Ethan Walker
Baptism and Confirmation are two of the seven sacraments that make up the Catholic Church's initiation rites. While they are distinct, they are closely associated, and Confirmation is considered a continuation of Baptism. Baptism is a prerequisite for Confirmation, and it is the sacrament that incorporates a person into the Church and brings them into the body of Christ, making them a child of God. Confirmation, on the other hand, is the sacrament that completes the initiation process, strengthening and confirming the faith that was regenerated in the waters of baptism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Order of sacraments | Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation |
| Confirmation prerequisite | First Communion |
| Confirmation in Reformed Confessional tradition | Prerequisite to the Lord's supper (after 1 year catechism) |
| Confirmation in Catholic theology | Not necessary for membership |
| Confirmation in other denominations | Required for full membership |
| Confirmation in Eastern Catholic Churches | Administered by parish priest using olive oil consecrated by bishop |
| Confirmation in Eastern Catholic Churches | Administered to infants |
| Confirmation in Western Catholic Churches | Administered when a child reaches the age of reason or early adolescence |
| Confirmation in Western Catholic Churches | Administered to adults by bishop of diocese |
| Confirmation in Western Catholic Churches | Administered to adults by priest if not by bishop |
| Confirmation in Western Catholic Churches | Administered to adult converts from non-Christian religions |
| Confirmation | Seals the covenant created in baptism |
| Confirmation | Makes us adults in Christ |
| Confirmation | Completes baptismal grace |
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What You'll Learn
Confirmation completes baptismal grace
Confirmation completes the grace received during baptism, making the recipient an adult in the faith. Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration, which brings us into the body of Christ and makes us children of God. It is the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door to the other sacraments.
However, baptism only makes us babies in Christ, and we need to grow in our faith. This is where confirmation comes in. Confirmation is the continuation of baptism and, together with baptism and the Eucharist, forms the sacraments of Christian initiation. It gives us the grace to live out our faith for ourselves and others, to witness and evangelize, and to help them draw closer to Christ and his Church. Confirmation makes us share fully in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit by the risen Lord.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines baptism and confirmation as follows: "Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of confirmation together constitute the sacraments of Christian initiation whose unity must be safeguarded. The recipient of the sacrament of confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace." Confirmation strengthens and confirms the faith that has been regenerated in the waters of baptism. It helps the baptized believer to become more deeply rooted in the childhood of God and to become more firmly integrated into Christ.
In the Eastern Church, the sacrament of confirmation is called "Chrismation" and is conferred by the same priest who administers baptism, although the anointing is performed with chrism consecrated by the Bishop. In the Latin rite, the ordinary minister of Confirmation is the Bishop, who may grant this faculty to priests for grave reasons. The sacrament of Confirmation "in a certain way perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church." It closely associates the Christian with the anointing of Christ, whom "God anointed with the Holy Spirit."
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Confirmation makes us adults in Christ
Confirmation is a significant step in a Christian's journey of faith. It is one of the three sacraments of initiation in the Catholic Church, along with Baptism and Holy Communion. While Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration that brings us into the life of the Church and makes us children of God, Confirmation completes and strengthens the grace received in Baptism.
The sacrament of Confirmation makes us adults in Christ. It gives us the grace to not only live out our faith personally but also to witness and evangelize to others, helping them draw closer to Christ and His Church. This sacrament empowers believers with the gift of the Holy Spirit, enabling them to become more deeply rooted in God's family and firmly integrated into Christ. It fortifies them with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, making them strong in their faith and equipping them as soldiers in the spiritual battle against evil.
In Confirmation, individuals make the promises that were initially made on their behalf during their Baptism. This affirmation of faith is a public declaration of their commitment to following Jesus Christ and their journey of faith. It is a mature decision that signifies their willingness to take responsibility for their spiritual growth and their role in the Church.
Confirmation is often associated with maturity and a deeper understanding of one's faith. It is a time when individuals confirm their belief in Christ and the teachings of the Church. This sacrament is a recognition that the individual has reached a level of spiritual maturity and is ready to take on the responsibilities of being a full member of the Church. It is a rite of passage that marks their transition from spiritual childhood to adulthood in the eyes of the Church.
Through Confirmation, individuals receive the strength and courage to live out their faith boldly and to face the challenges and temptations of the world. It empowers them to be active participants in the Church's mission and to spread the message of Christ to those around them. This sacrament is a pivotal moment in the life of a Christian, marking their growth and commitment to their faith.
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Confirmation is a prerequisite for communion
Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration, which incorporates us into the Church and brings us into the body of Christ. It is the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door that gives access to the other sacraments. Through baptism, we are purified from sin and reborn as children of God.
Confirmation is the sacrament that follows baptism and confirms and strengthens our faith. It is the gift of the power of the Holy Spirit, which helps the baptised believer to become more deeply rooted in the childhood of God and more firmly integrated into the Church. Confirmation is also when we become adults in Christ, as we receive the grace to live out our faith for others, to evangelise, and to help them draw closer to Christ and His Church.
In the Catholic Church, Confirmation is customarily conferred on persons old enough to understand its significance. In the Latin Church, Confirmation is typically separated from Baptism, with the sacrament being conferred when a child reaches the age of reason or early adolescence, or in the case of adult converts, after their baptism. In Eastern Catholic Churches, the usual practice is for infants to receive both sacraments together.
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Confirmation is not required by Baptists
Confirmation is a Christian rite that includes a profession of faith by a baptised person. It is a sacrament that comes after baptism, marking the individual's commitment to their faith and their journey ahead.
However, confirmation is not practised by Baptists, Anabaptists, and other groups that teach believer's baptism. Baptists believe in immersion and profession of believers' baptism, which is central to their religion. They see baptism as a sign of faith and repentance, a divine ordinance by which faith and reconciliation with God are achieved.
Baptism, for Baptists, is the critical moment when an individual becomes a child of God. It is the gateway to the Christian life, and it is only performed once. It is not seen as a sacrament that requires completion or further confirmation.
Baptists view church membership as voluntary, and this is reflected in their belief that baptism is a choice made by believers, not something conferred upon infants. This is a key distinction from Catholic theology, which includes infant baptism and sees confirmation as completing the initiation into the faith.
While Catholics and Baptists may differ on the role and necessity of confirmation, both traditions recognise the significance of baptism as a transformative moment in a person's spiritual journey.
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Confirmation is a continuation of baptism
Baptism is what makes us babies in Christ, and we have to grow from there and be fully initiated into the body of Christ, which is where the sacrament of confirmation comes in. Confirmation completes the process of initiation into the family of Christ, making us adults in Christ. It gives us the grace to not just live out the faith for ourselves, but to live out our faith for other people, to witness to them, to evangelize to them, and to help them draw closer to Christ and His Church.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines baptism and confirmation as follows: "Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments." Confirmation, then, is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which 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 His name boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.
In Christian denominations that practice infant baptism, confirmation is seen as the sealing of the covenant created in baptism. In the Catholic Church, confirmation is one of the seven sacraments instituted by Christ for the strengthening of the union between the individual and God. It is required for the completion of baptismal grace and is necessary for full membership in the Church.
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Frequently asked questions
Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration by which we enter into the life of the Church. Confirmation is the continuation of baptism and completes the process of initiation.
No, Catholic Confirmation is not good enough for baptism. Baptism is necessary for salvation and is the gateway to life in the Spirit. Only a baptized person can be confirmed.
The usual order of sacraments in the Catholic Church is Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation.
