Ethan Walker
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 choice and requires the will of the individual to consent. The age at which confirmation is received varies, with some sources stating that it should be received in adolescence, while others claim that it can be received at a younger age, such as in the fifth grade or eighth grade. In Eastern Catholicism, confirmation is called Chrismation with holy Myron and can be administered conjointly with baptism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Confirmation in the Catholic Church | One of the seven sacraments |
| One of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion | |
| Requires the will of the individual to say, "Yes." | |
| Confirmation comes after Baptism and First Communion | |
| Confirmation is conferred in the eighth grade, typically at the age of thirteen or fourteen | |
| The Holy Spirit is first introduced to a Catholic at their baptism | |
| The Byzantine Church confirms at Baptism and gives Holy Eucharist as well | |
| 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 | |
| The bishop says, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit." | |
| The person responds, "Amen." |
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What You'll Learn
Confirmation is a choice
In the Catholic Church, confirmation is one of the seven sacraments and one of the three sacraments of initiation, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation is a ritual that marks the seal of the Holy Spirit and is a recognition of spiritual maturity and a commitment to the Catholic faith. It is a significant milestone in the life of a Catholic, and it is typically conferred upon adolescents who have reached an age of understanding and can give their consent.
The age at which confirmation is received varies. In some places, it is conferred in the eighth grade, typically around the ages of thirteen or fourteen. In other places, it may be given earlier, around the ages of seven or eight, or even as early as infancy in the Eastern Catholic Churches. The timing of confirmation is not as important as the individual's willingness to accept and embrace the sacrament.
While confirmation is a choice, it is an important step for those who wish to deepen their commitment to the Catholic faith and complete their initiation. It is a personal decision that requires reflection and a conscious decision to affirm one's faith and be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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Confirmation age
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments in the Catholic Church and is also one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation is not solely a Catholic tradition, with some other Christian denominations, such as Anglicanism, also practising it.
There is no single "correct" age for receiving confirmation in the Catholic Church. The age at which confirmation is administered varies across different cultures and countries. In the United States, for example, the age for receiving confirmation in the Latin rite dioceses is typically between "the age of discretion [considered to be about age seven] and about sixteen years of age". This means that individual bishops can decide the age of confirmation within their diocese, which is why some dioceses confirm teenagers, while others confirm younger children who have attained the "age of reason". In some cultures, people receive confirmation at 16 or 18, or even in their early 20s.
Some people argue that confirmation should happen right after baptism, or as soon as possible thereafter, as it grants a seal and extra graces that are useful for living a good Catholic life. From a pastoral perspective, others argue for a later confirmation, as it allows the individual to better understand the significance of the sacrament and can help to rekindle faith in families.
The age of confirmation can also depend on the local diocese's practices. For example, one person commented that their diocese administers confirmation in the 5th grade, while another said that they received confirmation at the age of 13 because their state moved the confirmation age from 16 to 6.
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Confirmation in Eastern Catholicism
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. It is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. Confirmation is also referred to as Chrismation in Eastern Catholic Churches. In Eastern Catholicism, priests are usually the ones to administer the sacrament, and it can be administered conjointly with baptism.
The sacrament of confirmation is the way for a Catholic 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. In Eastern Catholicism, the sacrament does not require the anointing to be made by the imposition of the hand. The "soldier of Christ" imagery, which remains valid but is downplayed if seen as part of the once common idea of Confirmation as a "sacrament of maturity", was used as far back as 350 by Cyril of Jerusalem.
In Eastern Catholicism, the usual minister of this sacrament is the parish priest, using olive oil consecrated by a bishop. The practice of the Eastern Churches gives greater emphasis to the unity of Christian initiation. That of the Latin Church more clearly expresses the communion of the new Christian with the bishop as guarantor and servant of the unity, catholicity, and apostolicity of his Church, and hence the connection with the apostolic origins of Christ's Church. The main reason why the West separated the sacrament of confirmation from that of baptism was to re-establish direct contact between the person being initiated and the bishops. In the Early Church, the bishop administered all three sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist), assisted by the priests and deacons.
In some places, the setting of a later age has been abandoned in recent decades in favor of restoring the traditional order of the three sacraments of Christian initiation. Even where a later age has been set, a bishop may not refuse to confer the sacrament on younger children who request it, provided they are baptized, have the use of reason, are suitably instructed, and are properly disposed and able to renew the baptismal promises.
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Is baptism necessary before confirmation?
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments in the Catholic Church, the other two initiation sacraments being Baptism and First Communion. Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration, which incorporates us into the Church and makes us members of the Body of Christ. It is the ordinary means of salvation, and it is necessary to receive other sacraments.
The sacrament of confirmation ends the sacraments of initiation. It completes the grace received during baptism, making the recipient a full member of the Church. In the Eastern Church, it is common to receive confirmation or chrismation as a baby, right after baptism. In the Latin Church, confirmation is typically conferred at a later age, although it can be administered to younger children who request it, provided they are baptised, have the use of reason, and are suitably instructed.
In the past, confirmation was administered before first Holy Communion. However, in the mid-20th century, the traditional order of the sacraments was changed, and confirmation began to be seen as an occasion for professing personal commitment to the faith. This is because confirmation requires the will of the individual to say "yes" to the faith, which infants are not capable of doing.
Therefore, while baptism must precede confirmation, confirmation is not always administered immediately after baptism.
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What happens during confirmation?
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. It is the responsibility of the bishop, who wears red vestments to symbolise the red tongues of fire seen over the heads of the apostles at Pentecost. Each person being confirmed comes forward with their sponsor, who may be one of their godparents.
During the confirmation ritual, the person stands or kneels before the bishop, while their sponsor rests a hand on their shoulder and speaks their confirmation name. The bishop then anoints the person by making the sign of the cross on their forehead with oil of Chrism (a consecrated oil), saying their confirmation name and the words, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit". The person responds, "And with your spirit" or "And also with you".
Confirmation is seen as a renewal of the promises made by parents and godparents during baptism, but this time spoken by the individual being confirmed. The focus is on the Holy Spirit, who confirmed the apostles at Pentecost and gave them the courage to practice their faith. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude (courage), knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. These gifts are considered to be supernatural graces given to the soul.
In Eastern Catholicism, priests are those who normally administer the sacrament, and it can be administered conjointly with baptism. In the Latin Church, the sacrament requires the anointing to be made by the imposition of the hand.
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Frequently asked questions
No, confirmation is not only for Catholics. Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, but other Christian denominations also practise it.
Confirmation is the third 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 Catholic Church and is believed to mature the soul for the work ahead.
During confirmation, 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 their name aloud, and then saying, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit."
