classes are available for all ages. These classes are often administered by parishes, but can also be taken online. After completing these classes, a Catholic bishop or priest confers the Sacrament of Confirmation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Confirmation | One of the seven sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ |
| Confirms and completes the graces received in the Sacrament of Baptism | |
| Requires a basic grasp of the Catholic faith | |
| Confirmation classes are typically taken as part of a student's 8th-grade Catholic education | |
| Confirmation name and sponsor are chosen during the process | |
| Confirmation can be administered by a Catholic priest or bishop | |
| Confirmation can be studied for and received at any age |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Understanding the Sacrament of Confirmation
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ and continued in the Catholic Church. Confirmation completes the graces that a soul received in the Sacrament of Baptism. The Roman Catechism teaches that a baptised person, when anointed with sacred chrism by the Bishop, becomes stronger with the strength of a new power and thus begins to be a perfect soldier of Christ. Confirmation is not a graduation from religious education but makes a Catholic a soldier for Christ who is called upon to live, defend, and spread the Faith to others.
Confirmation students learn about the Rite of Confirmation and their role in the ceremony. They also learn about the importance of choosing a Confirmation name and choosing a sponsor for their Confirmation. Confirmation candidates should know all of the Church's fundamental teachings and prayers and be practising and committed Catholics. The Sacraments can only be conferred by a validly ordained Catholic priest or bishop.
Confirmation classes are often taken as part of a student's 8th-grade Catholic education classes, although there are Confirmation classes for all ages. Confirmation classes typically last one year, although some places require a two-year preparation. CatechismClass.com offers a flexible, online confirmation preparation course that can be completed at a student's own pace.
Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation, along with Baptism and the Eucharist. In the early Church, Baptism and Confirmation were celebrated in a single ceremony. It is still done this way in the churches of the East. In the Roman Catholic Church, the two sacraments gradually separated. Confirmation deepens our baptismal life and calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighbourhoods, society, and the world.
Veils and Catholic Brides: What's the Tradition?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Basic knowledge of the Catholic Faith
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ and continued in the Catholic Church. Confirmation is not a graduation from religious education, but rather a sacrament that confirms and completes the graces that a soul received in the Sacrament of Baptism.
To receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, one must be a practicing and committed Catholic with a basic grasp of the Catholic Faith. This includes knowledge of the Church's fundamental teachings and prayers. Confirmation students also learn about the Rite of Confirmation and their role in the ceremony, the importance of choosing a Confirmation name, and how to choose a sponsor for their Confirmation.
Confirmation classes are typically taken as part of a student's 8th-grade Catholic education, although there is a growing trend towards Confirmation closer to Communion. Classes usually last one year, but some places require a two-year preparation. Classes are available for all ages, including younger children, adolescents, and adults.
Confirmation is typically administered by a Catholic bishop or priest. However, it is possible to study and fulfil the educational requirements for Confirmation online. After completing an online preparation class, one must still have their local Catholic parish administer the Sacrament.
Dying with Dignity: Catholic Church's Stance
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Rite of Confirmation
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ and continued in the Catholic Church. Confirmation is not a graduation from religious education but a sacrament that confirms and completes the graces that a soul received in the Sacrament of Baptism. The Roman Catechism teaches that:
> A baptized person, when anointed with the sacred chrism by the Bishop, with the accompanying solemn words… becomes stronger with the strength of a new power, and thus begins to be a perfect soldier of Christ.
The Sacrament of Confirmation can only be conferred by a bishop or a priest delegated for the purpose. The bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation. For pastoral reasons, he may delegate a priest to administer the sacrament. Confirmation students learn about the Rite of Confirmation and their role in the ceremony, the importance of choosing a Confirmation name, and they choose a sponsor for their Confirmation.
To receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, one must be a practicing and committed Catholic who knows and believes the fundamental truths of the Catholic Religion. Confirmation classes are typically taken as part of a student's 8th-grade Catholic education classes, but there are also Confirmation classes for younger children, adolescents, and adults. These classes usually last one year, though some places require a two-year preparation. CatechismClass.com offers a flexible online confirmation preparation course that can be completed at a student's own pace. After completing an online preparation class, students will still need to have their local Catholic parish administer the Sacrament.
