Grace Thompson
Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament that deepens one's baptismal life and is a commitment to the Christian faith. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation for Catholics, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation is typically received in the mid-to-early teens, but it can be conferred on younger children if they are baptised, have the use of reason, and are suitably instructed. The essential rite of Confirmation involves the anointing of the forehead with Sacred Chrism, which is oil mixed with balsam and consecrated by the bishop, who lays their hand on the recipient's head and pronounces the sacramental words, Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment |
| Type of Sacrament | One of the seven sacraments and one of the three sacraments of initiation for Catholics |
| Who can receive it? | Only those already baptised can receive this sacrament, which can be received only once |
| Age | The Code of Canon Law specifies that the sacrament is to be conferred on the faithful at about 7-18 |
| Minister | The original and sole minister is a bishop, although in the past simple priests sometimes administered the sacrament |
| Rite | The essential rite is the anointing with Sacred Chrism (oil mixed with balsam and consecrated by the bishop), which is done by the laying on of the hand of the minister |
| Words | "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" in Western Churches; "The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit" in Eastern Churches |
| Effect | A special outpouring of the Holy Spirit like that of Pentecost, which binds the recipient more deeply to Christ and the Church |
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What You'll Learn
Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. It is also one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation is a sacrament in which the Holy Ghost is given to those already baptised to make them strong and perfect Christians.
The essential rite of Confirmation is the anointing with Sacred Chrism (oil mixed with balsam and consecrated by the bishop), which is done by the laying on of the hand of the minister who pronounces the sacramental words proper to the rite. In the West, this anointing is done on the forehead of the baptised with the words, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit". In the Eastern Churches of the Byzantine rite, this anointing is also done on other parts of the body with the words, "The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit".
The effect of Confirmation is a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit like that of Pentecost. This outpouring impresses an indelible character on the soul and produces a growth in the grace of Baptism. It roots the recipient more deeply in divine son-ship, binds them more firmly to Christ and to the Church and reinvigorates the gifts of the Holy Spirit in their soul.
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Confirmation strengthens baptismal grace
Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation for Catholics, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation is only received once and only by those who are already baptised.
The sacrament of Confirmation strengthens baptismal grace by impressing an indelible character on the soul and producing a growth in the grace of Baptism. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit roots the recipient more deeply in divine son-ship, binds them more firmly to Christ and to the Church, and reinvigorates the gifts of the Holy Spirit in their soul. The Holy Spirit was granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost, and Confirmation is a continuation of this tradition.
The essential rite of Confirmation is the anointing with Sacred Chrism (oil mixed with balsam and consecrated by the bishop). This is done by the laying on of the hand of the minister, who is always a bishop in the Western Church, and who pronounces the sacramental words proper to the rite. In the West, this anointing is done on the forehead of the baptised with the words, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit". In the Eastern Churches of the Byzantine rite, this anointing is also done on other parts of the body with the words, "The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit".
The Catechism of the Catholic Church warns that although Confirmation is sometimes called the "sacrament of Christian maturity", it should not be confused with natural adult growth, nor should it be seen as a "ratification" of baptismal grace, which is effective without it. Confirmation is a spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, and the spirit of holy fear in God's presence.
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Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments
The effect of Confirmation is a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit like that of Pentecost. This outpouring impresses on the soul an indelible character and produces a growth in the grace of Baptism. It roots the recipient more deeply in divine son-ship, binds them more firmly to Christ and to the Church, and reinvigorates the gifts of the Holy Spirit in their soul. The Catechism sees the account in the Acts of the Apostles 8:14–17 as a scriptural basis for Confirmation as a sacrament distinct from Baptism.
The original minister of Confirmation is the bishop, although in Eastern Catholicism, priests are those who normally administer the sacrament. In the Latin Church, the sacrament requires 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.
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Confirmation is also one of the three sacraments of initiation
Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament that deepens one's baptismal life and strengthens one's commitment to Christianity. It is a ritual that confirms and strengthens the grace received during baptism. The essential rite of Confirmation involves the anointing of the forehead with Sacred Chrism—a mixture of oil and balsam consecrated by a bishop—accompanied by the laying on of hands and the words, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit".
In Eastern Churches, the anointing may also be performed on other parts of the body, with the words, "The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit". This anointing is called Chrismation or Myron in Eastern Catholic Churches. The priest usually administers this sacrament, which can be conferred conjointly with baptism.
Confirmation is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation, along with Baptism and First Communion (or the Eucharist). These sacraments are the foundation of the Christian life. Confirmation is typically received during the mid-to-early teens, although it can be conferred earlier if a bishop deems the recipient suitably instructed and able to renew their baptismal promises.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church clarifies that Confirmation is a sacrament distinct from Baptism, sometimes referred to as the "'sacrament of Christian maturity."' However, it emphasizes that baptismal grace is effective without needing ratification. Confirmation bestows a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, similar to what the apostles experienced on the day of Pentecost. This outpouring leaves an indelible mark on the soul, fostering a deeper connection with Christ and the Church.
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Confirmation is called Chrismation in Eastern Catholic Churches
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 Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It is received only once and only by those already baptised.
In Western Christian theology, confirmation is seen as completing or sealing the baptismal covenant, the conferral of full membership, the perfecting of one's bond with the Church, and the strengthening of gifts of the Holy Ghost to enable the recipient to live the Christian life. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, chrismation is understood more fundamentally as the bestowal of the Holy Ghost—that is, as the transmission to that person of the experience of the Day of Pentecost, along with the attendant gifts of the Spirit that are given to all the faithful, and any unique or special gifts that God deems appropriate for that person. Hence, the significance of the sacrament or mystery of chrismation is understood quite distinctly from that of baptism, much as Pentecost is distinct from the Passion and Resurrection.
In Eastern Catholicism, priests are those who normally administer the Chrismation with holy Myron, and this sacrament can be administered conjointly with baptism. While chrismation is often performed without baptism, baptism is never performed without chrismation; hence the term "baptism" is construed as referring to the administration of both sacraments (or mysteries), one after the other.
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