Confirmation

1
Confirmation

• 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. (Lumen
  Gentium 11)

2
What is Confirmation NOT?

• Superfluous
• Graduation
• Catholic Bar-Mitzvah
• Becoming an adult in the Church
• You confirming your faith

3
Relationship to other Sacraments of Initiation

• Baptism is the spiritual rebirth, upon which ALL
  other sacraments depend
• Confirmation is a strengthening of that spiritual
  life, which was received in Baptism and is
  nourished by the regular reception of the
  Eucharist
• Confirmation perfects and completes the grace
  given in Baptism by a new gift of the Holy
  Spirit.
• The faith given at Baptism is confirmed, but it
  is God who confirms this faith, not the
  confirmandi (i.e. those who are to be confirmed)

4
Holy Spirit in Scripture

• Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
• Ruah
• The Spirit of God especially with the
  Prophets
• Prophets themselves anointed (as well as priests
  and kings)
• Isaiah 61
• New Testament
• Jesus is said to baptize with the Holy Spirit
  in all Gospels
• Receives anointing of Holy Spirit in Baptism
• Works through power of Holy Spirit
• Pentecost

5
Outward sign

• Recipient Baptized human being who has not been
  confirmed
• Matter
• Sacred Chrism the good odor of Christ
• Imposition of Hands (Laying-on-of-hands)
• Form
• Hasnt been universal throughout history of the
  Church
• Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit
• Minister
• Ordinary bishop (CCC 1313)
• Extraordinary priest

6
Instituted by Christ

• Promise of the Holy Spirit
• Luke 2449
• John 1416-17
• Acts 18
• Gift of Holy Spirit upon Apostles
• Resurrection Appearance (John 2019-22)
• Pentecost (Acts 21ff)
• Holy Spirit given by Apostles by laying on of
  hands
• Acts 814-17 and 94-7
• (Hebrews 62 instructions of baptisms and
  laying on of hands)

7
to Give Grace.

• Full outpouring of Holy Spirit as at Pentecost
• Disciple/apostle
• Allows us to cry out, Abba! Father!
• Binds us more closely to the Church and more
  firmly to Christ
• Roots us more deeply in divine filiation
• Increase and deepening of baptismal grace
• Increases gifts of Holy Spirit in us
• Gives special strength of Holy Spirit to spread
  and defend faith as a witness
• Character the indelible, spiritual mark
• seal of the Holy Spirit

8
History

• Originally done as a double sacrament
  immediately after Baptism
• Often, in the West, this had a double anointing
  with Chrism
• Recognized as a separate act very early on
• Earliest recorded Tertullian (AD 160-225)
• Separated over time in the West
• Particularly as an effort to allow the bishop to
  perform the sacrament
• In East, the priest performs both baptism and
  confirmation
• 12th century, form of Confirmation became I sign
  you with the sign of the cross and I confirm you
  with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the
  Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
• Restored to older formula Be sealed with the
  gift of the Holy Spirit (current form of
  Confirmation)

9
Rite of Confirmation

• Liturgy of the Word
• Presentation of Candidates
• Homily
• Renewal of Baptismal Promises
• Laying on of Hands
• Anointing with Chrism
• Sign of Peace from Bishop
• Liturgy of the Eucharist
• Solemn Blessing