Michael Brooks
Confirmation is a religious ceremony that is practiced in many Christian denominations, including Catholicism and Reformed theology. In Catholicism, confirmation is considered one of the seven sacraments and is a ritual that marks the initiation of a person into the Catholic Church. It is typically administered to adolescents who have already been baptized and is seen as a deepening of baptismal grace. In Reformed theology, confirmation is not considered a sacrament, but it is still an important ritual that signifies a person's commitment to their faith and joining a particular congregation. The purpose of confirmation in Reformed churches is to strengthen and assure believers that they share in the salvation promises of God. The decision to undergo confirmation is a personal one and may depend on various factors, such as one's religious beliefs, family traditions, and the specific teachings of the church one attends.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Confirmation in 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 | |
| Occasion for professing personal commitment to the faith | |
| Attaining full membership in the Catholic Church | |
| Deepening of baptismal grace | |
| Unites more firmly to Christ | |
| Increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit | |
| Indelible mark on the soul | |
| Occasion to take a new name | |
| Confirmation in Reformed Theology | Participation in the Sacrament is a birthright of the believer |
| Sacrament is a means of grace by which Christ strengthens and assures those who trust in Him | |
| Confirmation is not considered a dominical sacrament of the Gospel | |
| Confirmation is a requirement for full membership in the church | |
| Confirmation is not considered an objective element | |
| Confirmation is considered an act of joining a particular congregation |
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What You'll Learn
Confirmation as a 'rite of passage'
Confirmation is a significant ritual in the Catholic Church, often regarded as a sacrament or rite of passage. It is a ceremony where individuals, typically teenagers, confirm their faith and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This ritual marks a person's decision to embrace the Catholic faith and actively participate in the life of the Church.
While the Catholic Church considers confirmation a sacrament, Reformed Theology, including Reformed churches like the Lutheran, Anglican, and Methodist traditions, view it differently. In Reformed Theology, confirmation is not a sacrament but a vital means of grace. It signifies a believer's personal regeneration and assurance of sharing in God's salvation promises.
In Catholicism, confirmation is usually conferred upon individuals between the ages of 11 and 16 who have already been baptized. During the ceremony, the priest traces the sign of the cross on the forehead of the candidate, sealing them with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. This ritual is understood as a spiritual coming of age or rite of passage, marking the transition from childhood to spiritual maturity.
The preparation for confirmation in the Catholic Church typically involves a period of religious education, self-reflection, and community service. Candidates are expected to deepen their understanding of Catholic morals and ethics and develop a sense of maturity in their faith. The process aims to help individuals make their faith their own and strengthen their commitment to living according to Catholic teachings.
However, some Catholic sources emphasize that confirmation is not merely a rite of passage. While it may share similarities with cultural initiation rites, confirmation is primarily about spiritual transformation and connecting one's life to the Lord. It is a call to embrace a new identity in Christ and actively contribute to the life and mission of the Church.
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Confirmation vs infant baptism
The Catholic Church's practice of baptising infants has been criticised by some, including fundamentalists and groups such as the Waldenses, Catharists, and Anabaptists. The criticism is based on the belief that baptism should only be administered after a person has had a "born again" experience and has consciously chosen to accept Jesus Christ as their saviour. This perspective holds that only those who have reached the "age of reason" (generally considered to be around seven years old) can truly make this decision.
In contrast, the Catholic Church teaches that baptism is a sacrament that accomplishes several things, including the remission of original sin in infants and young children, and both original and actual sin in older individuals. The Church also recognises the importance of personal decision-making in baptism, which is why godparents are appointed to stand in for infant baptises, committing to their Christian upbringing.
On the other hand, confirmation is a sacrament that follows baptism and is believed to strengthen the grace received during baptism. In Catholic theology, baptism confers membership, while confirmation completes this membership. In some traditions, such as Lutheran and Anglican churches, confirmation is required for full membership, while in others, such as Reformed churches, baptised infants are considered members, and confirmation is required for certain privileges within the church.
The timing of confirmation can vary depending on the specific church tradition. In some cases, infants receive confirmation shortly after baptism, while in other traditions, confirmation is delayed until the individual has reached a certain level of maturity and is able to make a conscious profession of faith.
While infant baptism and confirmation are distinct sacraments, they are intimately linked in the Catholic Church, with confirmation strengthening and completing the grace received during baptism.