The rite for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation usually takes place at Mass. The pastor or another priest, deacon, or catechist presents the candidates for confirmation, according to the custom of the region. Each candidate goes to the bishop, or the bishop may go to the individual candidates. The one who presented the candidate places his right hand on the latter’s shoulder and gives the candidate’s name to the bishop; or the candidate may give his own name. The bishop then dips his right thumb in the Chrism and makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the one to be confirmed, saying: “ [Name], be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The newly confirmed respond with "Amen".
Catholics and Nazis: An Unholy Alliance?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Choosing a sponsor
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ and continued in the Catholic Church. It confirms and completes the graces that a soul received in the Sacrament of Baptism. Confirmation classes are typically taken as part of a student's 8th-grade Catholic education, but classes are available for all ages.
Confirmation candidates must choose a sponsor for their confirmation. A sponsor must be a fully initiated Catholic who has already been confirmed and received their first Eucharist. If the sponsor is married, they must be in a valid Catholic marriage. The role of the sponsor is to support the candidate through their confirmation journey and to act as a mentor and guide. They should be someone who can help the candidate grow in their faith and understanding of the Catholic Church.
When choosing a sponsor, it is important to consider someone who is already actively involved in the candidate's life and who will continue to be a source of support and guidance after confirmation. The sponsor should be someone who embodies the Catholic faith and can be a positive role model for the candidate. It is also important to choose someone who is committed to helping the candidate through the confirmation process and who will be able to attend classes and ceremonies with them.
Candidates should feel comfortable discussing their faith with their sponsor and be able to ask questions and seek guidance. The sponsor should be someone who is respected and admired by the candidate and who will encourage and motivate them in their spiritual journey. It is also beneficial to choose a sponsor who has a good understanding of the Catholic faith and can provide spiritual direction and support.
Once a sponsor has been chosen, they will typically need to provide a letter of sponsorship to the parish or diocese. This letter confirms their willingness to support the candidate through the confirmation process and their commitment to helping them grow in their faith. The sponsor may also be required to attend certain classes or meetings with the candidate as part of their preparation for confirmation.
Who Goes to Heaven? Non-Catholics' Fate Explored
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Getting Confirmed as an adult
Confirmation is a Sacrament of Initiation, alongside Baptism and the Most Holy Eucharist. It allows candidates to own their faith, re-affirm their baptismal promises, and live a spiritual life as missionary disciples of Jesus Christ.
The process for adult confirmation varies from parish to parish. If you are a resident of New Hampshire, you must contact your parish pastor or their representative, who will advise you on the process. If you live outside of New Hampshire, you must address your sacramental needs with your local pastor and diocese.
Requirements
To be eligible for confirmation, you must be a baptized Catholic who has celebrated First Holy Communion but lacks the Sacrament of Confirmation. If you were baptized in another Christian denomination but are interested in being received into the Catholic Church, you should contact your nearby Catholic Church, and you will be guided through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) process.
If you are married, your marriage must be formally recognized by the Catholic Church. If you are divorced, but not remarried or engaged, you may prepare for Confirmation, provided you acknowledge that if this status changes, you must complete a petition for nullity before marrying in the Church. If you are remarried, you must obtain a formal decree of nullity on the prior failed marriage(s) before receiving the sacraments.
Sponsors
You will need to choose a sponsor who is a practicing Catholic, aged 16 or older, and already baptized and confirmed. They cannot be a parent of the person being confirmed but can be another family member who practices the Catholic faith. The sponsor will be expected to validly receive Holy Communion during the Rite of Confirmation.
Preparation
Preparation for adult confirmation occurs during the winter/spring season and includes sessions on Tuesday evenings. You will need a copy of a Catholic Bible and a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for these sessions.
Confirmation
Finally, you will attend the practice and celebration of the Rite of Confirmation with your sponsor.
Black Catholics: A Complex Identity
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
You must be a practicing and committed Catholic who has been baptised and received their first communion. You should also have a basic grasp of the Catholic Faith and its fundamental teachings and prayers.
Contact your local parish office and ask for details. You may be required to attend classes, which can be in-person or online.
Confirmation classes typically last one year, but some places require a two-year preparation. Most parishes start their classes in September and end sometime in the Easter season when you receive your confirmation.
