Confirmation

Sacraments of Christian Initiation

CONFIRMATION EUCHARIST

The act of

confirming Something that confirms Verification A Christian rite admitting a baptized person to full

To support or

establish the certainty To verify To make firmer To strengthen

is a rite of initiation in many Christian

Churches, normally in the form of laying on of hands and/or anointing for the purpose of bestowing the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Confirmation is the sacrament in which the

Holy Spirit comes to us in a special way to join us more closely to Jesus and his Church and to seal and strengthen us as Christ's witnesses. It is the completion of baptismal grace.

Canon 879 ---The sacrament of confirmation confers a character. By it the baptized continue their path of Christian initiation. They are enriched with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and are more closely linked to the Church. They are made strong and more firmly obliged by word and deed to witness to Christ and to spread and defend the faith.

Acts of the Apostle (8:14-17) that after the

Samaritan converts had been baptized by Philip the deacon, the Apostles “sent unto them Peter and John who, when they were come prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost, for he was to yet come upon any of them, but they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus; then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”

(19:1-6): St. Paul “came to Ephesus, and

found certain disciples; and he said to them: Have you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? But they said to him: We have not so much as heard whether there be a Holy Ghost. And he said: In what then were you baptized? Who said: In John’s baptism. Then Paul said: John baptized the people with the baptism of penance… Having heard these things, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had imposed his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came upon

(2 Corinthians 1:20-21)

“he that confirmeth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is god, who also hath sealed us, and given us the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts”

Canon 879. The sacrament of confirmation

confers a character. By it the baptised continue their path of Christian initiation. They are enriched with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and more closely linked to the Church. They are made strong and more firmly obliged by word and deed to witness to Christ and to spread and defend the faith. Canon 880. The sacrament of confirmation is conferred by anointing with chrism on the forehead in a laying on of hands, and by the words prescribed in the approved liturgical books

Canon 881. It is desirable that the sacrament

of confirmation be celebrated in a church and indeed during Mass. However, for a just and reasonable cause it may be celebrated apart from Mass and in any fitting place. Canon 882. The ordinary minister of confirmation is a Bishop. A priest can also validly confer the sacrament if he has faculty do so, either from the general law or by way of a special grant from the competent authority.

Canon 883. the following have, by law, the

faculty to administer confirmation:  Within the confines of their jurisdiction, those who in law are equivalent to be a diocesan Bishop  In respect of the person to be confirmed, the priest who by virtue of his office or by mandate of the diocesan Bishop baptises an adult or admits a baptised adult into full communion with the catholic Church  In respect of those in danger of death, the parish priest or indeed any priest

CCC 1285 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. CCC 1288 The imposition of hands is rightly recognized by the Catholic tradition as the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation

CCC 1289 To signify the gift of the Holy Spirit,

an anointing with perfumed oil (chrism) was added to the laying on of hands. This anointing highlights the name "Christian," which means "anointed" and derives from that of Christ himself whom God "anointed with the Holy Spirit."

Confirmation is

instituted by Christ our Lord Confirmation is not a vain but a true and proper ceremony In Confirmation, a certain and indelible sign is imprinted in the soul Bishops administer the confirmation

in the teaching of the Roman Catholic

Church, Confirmation, known also as Chrismation, is one of the seven sacraments instituted by Christ for the conferral of sanctifying grace and the strengthening of the union between individual souls and God. by the sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church. A sacrament in which the Holy Ghost is given to those already baptized in order to make them strong and perfect

Baptism Confirmation Eucharist

Confirmation in the East

Confirmation in the West

Baptism

Eucharist Confirmation

The Orthodox rite of Chrismation takes

place immediately after baptism. The priest makes the sign of the cross with the chrism on the brow, eyes, nostrils, lips, both ears, breast, hands and feet of the newly illumined, saying with each anointing: "The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen." Then the priest will place his epitrachelion over the newly-illumined and leads them and their sponsors in a procession, circling three times around the Gospel Book, while the choir chants each time: "As many as have been baptized into

