Simone Lawson
The Council of Trent declared that all seven sacraments were instituted by Jesus Christ. The sacrament of confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation, along with baptism and the Eucharist. Confirmation is believed to have been instituted by Jesus when he told the Apostles to remain in Jerusalem until they had received the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5, John 14:16). On Pentecost, the Apostles received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3), and the Church was born. Confirmation completes the grace of baptism, and Catholics are more perfectly bound to the Church through this sacrament.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Confirmation as a sacrament | Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Church. |
| Confirmation and baptism | Confirmation is associated with baptism and both are sacraments of initiation. |
| Confirmation and the Holy Spirit | Confirmation is the sacrament of the "fullness of the Spirit". |
| Confirmation and the Eucharist | Confirmation is also associated with the Eucharist. |
| Confirmation and the Apostles | Jesus promised the Apostles that he would send them the Holy Spirit. |
| Confirmation and the laying on of hands | Confirmation is given through the laying on of hands. |
| Confirmation and the seal of confirmation | Confirmation is the indelible seal of confirmation and sustenance in the Holy Eucharist. |
| Confirmation and the Council of Trent | The Catechism of the Council of Trent points to Jesus' baptism as instituting the sacrament of baptism. |
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What You'll Learn
Confirmation is a celebration of the Holy Spirit within us
Confirmation is a sacred Catholic sacrament that celebrates the Holy Spirit within us. It is a testament to the power of faith and the enduring connection between God and humanity.
The sacrament of confirmation is believed to have been instituted by Jesus Christ himself. In the Bible, Jesus tells the Apostles to "tarry and wait" in Jerusalem to "receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you." This is the sacrament of confirmation, given through the laying on of hands, as insinuated in Hebrews 6:4-6.
Confirmation is a significant step in a person's spiritual journey, marking a deepening of their faith and commitment to Christian life. It is often seen as the completion of baptismal grace, where individuals receive the Holy Spirit and confirm their commitment to being living witnesses of Jesus Christ. This is reflected in the various rituals and symbols of the Confirmation Mass, such as the laying of hands by the bishop, the pouring of sacred chrism, and the affirmation of faith, all of which signify the impartation of the Holy Spirit and the strengthening of one's faith.
Candidates for confirmation often seek the spiritual guidance of a sponsor, preferably one of their baptismal godparents, to emphasize the unity of the two sacraments. The sponsor serves as a spiritual mentor, guiding the candidate in their preparation for confirmation and beyond. Through confirmation, individuals receive the Holy Spirit in a special way, empowering them to live a life of faith, service, and witness. It is considered the sacrament of maturity in faith, where we recognize the gift of the Holy Spirit first given to us in the waters of baptism.
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Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism
The laying on of hands is in accordance with the example of the apostles: "Peter and John laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:17). The Sacred chrism makes us share in the prophetic, kingly, and priestly ministry of Christ. In the Old Testament, people became prophets, kings, and priests by anointing.
In the Old Testament, priests and kings were anointed for special service to God, and this was a sign of their consecration. St. Cyril of Jerusalem speaks to the matter of priestly anointing: "When Moses imparted to his brother [Aaron] the divine commandment, in constituting him high priest, having washed him with water, he anointed him" (Exodus 40:12-15). First, there is a washing with water, then the anointing with oil for a priestly mission (Leviticus 8:5-13).
The future Messiah, which in Hebrew means "anointed one", and all of humanity are meant to receive the fullness of the Spirit. Isaiah puts these words on the Messiah's lips: "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners... to give them the oil of gladness in place of mourning..." (61:1, 3b).
Baptism is also an example of a sacrament given to us by Jesus himself, as described in Matthew 28:18-20: "Go into all the world. Teach all nations. Baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Teach them to do and say all, in accordance with what I commanded you, and lo, I will be with you until the end of the age."
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Confirmation is a sacrament of initiation
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ. It is a sacrament of initiation, marking the second stage of initiation into the life of the Church. The first stage is baptism, which incorporates an individual into Christ and forms them into God's people. The third is the Eucharist, which provides the food of eternal life.
