Rachel Evans
Confirmation is a Catholic sacrament of initiation, marking the confirmation of a person's faith and their acceptance as a member of the Church. It is a ritual that takes place after baptism, usually during young adulthood, and is believed to be the work of the Holy Spirit, who gives the individual the strength to be a king, priest and prophet. During the ceremony, the presiding bishop wears red vestments to symbolise the red tongues of fire seen over the apostles at Pentecost. The person being confirmed stands or kneels before the bishop with their sponsor, who may be one of their godparents. The sponsor places a hand on the person's shoulder and speaks their confirmation name, after which the bishop anoints the person with oil, making the sign of the cross on their forehead.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ritual | Standing or kneeling before the bishop |
| Bishop anoints the forehead with oil of Chrism | |
| Bishop says confirmation name and "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" | |
| Candidate responds with "And with your spirit" or "And also with you" | |
| Candidate is now considered an adult in the eyes of the Church | |
| Candidate accepts responsibility for their faith and destiny | |
| Candidate chooses a new name, a Christian name, such as a canonized saint or a hero from the Bible | |
| Candidate renews the promises made by their parents and godparents during baptism | |
| Candidate receives the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude (courage), knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord | |
| Candidate receives the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit: charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, long-suffering, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, and chastity | |
| Ceremony | May take place during Mass or outside of it |
| Presiding bishop wears red vestments to symbolize the red tongues of fire seen over the apostles at Pentecost | |
| Candidate comes forward with their sponsor (who may be their godparent) |
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What You'll Learn
- Confirmation is a Catholic sacrament of initiation into the Catholic community
- Confirmed Catholics receive the Holy Spirit and its gifts
- The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, including wisdom, understanding and courage
- The ritual of confirmation: anointment with oil of Chrism and reciting vows
- Confirmation after baptism, usually when young or a newborn
Confirmation is a Catholic sacrament of initiation into the Catholic community
At confirmation, individuals renew the promises made during baptism, but this time they speak for themselves. During baptism, parents and godparents promise to renounce Satan and believe in God and the Church on the child's behalf. Confirmation is typically received at a later age, when the individual is considered an adult in the eyes of the Church. This age can vary between 8 and 18 years old in Western Catholicism, while Eastern Catholics confirm infants at baptism.
The focus of confirmation is on the Holy Spirit, who is believed to confer the same gifts on Catholics during the sacrament. Traditionally, these are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude (courage), knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. These gifts are considered supernatural graces given to the soul. Additionally, the Holy Spirit is believed to activate the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit, which are human qualities such as charity, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faith, and chastity.
The confirmation ceremony may take place during Mass or outside of it. The presiding bishop wears red vestments to symbolize the red tongues of fire seen hovering over the apostles at Pentecost. During the ritual, each person comes forward with their sponsor, who may be one of their godparents. The sponsor places a hand on the person's shoulder and speaks their confirmation name. The bishop then anoints the individual with oil of Chrism, making the sign of the cross on their forehead and welcoming them into the Catholic community.
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Confirmed Catholics receive the Holy Spirit and its gifts
Confirmation is a Catholic sacrament of initiation, marking a spiritual maturity and a completion of the baptism process. During confirmation, the focus is on the Holy Spirit, who strengthens the faith of those being confirmed. The Holy Spirit confirmed the apostles at Pentecost, giving them courage and resolve to practice their faith. This is the same Holy Spirit that Catholics believe confirms them during the sacrament of confirmation.
During the confirmation ceremony, the presiding bishop wears red vestments to symbolize the red tongues of fire that appeared over the apostles at Pentecost. The person being confirmed stands or kneels before the bishop, with their sponsor laying a hand on their shoulder and speaking their confirmation name. The bishop then anoints the individual with oil of Chrism, making the sign of the cross on their forehead. As the bishop anoints, they say the confirmation name and the words, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit." The individual responds, "And with your spirit" or "And also with you."
Through confirmation, Catholics receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, empowering them with courage, knowledge, and faith to live out their Christian faith. This sacrament is a significant milestone in the life of a Catholic, marking their conscious acceptance of membership in the Church and their commitment to its teachings.
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The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, including wisdom, understanding and courage
A Catholic confirmation is a religious ceremony in which a baptised person receives the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are first received during the Sacrament of Baptism, and are then strengthened during the confirmation ceremony.
