CHAPTER 4

Chapter 4
The
Sacrament
of
Confirmation
 It is important to take care that our children, our young people,
receive this Sacrament [of Confirmation]. We all take care that they
are baptized and this is good, but perhaps we do not take so much
care that they are confirmed. Thus, they remain at a midpoint in their
journey and do not receive the Holy Spirit, who is so important in the
Christian life since he gives us the strength to go on.
Pope Francis
(General Audience, January 29, 2014)

The Sacrament of the Holy Spirit

Rite of Confirmation
• Laying on of the hands: “Then they laid hands on them and they
received the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:17)

• Anointing with sacred chrism: “Through the oil we are conformed, in

the power of the Spirit, to Jesus Christ, who is the only true ‘anointed
one,’ the ‘Holy One of God’”
(Pope Francis—General Audience, January 29, 2014).

• Spoken words: “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The Sacrament of the Holy Spirit

“Give them the spirit of wisdom and
understanding, the spirit of right
judgment and courage, the spirit of
knowledge and reverence. Fill them
with the spirit of wonder and awe in
your presence.”
(Rite of Confirmation 41, 42)

The Sacrament of the Holy Spirit

The Sacrament of the Holy Spirit
 The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

The spirit of the Lord “I will give you a new heart,

God is upon me, and a new spirit I will put
because the Lord has within you. I will remove the
anointed me; heart of stone from your flesh
He has sent me to bring and give you a heart of flesh”
good news to the (Ez 36:26).
afflicted,
to bind up the
brokenhearted, “It shall come to pass
To proclaim liberty to I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh.
the captives, Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
release to the prisoners.
your young men will see visions.”
(Is 61:1) (Jl 3:1)

Understanding the Sacrament of Confirmation

 The Holy Spirit in the New Testament
“When they take “The wind blows where it wills, and
you before you can hear the sound it makes,
synagogues and but you do not know where it
before rulers and comes from or where it goes; so it is
authorities, do with everyone who is born of the
not worry about Spirit” (Jn 3:8).
how or what your
defense will be or “And I will ask the Father, and he will
about what you give you another Advocate to be with
are to say. For the you always, the Spirit of truth, which
Holy Spirit will the world cannot accept, because it
neither sees nor knows it. But you
teach you at that
know it, because it remains with you,
moment what you and will be in you” (Jn 14:16).
should say” (Lk
12:11–12).
Understanding the Sacrament of Confirmation
The Laying on of Hands at
Confirmation
A gesture that is part of the
essential rite and origin of the
Sacrament of Confirmation.
Acts 19:1–6 tells the story of a
new group of disciples who,
after being baptized, received
the Holy Spirit when St. Paul
laid hands on them

Understanding the Sacrament of Confirmation

 Names of the Holy Spirit Location in Bible

Advocate John 14:16

power of the Most High Luke 1:35
Spirit of Adoption Romans 8:15
Spirit of Wisdom Isaiah 11:2
Spirit of Counsel Isaiah 11:2
Spirit of Knowledge Isaiah 11:2

Spirit of Glory 1 Peter 4:14

Spirit of Holiness Romans 1:3-4
Spirit of Truth John 16:13
Steadfast Spirit Psalm 51:12
Spirit of the Lord God Isaiah 61:1
Spirit of the Son Galatians 4:6
Spirit of Prophecy Revelations 8:15
Understanding the Sacrament of Confirmation
Sacred Chrism
Oil is a sign of abundance and
healing.

Chrism is a mixture of olive oil and balsam (a fragrant

perfume—sometimes referred to as “the balm of
Gilead”—used in healing and preservation from
corruption).
The balsam symbolizes the sweet “odor” of Christianity, found in virtuous living and
imitation of Christ (see 2 Corinthians 2:15).

Those who are anointed with sacred chrism have a new identity—that of Christians, who
share in Christ’s mission and have the special duty of proclaiming his Gospel to the world.

Understanding the Sacrament of Confirmation

 Confirmation in the Confirmation in the
Eastern Church Roman Catholic Church

Sacraments of Initiation remain united. Separate celebrations of Baptism and Confirmation.

Baptism and Confirmation are both conferred by the There is an explicit connection between Confirmation
priest using the sacred oils blessed by the bishop. and the bishop. The bishop is present for
Confirmation.

Baptism is immediately followed by Confirmation and Baptism is celebrated with the ordinary minister.
Eucharist (even for infants). With infant baptism; Confirmation is delayed until
the age of reason is reached and until the bishop is
present .

Understanding the Sacrament of Confirmation

Chrism Mass
An annual Mass,
celebrated in a
diocesan cathedral on
or near Holy
Thursday, in which the
bishop consecrates
the sacred chrism and
other oils that will be
used in the diocese
throughout the year.

Celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation

Confirmation Sponsor
To be qualified to be a
Confirmation sponsor, a person
must have received all three
Sacraments of Christian
Initiation, be at least sixteen
years old, and lead “a life in
harmony with the faith and the
role to be undertaken” (Code of
Canon Law 874; see CCC 1311).

Celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation

Order of the Rite of Confirmation
• Presentation of the Candidates
• Homily
• Renewal of Baptismal Promises
• Invocation of the Outpouring of the
Spirit
• Laying on of Hands and Anointing with
Sacred Chrism
Bishop: “N, Be sealed with the gift of the
Holy Spirit.”
Confirmed: “Amen”
Bishop: “Peace be with you.”
Confirmed: “And with your spirit.”
• General intersessions (prayers for the newly confirmed, their sponsors and
families and the Church so that they may be open to the gifts of the Holy
Spirit)
Celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation
 Increases
Effects of Forms a
deeper bond
the Gifts of
the Holy
Confirmation with the
Church
Spirit in you

Roots
you
more
fully as a
child of
God
Shares in Christ’s
priesthood by
making you closer
Endows you with a to Christ
special strength to be
able to defend the faith
in deed and word

The Graces of the Sacrament of Confirmation

 • provides prudence and self-control
Wisdom • keeps your priorities straight

• sees "the bigger picture"

Understanding • helps with the larger mysteries of life

• offers right judgment and relies on prudence

Counsel • seeks and give advice

• gives courage to stand up for your beliefs

Fortitude
Gifts of the
Holy Spirit
• overcomes obstacles with loving service

• allows you to know God and be known

Knowledge • helps you learn more about God and the faith
• brings faithful obedience, love, and respect for God
Piety • helps you to trust in God and respect everything
God has made
• envelops you with wonder and awe
Fear of the Lord • allows you to be receptive to God

The Graces of the Sacrament of Confirmation

 Fruits of the Spirit

charity joy peace patience

kindness goodness generosity
gentleness faithfulness modesty
self-control chastity

The Graces of the Sacrament of Confirmation

 Journal
Question
Write about a time
when you were
particularly
strengthened by one of
the fruits of the Holy
Spirit.
• https://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/media/articles/titles-of-the-
holy-spirit/

• http://vulgate.org/nt/epistle/galatians_5.htm