Confirmation or Confirmation is the sacrament of Christian maturity. Along with Baptism and the Eucharist, it is classified as one of the three sacraments of Christian initiation.
Through this sacrament the Christian receives the Gifts of the Holy Spiritthus confirming the Baptism he received as a child, and whose promises and commitments his parents and godparents assumed for him. The special sacramental grace of Confirmation is the strengthening of faith, producing in the Christian an increase in sanctifying grace.
The meaning of the word Confirmation?
This sacrament is called Confirmation meaning Anointing. It receives this name because of the oil – called Chrism Oil – which is the material of the sacrament, and its rite takes place through the laying on of hands.
The Code of Canon Law, No. 880 tells us that:
The sacrament of confirmation is conferred through the anointing of chrism on the forehead, which is carried out by the laying on of the hand and by the words prescribed in the approved liturgical books. The chrism to be used in the sacrament of confirmation must be consecrated by the Bishop, even if the sacrament is administered by a priest.
Chrism oil is composed of olive oil (olive oil) scented with balsamic resin. On the morning of Maundy Thursday, the bishop consecrates it to be used in baptism, confirmation, the ordination of priests and bishops and the consecration of altars and bells. The oil represents joy, strength and health. Whoever is anointed with Confirmation must diffuse the good perfume of Christ (cf. II Cor 2:15).
This sacrament is also called Confirmation, because it confirms and reinforces baptismal grace through the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Such an outpouring imprints an indelible character on the soul and brings with it a growth in baptismal grace: it roots more deeply in divine filiation, unites more firmly with Christ and His Church, invigorates the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the soul and gives special strength to testify to the Christian faith.
The Rite of Confirmation
Through anointing with oil, confirmation receives “the mark,” the seal of the Holy Spirit.
The liturgy of the sacrament begins with the renewal of Baptismal promises and the profession of faith of the confirmands. Thus, it is clear that Confirmation constitutes the extension of Baptism.
In the Roman rite, the bishop extends his hands over all those confirming, a gesture that since the times of the Apostles has been a sign of the gift of the Spirit. And the bishop thus invokes the outpouring of the Spirit:
“Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who regenerated these your servants by water and the Holy Spirit and freed them from sin: hear our prayer and send the Holy Spirit Paraclete upon them; fill them with the spirit of wisdom and intelligence, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and godliness; and fill them with the spirit of your holy fear, through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rite of Confirmation).
Follow the essential rite of the sacrament. In the Latin rite, the sacrament of Confirmation is conferred by the anointing of the sacred chrism on the forehead, by the laying on of hands, and with these words: “Receive by this sign the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Paul VI, Const. ap. Divinae consortium naturae) .
The kiss of peace with which the rite of the sacrament concludes signifies and manifests ecclesiastical communion with the bishop and with all the faithful.
The minister of Confirmation is the bishop. Although the bishop may, if necessary, grant other presbyters the power to administer the sacrament of Confirmation, he must confer it himself.
Who can receive the sacrament of Confirmation?
All baptized people, not yet confirmed, can and must receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Since Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist form a unity, all “the faithful are obligated to receive this sacrament in a timely manner” because without Confirmation and the Eucharist, the sacrament of Baptism is certainly valid and efficacious, but Christian initiation remains incomplete.
In the East, this sacrament is administered immediately after Baptism and is followed by participation in the Eucharist, a tradition that highlights the unity of the three sacraments of Christian initiation.
In the Latin Church this sacrament is administered when one reaches “the age of the use of reason”. However, if there is a danger of death, children must be confirmed even if they have not yet reached the age of reason.
There is a preparation for the sacrament that helps you feel part of the Church of Jesus Christ. Each parish has responsibility for preparing confirmands.
PTo receive Confirmation it is necessary to be in a state of grace. It is appropriate to resort to the sacrament of Penance to be purified in attention to the gift of the Holy Spirit. We must prepare ourselves with more intense prayer to receive the strength and graces of the Holy Spirit with docility and availability.
As with Baptism, confirmants must seek spiritual help from a godfather or godmother. This should be the same as Baptism, in order to emphasize the unity between the two sacraments.
The effects of Confirmation
Those baptized by the sacrament of Confirmation are more perfectly linked to the Church, enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit and are thus more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith through words and works, as true witnesses of Christ. (CIC n.1285)
Confirmation provides growth and deepening of baptismal grace:
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roots us more deeply in divine filiation, which leads us to say “Abba! Father!” (Rm 8, 15);
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unites us more firmly to Christ;
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increases in us the gifts of the Holy Spirit;
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it makes the bond that unites us to the Church more perfect (127);
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give us a special strength from the Holy Spirit to propagate and defend the faith, by word and action, as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ with courage, and to never be ashamed of the cross. (128)
“Remember therefore that you received the spiritual sign, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and godliness, the spirit of holy fear, and keep what you have received. God the Father marked you with his sign, the Lord Jesus Christ confirmed you and placed the pledge of the Spirit in your heart.”
(CIC n.1303)
Read more about the Sacraments of the Catholic Church
The Sacrament of Baptism
The Sacrament of the Eucharist
Sacrament of Penance
Anointing of the Sick
Sacrament of Order
Sacrament of Marriage
References:
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Catechism of the Catholic Church
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https://formacao.cancaonova.com/igreja/doutrina/o-que-ea-crisma/
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https://opusdei.org/pt-br/article/o-que-ea-confirmacao/