Joshua Bennett
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 intended to be given to every baptised Christian and is a deepening of baptismal gifts. The ceremony involves the anointing of the forehead with chrism, a mixture of olive oil and balsam consecrated by a bishop, who lays their hand on the recipient and calls upon God, saying: Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide. The effect of the sacrament is a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, strengthening the Christian's relationship with God and equipping them to become a better witness to Christ in the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Minister | Bishop |
| Age | Above the age of discretion (generally taken to be about 7) |
| Anointing | With Sacred Chrism (oil mixed with balsam and consecrated by the bishop) |
| Imposition | Laying on of hands |
| Words | "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" |
| Effect | Special outpouring of the Holy Spirit |
| Gifts | Wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord |
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What You'll Learn
Confirmation is one of the three Catholic Sacraments of Initiation
In the early Church, Baptism and Confirmation were celebrated in a single ceremony, which is still practised in the Eastern Churches. In the Roman Catholic Church, the two sacraments gradually separated as the Church grew and bishops could not be present for every baptism. The custom of gathering groups of baptised Catholics together later so that the bishop could confirm them all at one time began.
Confirmation is intended to be given to every baptised Christian. In the Latin Rite of the Church, Confirmation can be given any time after the age of reason (about seven years old). The Eastern Catholic Church has the tradition of administering the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist together in infancy. The Latin Rite of the Church waits to offer Confirmation until after the age of reason, emphasising the free choice to receive the sacrament and to live out the Christian faith.
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”. The effect of Confirmation is a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit like that of Pentecost, which roots the recipient more deeply in divine son-ship and binds them more firmly to Christ and the Church.
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It is a ceremony for those already baptised
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. The sacrament of Confirmation can only be received by those who have already been baptised.
In the early Church, Baptism and Confirmation were celebrated in a single ceremony. In the Roman Catholic Church, the two sacraments gradually separated. The Church in the West wanted the bishop to complete a person’s initiation. As the Church grew and bishops ministered over larger territories, the custom of gathering groups of baptised Catholics together later so that the bishop could confirm them all at one time began.
Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. The baptised person is "sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus on the occasion of his baptism by John. Jesus' entire mission occurred in communion with the Spirit. Before he died, Jesus promised that the Spirit would be given to the Apostles and to the entire Church.
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”.
Confirmation can be conferred only on those who have already been baptised and have not yet been confirmed.
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The ceremony is led by a bishop
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 ceremony is led by a bishop, who is the ordinary minister of confirmation. A bishop confirms validly even those who are not his own subjects, but to confirm licitly in another diocese, he must secure the permission of the bishop of that diocese. In the Roman Catholic Church, the two sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation were gradually separated because the Church in the West wanted the bishop to complete a person's initiation.
The ceremony begins with a general imposition of hands, with the bishop praying that the Holy Ghost may come down upon those who have been baptised:
> "Send forth upon them thy sevenfold Spirit, the Holy Paraclete."
The bishop then anoints the forehead of each person with chrism, saying:
> "I sign thee with the sign of the cross and confirm thee with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."
Finally, the bishop gives each person a slight blow on the cheek, saying:
> "Peace be with thee."
The ceremony ends with a prayer that the Holy Spirit may dwell in the hearts of those who have been confirmed, and the bishop's blessing. The anointing with chrism is the essential rite of Confirmation. This rite is done by the laying on of the bishop's hand as he pronounces the sacramental words. In the Western Church, the anointing is done on the forehead of the baptised person, while in the Eastern Churches of the Byzantine rite, the anointing is also done on other parts of the body.
The effect of Confirmation is a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, impressing on the soul an indelible character and producing a growth in the grace of Baptism. It roots the recipient more deeply in divine sonship, 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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The bishop anoints the forehead of each person with chrism
Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. The bishop is the ordinary minister of confirmation. During the ceremony, the bishop extends his hands over those to be confirmed and calls upon God, asking Him to send down the Holy Spirit. The bishop then anoints the forehead of each person with chrism, a mixture of olive oil and balsam consecrated by a bishop. This anointing is done with the words, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit", or "I sign thee with the sign of the cross and confirm thee with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost".
The act of anointing with chrism is an essential rite of Confirmation, also known as Chrismation in the Eastern Churches. It signifies the strengthening of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit within the individual, empowering them to become better witnesses of Christ in the world. This rite is usually accompanied by the laying on of hands, symbolizing the nature and purpose of the sacrament.
The practice of anointing with chrism has its roots in the early Church, where Baptism and Confirmation were celebrated as a single ceremony. Over time, these sacraments separated, and the bishop began to confirm groups of baptized Catholics together. The custom of anointing with chrism has persisted, and it remains a significant aspect of the Confirmation sacrament in the Catholic Church today.
The sacrament of Confirmation is intended to be given to every baptized Christian and can be received only once. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation for Catholics, along with Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation serves to deepen the Christian's relationship with God and strengthen the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, including wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
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Confirmation is a commitment to witnessing Jesus to the world
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 of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It is associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
In the early Church, Baptism and Confirmation were celebrated in a single ceremony, especially in the Eastern Churches. However, in the Roman Catholic Church, these sacraments gradually separated due to the growing number of baptisms that required the presence of a bishop. Over time, the reception of the Eucharist before Confirmation became more common, and in some dioceses, Confirmation is now celebrated before the Eucharist, restoring the original order of the sacraments of initiation.
The essential rite of Confirmation is the anointing with Sacred Chrism, a mixture of olive oil and balsam consecrated by a bishop. This anointing is typically done on the forehead of the baptized person, accompanied by the laying on of hands and specific sacramental words. The bishop, as the ordinary minister of Confirmation, extends his hands over those being confirmed and calls upon God to send the Holy Spirit upon them.
Confirmation is typically received after reaching the age of discretion, which is around seven years old, and it signifies a commitment to witnessing Jesus to the world. Through Confirmation, Christians are empowered to live out their faith more deeply and share the Gospel with those around them in their families, communities, and the world.
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Frequently asked questions
The Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation is intended to be given to every baptised Christian.
Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It strengthens the Gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
The ceremony for Confirmation involves the anointing of the forehead with Sacred Chrism (oil mixed with balsam and consecrated by the bishop). The bishop lays their hand on the person being confirmed and calls upon God, saying: “Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide”.
Confirmation can be received by baptised Christians who have reached the age of discretion, which is around seven years old.