One view of some Anglicans is expressed in

the 16th Century Thirty-Nine Articles is that confirmation is “not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel”…a term meaning Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. Today, many Anglicans, count it as one of seven sacraments. Anglicans are unique in Christianity in that only bishops may administer confirmation. The renewal of the baptismal vows, which is part of the Anglican confirmation service, is in no way necessary to confirmation and can be done more than once. When confirmation is given early,

In other Protestant churches, confirmation

is often called a "rite" rather than a sacrament, and is held to be merely symbolic rather than an effective means of conferring divine grace. In Protestant groups where baptism in the early teens is the norm, confirmation is often not practiced at all. The Roman Catholic Church does not recognize the sacramental validity of Protestant confirmations, and therefore does confirm converts from Protestantism.

by studying the Catholic faith by praying and by witnessing to Christ. must be in the state of grace and have the

same intentions as the Church. one should receive the sacrament of penance

any baptized Catholic

who has not been confirmed may receive Confirmation . the person to be confirmed should have reached the age of discretion ( generally taken at 7) Any priest can give Confirmation to a dying person so that he or she will have received the fullness

 the bishop extends his

hands over the person and anoints the forehead in the form of a cross while saying: "Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit." The person being confirmed answers "Amen," meaning, "Let it be so." The Gift is the Holy Spirit, who is the Gift of the Father and the Son to us.

Eastern Churches call this sacrament

Chrismation, anointing with chrism, or myron which means "chrism. In the West, the term Confirmation suggests

that this sacrament both confirms and strengthens baptismal grace.

sign of anointing

signifies and imprints: a spiritual seal. Oil is a sign of  abundance and joy;  healing

Anointing with

sacred chrism in confirmation is the sign of consecration

Catechism of the Catholic Church  1312 - The original minister of Confirmation is

the bishop. >Each bishop is a successor to the apostles, upon whom the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost—the first Confirmation. The Acts of the Apostles mentions the apostles imparting the Holy Spirit to believers by the laying on of hands (see, Acts 8:15-17 and 19:6).

1313 - In the Latin Rite, the ordinary minister of

Confirmation is the bishop.132 If the need arises, the bishop may grant the faculty of administering Confirmation to priests. The administration of this sacrament by them demonstrates clearly that its effect is to unite those who receive it more closely to the Church, to her apostolic origins, and to her mission of bearing witness to Christ.

 1314 - If a Christian is

in danger of death, any priest can give him Confirmation.134 Indeed the Church desires that none of her children, even the youngest, should depart this world without having been perfected by the Holy Spirit with the gift of Christ's fullness.

Canon Law  884 §1 – administration and grant, §2 –

invitation to other priests  885 §1 - The diocesan Bishop is bound to ensure that the sacrament of confirmation is conferred upon his subjects who duly and reasonably request it. §2 A priest who has this faculty must use it for those in whose favour it was granted.  886 §1 – own diocese, §2 – another diocese  887 – priest who has faculty (883 n.3)  888 – exempt places

 In the Greek Church, confirmation is given by

simple priests without special delegation, and their ministration is accepted by the Western Church as valid. They must, however, use chrism blessed by a patriarch.

 There has been much

discussion among theologians as to what constitutes the essential matter of this sacrament. the most generally accepted view is that the anointing and the imposition of hands conjointly are the matter the “imposition” is the laying of hands which takes place in the act of anointing

The form is the

words essential for confirmation. "Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit."

Canon Law:  892 - As far as possible the person to be

confirmed is to have a sponsor. The sponsor's function is to take care that the person confirmed behaves as a true witness of Christ and faithfully fulfils the duties inherent in this sacrament.

