LESSON TITLE: CONFIRMATION

Topics:
Meaning of Confirmation
Biblical Background
The Graces of Confirmation
The Effects of Confirmation
The Character, Minister, Matter, Form of Confirmation
The Rite of Confirmation

Meaning of Confirmation

Confirmation- is the Sacrament that confers the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
It is called Confirmation because it ratifies and strengthens the Baptismal
Grace, making us mature Christians and Soldiers of Christ.

The term Confirmation originated from the Latin word Cumfirmare,

meaning “To ratify,” since the confirmandi approve as adults the BAptism
they receive when still infants.

Biblical Background
Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Confirmation on the evening of Easter
Sunday, when he appeared in the Cenacle and said: “As the Father has sent
me, so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said
to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John 20:21-22).

On the Day of Pentecost of 33 AD, early in the morning, as the Apostles

with the disciples and the Virgin Mary were at prayer in the Cenacle of
Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit descended like tongues of fire and rested on each
of them: they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
different languages (cf. Acts 2:1-4).

The Greek word Pentecost means “Fiftieth Day,” as it falls 50 days after
Easter. The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is the natal day of the
One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. This Dogma
was defined by Jesus, when he said: “Go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

The Holy Spirit is the life-giving breath of God: After forming Adam
from the dust of the soil, “God breathed into his nostrils the Breath of Life,
and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).

The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are permanent dispositions that make us
docile to God’s will. They were revealed by Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord
shall rest upon him: a Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, a Spirit of
Counsel and of Strength, a Spirit of Knowledge and of a Spirit of Piety ...
and of Fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2-3).

1. WISDOM: It is the predisposition to judge and order all things according

to God’s will; its contrary is foolishness. King Solomon is the
model of Divine Wisdom, which was granted by God.

2. UNDERSTANDING: It is the predisposition to grasp the truths of faith

easily and deeply; its contrary is unawareness. St. Thomas Aquinas was
bestowed with the gift of Understanding from an early age: he never
began to study without first invoking the assistance of God in prayer.

3. COUNSEL: It is the predisposition to discern correctly and immediately

the will of God in the different circumstances of life; its contrary is
stubbornness. St. Philip Neri was endowed with the gift of discerning
spirits, as he could detect true from false apparitions and evil
possessions.

4. STRENGTH: It is the predisposition to persevere in fulfilling God’s will

in moments of trial; its contrary is weakness. St. Paul is the model of
the Gift of Strength, since he endured countless hardship for the love of
Christ.

5. KNOWLEDGE: It is the predisposition to discover the truths of the

spiritual and material world, and to relate them to the Creator; its
contrary is ignorance. Galileo Galilei had the gift of scientific
knowledge, as he demonstrated the Law of Heliocentrism.

6. PIETY: It is the predisposition to worship God with all our heart; and,
consequently, to love our neighbor as ourselves. St. Padre Pio was
gifted with an overflowing Piety, as he spent his priestly life in prayer, in
the celebration of the Holy Mass, and Confession.
7. FEAR OF THE LORD: It is the predisposition to respect God and to be
scared of sin; its contrary is disrespect, but the filial concern
of not offending his love.”

Although the Seven Gifts are permanent dispositions, they require

our daily commitment in order to bear fruit.

THE GRACES OF CONFIRMATION:

The sacrament of the Eucharist confers three major spiritual graces, namely:

1. Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ:

Jesus is present in the Eucharistic species in a real and substantial way, with
his person, body, soul, and divinity. As Jesus declared: “He who eats my
flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him.” (John 6:5 - 6)

2. Atoning for the Sins of Living and the Dead: The Eucharist has the
power to forgive the venial sins of the living, and also expiating the
temporal punishment of the souls in purgatory.

3. Receiving Eternal Life: The Eucharist is pledge of eternal life; as Jesus

promised: “I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who does
eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last
day.” (John 5:51-54).

The Effects of Confirmation

1. Child of God-it roots us more deeply as children of God which makes us cry. “Abba,
Father!”

2. Closer to Christ-It unites us more firmly to our Savior Jesus Christ.

3. It increases the Gift of the Holy Spirit in us- wisdom, counsel, understanding,
knowledge, fortitude, piety and fear of the Lord

4. Fully Catholic- It renders our bond with the Catholic Church more perfect.

5. Defend the faith- it gives us special strength spread and defend the Faith as true
witnesses of Christ.
The Character of Confirmation
The Character of Confirmation- is the spiritual and indelible seal impressed upon the
soul by anointing with Chrism, consecrating the confirmandi as Soldiers of Christ, ready
to engage into a spiritual battle against Satan and any form of evil.

