Confirmation

- Sacraments

Baptism, the Eucharist and the sacraments of Confirmation together constitute the
“sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained
to the faithful that 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.
Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the
faith by word and deed.”

Confirmation in the Economy of Salvation
In the Old Testament the prophets announced that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the
hoped-for Messiah for his saving mission. The descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at his
baptism by John was the sign that this was he who was to come, the Messiah, the Son of God.
He was conceived of the Holy Spirit: his whole life and his whole mission are carried out in
total communion with the Holy Spirit whom the Father gives him “without measure.”

This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah’s, but was to be
communicated to the whole messianic people. On several occasions Christ promised this
outpouring of the Spirit, a promise which he fulfilled first on Easter Sunday and then more
strikingly at Pentecost. Filled with the Holy Spirit the apostles began to proclaim “the mighty
works of God,” and Peter declared this outpouring of the Spirit to be the sign of the messianic
age. Those who believed in the apostolic preaching and were baptized received the gift of the
Holy Spirit in their turn.

“From that time on the apostle, in fulfillment of Christ’s will, imparted to the newly baptized
by the laying on of hands the gift of the Spirit that completes the grace of Baptism. For this
reason in the Letter to the Hebrews the doctrine concerning Baptism and the laying on of
hands is listed among the first elements of Christian instruction. The imposition of hands is
right recognized by the Catholic tradition as the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation,
which in a certain way perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church.”

Very early, the better 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.” This rite of anointing has continued ever since, in both East and West. For
this reason the 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 baptism and strengthens baptismal grace

Who can receive this sacrament? Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should
receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Since Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist form a
unity, it follows that ‘the faithful are obliged to receive this sacrament at the appropriate
time,” for without Confirmation and Eucharist, Baptism is certainly valid and efficacious,
but Christian initiation remains incomplete.
To receive Confirmation one must be in the state of grace. One should receive the sacrament
of Penance in order to be cleansed for the gift of the Holy Spirit. More intense prayer
should prepare one to receive the strength and graces of the Holy Spirit with docility and
readiness to act.

Sponsors for Confirmation
Candidates for Confirmation, as for Baptism, fittingly seek the spiritual help of a sponsor. To
emphasize the unity of the two sacraments, it is appropriate that this be one of the baptismal
godparents. If unavailable, then the requirements of the sponsor are:

1. The sponsor must be at least sixteen years old.
2. I am not the parent/step-parent of the person being confirmed
3. Have received the sacraments of Baptism, the most holy sacrament of the
Eucharist and Confirmation, and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on.
4. If married, the present marriage must be recognized as valid by the Catholic Church.
5. The sponsor must be a practicing Catholic in good standing.
6. Only one sponsor is required, either male or female.

Here at Saint Ann’s, the Youth Confirmation program is a two year study in Grades Nine and Ten.
However, attendance in Grades Seven and Eight must be completed before entrance into
Grade Nine.

Please click here for more information about study of this sacrament in our Youth
Religious Education Program.

For information about Adult Confirmation, please click here.