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Chapter 8: CONFIRMATION. Celebrating Growth in the Spirit. Confirmation: Basic Facts. The second of the three Sacraments of Initiation In Catholic practice, Confirmation is not necessarily the second to be received. Celebrates the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit on a baptized person.
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Chapter 8: CONFIRMATION Celebrating Growth in the Spirit
Confirmation: Basic Facts • The second of the three Sacraments of Initiation • In Catholic practice, Confirmation is not necessarily the second to be received. • Celebrates the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit on a baptized person. • Like Baptism, Confirmation imparts a permanent seal in the person • Uniting them with Christ • Uniting them with the church • It may be received only once.
Why do we choose a Confirmation name? • As with baptism, we become new creations in Christ and this is one of the reason Catholics take a new name, the name of a brother or sister in Christ who has lived before us and who has shown us a way to live in the Christian faith. • We take their name to remind us of their journey and hopefully to find their life's story one to inspire and encourage us to keep going in our own. • If you do not wish to take a name, you do not have to. I know Catholics who did not take a confirmation name. • It's not about the name you take, its about the journey you are undertaking!
What Does Confirmation Celebrate? • Growth in the Holy Spirit • Is a continuing, life-long journey. • Holy Spirit—translation of the old Hebrew term that means “wind” or “breath of God.” • We consciously “confirm” or acknowledge the gifts of the Holy Spirit given at Baptism and are given the fullness of the Spirit’s grace.
Needing other people • All of us need “confirmation” of our gifts and have those gifts nurtured by others. • When others act in our life, they confirm our identity and encourage our growth in the gifts we have been given. • In a way, they have been “sponsors”—a term used to describe those who encourage and nurture the faith of the person being initiated. • Ex: parents, relatives, teachers, friends, etc.
Sponsors • In preparation for Confirmation, young people choose one person to be their sponsor, to help them with their growth in the Spirit. • Sponsors should be: • Baptized person who is fully initiated • Active in the Catholic faith • Willing to help the young person grow spiritually • Intended to be a mentor
Confirmation: Preparation Period • For young persons who were baptized as infants, the period of preparing for Confirmation serves similar to the catechumenate. • One to two years • Chance to learn and grow in faith they are consciously embracing. • Candidates are to be involved in service of some kind for two primary reasons: • To give candidates a taste of living Jesus’ life of ministry • To enable them to try out their own gifts for service as a way figure out how they might serve in the future.
Confirmation Day • Young people are confirmed in their parish by the bishop of the diocese. • At this time, seven special gifts are called forth and strengthened in those being confirmed. • Gifts of the Holy Spirit: • Wisdom • Understanding • Right Judgment • Courage • Knowledge • Reverence • Wonder and Awe
Who May be Confirmed? • Those who are Baptized • Age of discretion (ages 11-16) • Willing to profess the Catholic faith • In a state of grace, that is, forgiven of any grave sins through Baptism or the sacrament of Reconciliation • Intending to receive the sacrament • Willing to take on the role of a disciple of Christ.
Ritual of Confirmation: Symbolic Actions and Words • The two rituals central to Confirmation are; • Laying on of hands • Anointing with chrism • The words, spoken by the bishop while laying on a hand or anointing the person, are essential to the validity of the sacrament: “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Symbolic Words: Renewal of Baptismal Promise • Do you reject Satan and all his works and all his empty promises? • I do! • Do you believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth? • I do!
Symbolic Actions: Laying on of Hands • Hands are a symb0l of power. • Specifically, the laying on of hands refers to an ancient practice of conferring power onto a person by placing both hands on a person’s head. • It’s used as a blessing, creating, comforting, supporting.
Symbolic Actions: Laying on of Hands • In the Rite of Confirmation, the bishop initially “laying hands on” all the candidates together by extending his hands over the whole group. • Before a person is anointed with chrism, he places a hand on each person’s head. • A bond is made; the spirit of one touches the spirit
Symbolic Actions: Anointing With Chrism • To be anointed the candidates come forward one by one. • As each approaches the bishop, that candidates sponsor places his or her right hand on the candidates shoulder and gives the bishop the candidate’s name. • The bishop dips his right thumb in the chrism, • puts his hand on the person’s head, and • makes the sign of the cross on the forehead saying, “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.” • After a person is anointed during the Rite of Confirmation, he or she is given the sign of peace.
A Current Debate • Debate about the order in which the sacraments of initiation should be celebrated in a person’s life, as well as the age that is most appropriate for Confirmation. • Theologians argue that the “original sequence” should be restored—that is Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist should be celebrated in that order. • Others claim that with the present practice of infant Baptism, it makes sense to delay Confirmation until the young person is old enough to be truly conscious of the Spirit at work. • Roman Catholic canon law states that the sacrament should be conferred at the age of _________________.
