Each
year thousands of children in the Archdiocese of St. Louis are confirmed. Each
of these children receives some degree of catechesis about the sacrament of Confirmation
but frequently parents and sponsors are left out of the catechesis. What
follows is a handout I made for an hour seminar delivered to parents and
sponsors of children who are to be confirmed.
Few
parents ever think twice about what the sacrament of Confirmation is all about.
In this short paper I hope to highlight exactly what the sacrament of
Confirmation is, briefly explain who are candidates for Confirmation, discuss
the rite of Confirmation and conclude with the effects of the sacrament of Confirmation.
A short paper like this can never do justice to the sacrament; however I hope
it serves as an introduction to the sacrament.
Confirmation is a sacrament administered by
the bishop in which a baptized person relieves added strength from the Holy Spirit
enabling him to be strong in his faith and its defense. In short the
sacrament of Confirmation seals the graces given at baptism and celebrates the
special gifts of the Holy Spirit. These gifts of the Holy Spirits, outlined by
St. Thomas Aquinas in his Summa
Theologica and biblically based in Isaiah 11:2-3, are understanding,
counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, fear of the Lord, and wisdom. The
Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear that these seven gifts are given at
the sacrament of Baptism and strengthened at the Sacrament of Confirmation.[1]
The
Sacrament of Confirmation is not an invention of the Catholic Church; like all
the sacraments it was instituted by Christ. The earliest evidence of the
sacrament of Confirmation is found in the Acts of the Apostles. In Acts of the
Apostles we see the apostles Peter and John praying over and laying hands on new
believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit.[2]
The
Ordinary minister of the sacrament of Confirmation is the bishop, however a
priest can confirm with the permission of the bishop or in the case of someone
dying. The Sacrament is done by anointing with sacred Chrism and the laying on
of hands. This Chrism is a mixture of olive oil and balm which is blessed by
the Bishop. As the bishop confirms a candidate by anointing which Chrism and
laying on of hands he says “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Those
who are to be confirmed are called candidates. To be confirmed candidates must
have reached the age of reason, profess their faith on their own and be in a
state of grace, that is not be in a state of mortal sin. Further candidates must
be prepared to assume the role of Christ’s disciple and to give witness to
their faith in Christ. The candidate must not only desire to be a disciple he
must be educated to the best of his ability on the articles of our faith which
he now professes as his own.
The
sacrament of Confirmation has eternal effects. The sacrament, like baptism,
leaves an indelible mark on the soul meaning it can only be received once. The
soul, having been marked, remains forever both here on earth and in the kingdom
to come. The sacrament deepens our rebirth as adopted sons and daughters of
Christ first received at our baptism. It unites us more closely to Christ and strengthens
the body of unity we experience with the Church. The sacrament strengthens us
to spread and defend the faith by word and deed and increases the gifts of the
Holy Spirit within us.
[1] "The
reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of
baptismal grace." For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the
baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a
special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of
Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed." (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1285)
[2] Acts 8:14-17
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