Confirmation

From the Catechism

1315 “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 it 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” (Acts 8:14-17).

1316 Confirmation 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.

1317 Confirmation, like Baptism, imprints a spiritual mark or indelible character on the Christian’s soul; for this reason one can receive this sacrament only once in one’s life.

1318 In the East this sacrament is administered immediately after Baptism and is followed by participation in the Eucharist; this tradition highlights the unity of the three sacraments of Christian initiation. In the Latin Church this sacrament is administered when the age of reason has been reached, and its celebration is ordinarily reserved to the bishop, thus signifying that this sacrament strengthens the ecclesial bond.

1319 A candidate for Confirmation who has attained the age of reason must profess the faith, be in the state of grace, have the intention of receiving the sacrament, and be prepared to assume the role of disciple and witness to Christ, both within the ecclesial community and in temporal affairs.

1320 The essential rite of Confirmation is anointing the forehead of the baptized with sacred chrism (in the East other sense-organs as well), together with the laying on of the minister’s hand and the words: “Accipe signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti” (Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.) in the Roman rite, or: Signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti [the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit] in the Byzantine rite.

1321 When Confirmation is celebrated separately from Baptism, its connection with Baptism is expressed, among other ways, by the renewal of baptismal promises. The celebration of Confirmation during the Eucharist helps underline the unity of the sacraments of Christian initiation.

Parish Procedure

We hold the sacrament of Confirmation one every 2 years. We admit candidates for Confirmation who have reached the age of thirteen. For the valid reception of Confirmation, it is required that the confirmand be baptized, suitably instructed, properly disposed, and able to renew one’s baptismal promises.

About a month into the instructions for Confirmation, the confirmands are officially enrolled for their year-long preparation. This takes place in the context of Mass during which the community adopts them spiritually to support them with prayers. After the enrolment, registration for the sacrament closes.

Our preparation which requires utmost sense of duty and responsibility from the confirmandsaims at leading them toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit – his actions, his gifts, and his biddings – in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end, our instructions for Confirmation strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community which bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands.

As the sacrament through which recipients are more strongly inducted into the life of the Christian community, our confirmands are expected to serve the parish community in fitting capacities. At the least, they are to belong to the Parish Youth Club.

Candidates for Confirmation, as for Baptism, need the spiritual help of a sponsor (godparent). To emphasize the unity of the two sacraments, it is appropriate that this be one of the baptismal godparents. They should not be the parents of the confirmand. The sponsor who stands at the side of the confirmand represents for them the whole community.