Catholic Sacrament Assistant
Your personal guide for preparing for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion.
The Sacrament of Confirmation
Confirmation is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation. It perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds.
Scriptural Foundation
- Acts 8:14-17: "Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit."
- Isaiah 11:2: "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD." (These are the traditional seven gifts of the Holy Spirit).
From the Catechism
"Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation; it unites us more firmly to Christ; it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us; it renders our bond with the Church more perfect; it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross." (CCC 1303)
Wisdom of the Saints
"Remember that you have received the spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear in God’s presence. Guard what you have received. God the Father has marked you with his sign; Christ the Lord has confirmed you and has placed his pledge, the Spirit, in your hearts."— St. Ambrose of Milan
The Essentials of Confirmation
- The Holy Spirit: The sacrament's primary effect is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.
- The Anointing: The essential rite of Confirmation is anointing the forehead with sacred chrism, together with the laying on of the minister's hand and the words: "Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit."
- The Role of a Sponsor: The sponsor's role is to help the confirmed person to act as a true witness of Christ and to faithfully fulfill the obligations of the sacrament.
- The Mission: Confirmation gives us a special strength to spread and defend the faith. It calls us to be witnesses for Christ in our daily lives, in our families, workplaces, and communities.