 893 - §1 A person who would undertake the

office of sponsor must fulfill the conditions mentioned in Canon 874 which reads: 1° be appointed by the candidate for baptism, or by the parents or whoever stands in their place, or failing these, by the parish priest or the minister; to be appointed the person must be suitable for this role and have the intention of fulfilling it; 2° be not less than sixteen years of age, unless a different age has been stipulated by the diocesan Bishop, or unless the parish priest or the minister considers that there is a just reason for an exception to be made; 3° be a catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist, and who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken;

4° not labor under a canonical penalty, whether imposed or declared; 5° not be either the father or the mother of the person to be baptized.

 893 - §2 It is

desirable that the sponsor chosen be the one who undertook this role at baptism.

Canon Law 894 – to establish

that confirmation has been conferred, the provisions of Canon 876 are to be observed.

895 – recording and notification, in

accordance with 535 §2: which reads “In the register of baptisms, a note is to be made of confirmation and of matters pertaining to the canonical status of the faithful by reason of marriage, without prejudice to the provision of can. 1133, and by reason of adoption, the reception of sacred order, the making of perpetual profession in a religious institute, or a change of rite. These annotations are always to be reproduced on a baptismal certificate.” 896 – parish priest not present

 an increase of sanctifying grace which makes the

recipient a "perfect Christian"; (CCC 1305)  a special sacramental grace consisting in the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost and notably in the strength and courage to confess boldly the name of Christ; (CCC 1302 & 1303)  an indelible character by reason of which the sacrament cannot be received again by the same person. (CCC 1304)  A further consequence is the spiritual relationship which the person confirming and the sponsor contract with the recipient and with the recipient's parents. This relationship constitutes a diriment impediment to marriage. It does not arise between the minister of the sacrament and the sponsor nor between the sponsors

But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.

All powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin And gave them new life. Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide. Give them the spirit of [1] wisdom and [2] understanding, the spirit of [3] right judgment and [4] courage, the spirit of [5] knowledge and [6] reverence. Fill them with the spirit of [7] wonder and awe

This prayer names the "seven gifts" of the

Holy Spirit. The prophet Isaiah taught that these seven gifts would be the sign of the Messiah, the one anointed by the Holy Spirit. The word Messiah (Christos in Greek) means "anointed." Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one, the one filled with the Holy Spirit. At Confirmation we are anointed with that same Holy Spirit. At the actual anointing during Confirmation we hear the words: "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit." We are sealed with the gift of, that is, the gift which is the Holy Spirit.

Confirmation is not absolutely necessary for

salvation, but it could be seriously wrong to neglect this sacrament because it deepens baptismal grace and brings an abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist so complement one another that all three are required for full Christian initiation. Confirmation is also important for the growth of the Church. (1306)

CCC 1306 - Every baptized person not yet

confirmed can and should receive the sacrament of Confirmation.123 Since Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist form a unity, it follows that "the faithful are obliged to receive this sacrament at the appropriate time,"124 for without Confirmation and Eucharist, Baptism is certainly valid and efficacious, but Christian initiation remains incomplete.

Regarding the obligation of receiving the

sacrament, it is admitted that confirmation is not necessary as an indispensable means of salvation (necessitate medii). Its reception is obligatory (necessitate præcepti) "for all those who are able to understand and fulfill the Commandments of God and of the Church. As to the gravity of the obligation, opinions differ, some theologians holding that an unconfirmed person would commit mortal sin if he refused the sacrament, others that the sin would be at most venial unless the refusal

What are the duties of confirmed Catholics?

- Confirmed Catholics are to keep on learning about their faith. They are to live it, love it, stand up for it and share it as Christ's witnesses. (1303) Can the dying receive Confirmation?

- Any priest can give Confirmation to a dying person so that he or she will have received the fullness of Christ. (1307, 1314) Is another saint's name taken in Confirmation?

- A Catholic may take another saint's name in Confirmation if he or she wishes.

Group 2: Gascon, Gato, Gonzales, Milanes