127. The Sacrament of Confirmation

The ceremonies of Confirmation begin by the Bishop extending his hands over those to be confirmed (1), invoking the Holy Ghost. He signs with the sign of the cross the forehead of each separately with chrism (2), pronouncing the words of confirmation. He gives the person a slight slap on the cheek (3) to remind him to be ready to suffer all things, even death, for his faith.

What is Confirmation?

— Confirmation is the sacrament through which the Holy Ghost comes to us in a special way and enables us to profess our faith as strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ.

It is of common belief that Confirmation was instituted by Christ at the Last Supper.

1. Confirmation in a very special manner brings us the Holy Ghost with His sevenfold gifts. "Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:17).

Confirmation for the Christians may be likened to the day of Pentecost for the Apostles, when they received the Holy Ghost under sensible signs: tongues as of fire, and a mighty wind. The Apostles themselves administered the sacrament of Confirmation, as at Samaria and Ephesus. "And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them" (Acts 19:6).

2. Any baptised Christian may be confirmed. Although the sacrament is not necessary for salvation, it is sinful to neglect it, as it confers many graces.

"The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Rom. 5:5). By Confirmation, we become soldiers of Christ, for it strengthens us in the profession of our faith. "I can do all things in him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13).

3. We should receive the sacrament of Confirmation at the age when we pass from childhood to youth. At that period, all kinds of temptations surround us, and we need special strength from God to resist them.

In the early days of the Church, it was the custom to confirm very young children. The sacrament of Confirmation is today delayed in order that the recipient may first have a basic knowledge of the fundamentals of faith. Even when Confirmation is administered to infants and very young children, they truly receive the sacrament. The age is a matter of discipline in particular dioceses.

What is necessary to receive Confirmation properly?

— To receive Confirmation properly, it is necessary to be in the state of grace, and to know well the chief truths and duties of our religion.

1. For Confirmation, a knowledge of the chief truths and duties of our religion is required. This is why, if a person who is to be confirmed has reached the age of reason, he is examined as to these truths when he goes to confession before Confirmation.

The Commandments, common prayers, and the Apostles' Creed are the basis of any examination in religion; any Catholic who can explain clearly the fundamentals of the twelve articles of the Apostles' Creed knows his faith sufficiently, for Confirmation.

2. Confirmation is a sacrament of the living. Therefore, when one who has reached the age of reason is to be confirmed, he must first go to confession if burdened with mortal sin, in order to be in a state of grace.

The person to be confirmed should obtain the permit for Confirmation. He must go to the church properly dressed. He must go early. The doors of the church are closed when the ceremony begins to prevent the disturbances by latecomers.

3. When the bishop approaches, the person to be confirmed must kneel. Children may stand. The sponsor stands behind, with the right hand on the shoulder of the person to be confirmed. There is only one sponsor, of the same sex as the one confirmed.

The person confirmed must not leave the church before the whole ceremony is finished. He must attend with respect and devotion.

In what does the sacrament of Confirmation consist?

— The sacrament of Confirmation consists in the anointing with chrism on the forehead, and at the same time the pronouncing of the words: "I sign thee with the sign of the cross, and I confirm thee with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

These are the matter and form of the sacrament.

1. Holy chrism is a mixture of olive oil and balm, blessed by the bishop on Holy Thursday. By anointing the forehead with chrism in the form of a cross is meant that the Catholic who is confirmed must always be ready to profess his faith openly and to practice it fearlessly.

The cross marked on our foreheads at Confirmation reminds us never to be ashamed to profess ourselves disciples of a crucified Saviour. We must profess our religion openly whenever we cannot keep silence without breaking some law of God or of the Church; for example, when we are challenged to make profession of our faith, when the Church is being attacked.

2. The bishop is the usual minister of Confirmation.

Sometimes, however, the Holy See gives missionary priests the power to administer this sacrament; but the oil used must have been consecrated by a bishop. Pastors and administrators of parishes are granted the faculty of administering Confirmation, as extraordinary ministers, to those among their flock and others in their territory who are in danger of death

3. After the anointing with chrism, the bishop gives the person confirmed a light slap on the cheek, saying, "Peace be with you!" This is done in order to remind him that he must be ready to suffer everything, even death, for the sake of Christ.

Finally the bishop gives all his blessing. Then those who have been confirmed or their godparents say the Credo, "Our Father" and "Hail Mary."

4. Those in charge should take care that proper registration in the sacramental register of the church takes place after Confirmation.

When a person is confirmed outside his own parish, notification must be sent to the parish where he was baptised.

5. After our Confirmation, we should continue to study our religion even more earnestly than before, so that we may be able to explain and defend our faith.

In these days of spreading paganism and naturalism, God needs soldiers to defend His faith. And we cannot be of much use in the defence of the faith if we ourselves do not know it.

What are the effects of Confirmation?

— Confirmation increases sanctifying grace, gives its special sacramental grace, and imprints a lasting character on the soul.

1. Confirmation creates within us a spirit of meekness. It increases our love of God and our neighbour. It enlightens our understanding, strengthens our will, preserves our soul from sin, and inclines our heart to virtue. The sacramental grace of Confirmation helps us to live our faith loyally and to profess it courageously.

As Baptism makes us temples of the Holy Ghost, Confirmation gives us the plenitude of His graces.

2. The character of Confirmation is a spiritual and indelible sign which marks the Christian as a soldier in the army of Christ.

Because Confirmation imprints an indelible character on the soul, it may be received only once. As a soldier of Christ, a confirmed person is given a sense of the worthlessness of the goods and pleasures of earth; his thoughts are directed towards the supernatural; in other words, he is given the capacity to become a perfect Christian.