Being permanent, the three Sacraments imparting the Character- Baptism,

Confirmation, and Ordination, can either be repeated nor deleted.

The MINISTER of Confirmation

The Minister of Confirmation is the Bishop, because he is part of the Apostolic
Succession, which is the unbroken chain of Ordinations connecting him to one of the
Apostles. The Extraordinary Minister of Confirmation is a Priest appointed by the
Bishop; but this should be only in special cases, when the Bishop is truly unable to
confirm. In danger of death, any Priest can administer Confirmation, even without
the Bishop’s delegation.

THE CROSIER: THE MITER

Also known as Pastoral Staff, it signifies
the Bishop’s authority and jurisdiction
over the Church. It imitates the rod
given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai,
and the one used by the shepherds in
caring for their sheep.
It represents a spiritual helmet, referring
to the Bishop’s duty to defend the
Christian faith and the Church against all
enemies, from within or without. It is
composed of a tall folding cap and two
lappets hanging down from the back.
 THE RING
It signifies the spiritual
wedding between the
Bishop and the Church. By
wearing the ring, the
Bishops confirms his fidelity
to Christ and his disciples.
THE PECTORAL CROSS
It indicates the Bishop’s love
for Christ and the Church. It
is called Pectorale, meaning
“Chest” in Latin, because it
is worn above the abdomen.
THE COAT OF ARMS
It is a shield embossed with
symbolic elements and a
motto scroll, indicating the
Bishop’s personality,
programs, and ideals of life.

The MATTER in Confirmation

The Matter of Confirmation is the Laying of Hands and the Sacred Chrism: the
Laying of Hands confers the Holy Spirit; the Anointing with Christ impresses the
Character.
The Laying of Hands signifies the coming of the Holy Spirit, which is passed from
one generation onto the next by means of Confirmation. In the Old Testament, the
Laying of Hands conferred the blessing and authority received from God: Isaac, for
instance, blessed his son, Jacob, by laying his hands on him. The New Testament
applies the same principle on the conferral of the Holy Spirit: the gift bestowed on
the Apostles on Pentecost is transmitted to the neophytes by the laying of their
hands.

In the Old Testament, the Laying of Hands conferred the blessing and authority
received from God: Isaac, for instance, blessed his son, Jacob, by laying his hands
on him. The New Testament applies the same principle on the conferral of the Holy
Spirit: the gift bestowed on the Apostles on Pentecost is transmitted to the neophytes
by the laying of their hands.

 The Sacred Chrism is olive oil mixed with balsam, which is consecrated by
the Bishop during the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday at the Cathedral.

 The Olive Oil, because of its shining fluidity and gracious aroma, signifies
consecration to God and the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

 The Balsam, an aromatic perfume with the power of preserving from decay,
represents the sweet scent of Christ’s resurrection that the Faithful must bring
into the world.

 Having received the Sacrament of Confirmation, we share in the Prophetic,

Kingly, and Priestly Ministry of Jesus, by words and deeds, in accordance with
our calling and state in life.

PROPHETIC MINISTRY KINGLY MINISTRY

It means that the It indicates our
newly-confirmed are dominion over
solemnly deputized as Satan; and also our
missionaries of the commitment to
 PRIESTLY MINISTRY
It signifies the
offering of our
prayers and worship
to God, either as
Faithful or Clergy.

The FORM of Confirmation

The Form of Confirmation are the following word: “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy
Spirit.” It is proclaimed by the Bishop as he lays his hand on the confirmandi’s head and
anoints their forehead with the Sacred Chrism, by making with the thumb a Sign of the
Cross.

 The meaning of the Slap on the Cheek given by the Bishop after Anointing with the
Holy Chrism, signifies the bravery and courage that Christ’s Soldier must have in
defending the Christian Faith; if needed, till martyrdom. The symbolism was
borrowed by the medieval ceremony of installation of knights: the king ,after
dubbing the sword on the knight’s shoulders, would slap his face, commanding him
to honor the Code of Chivalry, without blemish and fear, by fighting for God and
justice.

 The Godparents are the spiritual father and mother of the confirmandi, who present
them to the Bishop during the Confirmation, and guide them towards Christian
maturity. They should be 16 years old and above; fully initiated and practicing
Catholics; who have received Confirmation and Communion.

A person deprived of some of these requirements may be chosen only as “witness”

or “secondary sponsor” to Confirmation; but never if he is a public sinner, or has
notoriously abandoned the Catholic faith.