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. These gifts are present in their entirety in Jesus Christ, but they are also found in all Christians in a state of grace.
The gift of wisdom gives one the knowledge of and judgment about "divine things", as well as the ability to judge and direct human affairs according to divine truth. Understanding gives one a penetrating insight into the very heart of things, especially those higher truths that are necessary for eternal salvation. This gift helps one to “see” God and to appreciate His providence. Counsel allows one to be directed by God in matters pertaining to salvation, and it functions as a form of supernatural intuition to enable a person to judge promptly and rightly, especially in difficult situations.
Fortitude, also referred to as courage, gives one the strength and confidence to do what is right in the sight of God, even if it means facing rejection, verbal abuse, or physical harm. It is the virtue of martyrs, who suffered death rather than renounce their faith. Knowledge is the ability to judge all things according to the truths of the Catholic faith, and it breeds the strength and courage needed to confront evil. Piety, or godliness, is the acceptance of one's role as a member of God's family, and fear of the Lord is the recognition of one's limited, ungodlike place in the grand scheme of things.
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The ritual of confirmation: anointment with oil of Chrism and reciting vows
The Catholic sacrament of confirmation is a ritual that completes the process of initiation into the Catholic community. It is a conscious acceptance of membership in the Church and reception of the Holy Spirit, who gives the strength to be a king, priest, and prophet. Confirmation is usually received by adults or young adults, although the age varies from eight to eighteen.
During the ritual, the person being confirmed stands or kneels before the bishop, who anoints the forehead with oil of Chrism—a consecrated oil—in the shape of a cross. The sponsor, who may be one of the godparents chosen during baptism, lays a hand on the confirmand's shoulder and speaks their confirmation name. The bishop then says the confirmation name and the words, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit." The confirmand responds, "And with your spirit" or "And also with you."
The ritual of confirmation renews the promises made during baptism. At baptism, parents and godparents promise to renounce Satan and believe in God and the Church on the child's behalf. During confirmation, the individual speaks for themselves, accepting responsibility for their faith and destiny. Confirmation completes the process of initiation into the Catholic community, marking the individual as a full-fledged member of the faith.
The Holy Spirit is believed to give the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude (courage), knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. These are considered supernatural graces given to the soul. The Holy Spirit also activates human qualities, known as the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit, including charity, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faith, and chastity.
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Confirmation after baptism, usually when young or a newborn
Confirmation is a Catholic sacrament that builds on the sacraments of baptism, penance, and holy communion. It completes the initiation process into the Catholic community. During baptism, an infant's parents and godparents promise to renounce Satan and believe in God and the Church on their behalf. At confirmation, the individual renews those promises, this time speaking for themselves.
Confirmation typically occurs when a child is around eight years old in Western Catholicism, but infants are confirmed in Eastern Catholicism. The ritual involves the individual standing or kneeling before a bishop, who anoints the forehead with oil of Chrism (consecrated oil) while making the sign of the cross. The bishop says the confirmation name and "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit". The individual responds with "And with your spirit" or "And also with you".
Confirmation is a significant step in the Catholic Church, marking the individual's acceptance of responsibility for their faith and destiny. It is a recognition that, even as a young adult, one must do what is right, not for recognition or reward, but because it is the right thing to do. The Holy Spirit is believed to give the individual strength and 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 are considered supernatural graces given to the soul. The 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit are human qualities that can be activated by the Holy Spirit and include charity, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faith, and chastity.
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Frequently asked questions
Confirmation is a ritual that completes the process of initiation into the Catholic community. It establishes young adults as full-fledged members of the faith.
During the ceremony, the presiding bishop wears red vestments to symbolize the red tongues of fire seen over the heads of the apostles at Pentecost. Each person comes forward with their sponsor, who may be one of their godparents. The sponsor places a hand on the person's shoulder and speaks their confirmation name. The bishop then anoints the person with oil, making the sign of the cross on their forehead.
The bishop says the confirmation name and "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit". The person responds with "And with your spirit" or "And also with you".
In the Western Catholic Church, infants are baptised and then confirmed later when they are older, usually between 8 and 18 years old. If baptised as an adult, confirmation usually happens at the same time.
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