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Confirmation in Reformed theology
Confirmation is a rite practised in many Protestant denominations, including Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, and Methodist traditions. It often includes a profession of faith by a person who has already been baptised. While confirmation is not practised in Baptist, Anabaptist, and other groups that teach believer's baptism, it is required by Lutherans, Anglicans, and other traditional Protestant denominations for full membership in the respective church.
In Reformed theology, confirmation and profession of faith are regarded as acts of joining a particular congregation. However, this also occurs during baptism. The Reformed Church considers baptised infants as members of the church, but confirmation or a "profession of faith" is required for admittance to the Lord's Table.
In the past, the RCA (Reformed Church in America) did not have a native theological and liturgical tradition of confirmation. However, in the nineteenth century, German evangelical congregations that practised confirmation joined the RCA, and the rite was easily correlated with the Dutch Reformed profession of faith. Today, confirmation is attractive to those groups in the RCA who favour liturgical renewal and the inclusion of young people.
Some in the Reformed community question the practice of confirmation, arguing that it is not biblical and that it devalues baptism. However, others defend its use, recognising the need for both children and adults to have a form of catechism or religious instruction before entering the covenant community.
In summary, confirmation in Reformed theology serves as a means for baptised individuals to become full members of the church and be admitted to the Lord's Table. While it is not considered a sacrament in the same way as in Catholic theology, it holds significance as a rite of passage and a profession of faith within the Reformed tradition.
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Confirmation in Catholic theology
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. The sacrament is called chrismation in Eastern Christianity. In the East, it takes place immediately after baptism, while in the West, it occurs when a child reaches the age of reason or early adolescence, or in the case of adult baptism, immediately afterward in the same ceremony.
Confirmation completes the process of initiation into the Christian community and matures the soul for the work ahead. It is seen as a supernatural equivalent of the growth process on a natural level. The Holy Spirit is introduced to a Catholic on the day of their baptism, and the same Holy Spirit confirms Catholics during the Sacrament of Confirmation, giving them the gifts of charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, long-suffering, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, and chastity.
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 Reformed theology, confirmation is not considered a sacrament, and the practice is not as important as in Catholicism. The sacrament's primary purpose in Catholicism is to seal the individual with the gift of the Holy Spirit. In Reformed theology, baptism is seen as the sign of membership in the Church, and confirmation is not necessary for salvation.
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Confirmation and membership
Confirmation is a ritual that is practised in many Christian denominations, including Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, and Reformed churches. It is considered to be one of the sacraments in the Catholic Church, as well as in some Anglican and Methodist traditions.
In the Catholic Church, confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation, along with Baptism and First Communion. It is typically conferred on individuals between the ages of 7 and 18, and it is seen as a way for a Catholic to attain full membership in the Catholic Church. The sacrament is believed to deepen the grace received through baptism, uniting the individual more firmly with Christ and increasing the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
In Reformed theology, the emphasis is often placed on baptism as the primary means of incorporation into Christ and membership in the Church. While confirmation is still practised in some Reformed churches, it is not considered a sacrament in the same way as in Catholicism. Instead, it may be viewed as a public profession of faith or a means of grace, strengthening the believer's trust in Christ and their assurance of salvation.
In both Catholic and Reformed traditions, confirmation is often associated with a coming-of-age ritual, marking the transition from childhood to adulthood in one's spiritual journey. It is a significant event that requires preparation and commitment, and it is intended to deepen one's relationship with God and the Church.
While confirmation can be an important milestone in one's spiritual journey, it is essential to recognise that salvation and membership in the body of Christ are ultimately based on God's grace and one's personal faith in Jesus Christ, rather than any ritual or ceremony.
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Frequently asked questions
Confirmation is a religious ceremony that serves as a person's initiation into the Catholic Church.
In Catholicism, confirmation is considered one of the seven sacraments and is believed to deepen the recipient's connection to God. In Reformed theology, confirmation is not considered a sacrament, and the focus is on personal regeneration rather than objective elements.
Confirmation is seen as a significant milestone in a person's spiritual journey, marking their commitment to their faith and their official membership in the church.
Confirmation is typically intended for individuals who have already been baptised and are seeking to deepen their relationship with God and the Catholic Church.
The confirmation ceremony often includes a profession of faith and the recipient may receive a new name. The priest may also make the sign of the cross on the recipient's forehead while saying, "Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit."