Confirmation is the sacrament that gives the Holy Spirit to root us more deeply in the Christian faith. It is the completion of baptismal grace, increasing the initial gift of the Holy Spirit given during baptism. Confirmation is administered through the laying on of hands, as insinuated in Hebrews 6:4-6.
In the early Church, the sacraments of baptism and confirmation were celebrated in one continuous rite of initiation leading up to the reception of the Eucharist. This is still the current practice in the Eastern Rites of the Church, where the faithful are fully initiated as infants. In the West, the separation between baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist grew after the fifth century due to the difficulty of bishops travelling to parishes to administer all the sacraments at once.
The Council of Trent declared that all seven sacraments were instituted by Jesus Christ. In John 1:14, "The word was made flesh and dwelt among us." This reflects the sacramental nature of Jesus, where everything he did was sacramental.
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Confirmation is a sacrament of maturity
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 Catholics receive the Holy Spirit in a special way, empowering them to live a life of faith, service, and witness.
The Council of Trent declared that all seven sacraments were instituted by Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 6:4-6, Jesus tells the Apostles to "tarry and wait" for the power from on high, which is the sacrament of confirmation, given through the laying on of hands.
Confirmation is sometimes referred to as the "sacrament of maturity" or the sacrament of Christian maturity. This idea has been present since at least the 4th century, when Cyril of Jerusalem used "soldier of Christ" imagery in connection with Confirmation. However, the Catechism of the Catholic Church warns against confusing adult faith with the age of natural growth, as the sacrament of confirmation is not a recognition or blessing of maturity but rather the sacramental grace for maturity.
The age of confirmation has varied over the centuries. In the 13th century, two synods in England disagreed over whether confirmation should be administered within one year or within three years of birth. The 1917 Code of Canon Law recommended that confirmation be delayed until about seven years of age but allowed it to be given earlier. In 1932, official permission was granted to change the traditional order of the sacraments of initiation, allowing Confirmation to be administered after First Holy Communion. By the mid-20th century, Confirmation was seen as an occasion for professing personal commitment to the faith on the part of someone approaching adulthood. Today, the sacrament is typically conferred on individuals above the age of discretion, which is generally considered to be around seven years old.
Preparing for Confirmation involves a journey of faith, reflection, and commitment. Candidates for Confirmation seek the spiritual help of a sponsor, ideally one of their baptismal godparents. They participate in a parish Sacramental Program to deepen their understanding of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Confirmation is not an endpoint but rather a beginning in one's faith journey, and regular participation in Mass, ongoing religious education, and active involvement in the Church community are essential for continued spiritual growth.
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Confirmation is associated with the Eucharist
The Council of Trent declared that all seven sacraments were instituted by Jesus Christ. One of these sacraments is Confirmation, which is associated with the Eucharist. Confirmation is a sacrament of initiation that is closely connected to Baptism and the Eucharist. Together, these three sacraments constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation".
Confirmation completes and deepens the grace of Baptism and leads to the Eucharist, which is the culmination of full initiation into the Catholic Church. Confirmation is a free gift of grace that comes from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It is received only once, as it leaves an indelible spiritual mark on the soul.
At a confirmation service, a person confirms the promises made during their baptism. If they were baptised as a child, their parents and godparents would have made these promises on their behalf. At confirmation, there are no godparents, but the individual may be asked if they would like a sponsor to stand with them as a supporting friend on their journey of faith.
The local bishop will lay their hands on the head of the individual and ask God's Holy Spirit to give them the strength and commitment to live God's way for the rest of their life. This laying on of hands signifies the coming of the Spirit, in accordance with the example of the apostles: "Peter and John laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:17).
Following a confirmation service, there may be a service of Holy Communion, which is the first time some individuals will share in the bread and wine. This is the Eucharist, the culmination of full initiation into the Catholic Church.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Council of Trent declared that all seven sacraments were instituted by Jesus Christ.
The Baltimore Catechism defines it as "an external sign, instituted by Christ, that gives grace."
Jesus instituted the sacrament of confirmation when he sent the Holy Spirit to the Apostles on Pentecost.
Confirmation is a sacrament of initiation that completes the grace of baptism and strengthens the bond between the individual and the Church.
Confirmation is typically conferred through the laying on of hands and the anointing of oil.
