Confirmation

What is
Confirmation?
 Confirmation
c. 1300, confyrmacyoun, the Church rite,
from Old French confirmacion (13c.)
"strengthening, confirmation; proof; ratification,"
 Confirmation
from Latin confirmationem (nominative confirmatio)
"a securing, establishing; an assurance, encouragement,"
noun of action from confirmare 

As a legal action, "verification, proof," from late 14c.;

as "action of making sure,“ from late 15c.
Confirmation
Confirmation is the sacrament in which,
through the power of the Holy Spirit, a
baptized person is drawn closer into
union with the Church and endowed
with strength to actively spread the
Gospel.
By the sacrament of Confirmation, the faithful are more
perfecly with the bound to the Church and are
endowed with the special strength of the Holy Spirit.
Hence they are, true witnesses to Christ, more strictly
obliged to spread the faith by word and deed.

LG 11; cf. CCC 1285

Biblical
Foundation
Baptism Confirmation

1627
When they heard this they were baptized
in the name of the Lord Jesus.
As Paul laid his hands on them,
the Holy Spirit came on them,
they bagan to speak in tongues and
to utter prophecies.
Acts 19:5f; cf 8:14-17

1627
Baptism SE
PA
RA
Confirmation
TE

1627
Chrismation
 Used in the east
 Annointed with chism
Origin of Confirmation
 Originally part of the expanded rite of
Baptism. But as the church grew in size,
the gift the Spirit by the “laying on of
hands,” which in a way perpetuates the
grace of Pentecost in the Church, was
formed into a separate sacrament.

1628
 The Apostles… passed on to the neophytes,
by the laying on of hands, the gift of the Spirit
which brings to completion the grace of baptism…
This laying on of hands is rightly considered by
Catholic Tradition as the origin of the
sacrament of Confirmation, which perpetuates
in the way the grace of Pentecost in the Church

DCN; cf. CCC 1288

Confirmation
Conferred by “annointing with holy Chism
on the forehead” while imposing the hands
and by these words:

“______, be sealed with the Gift of the

Holy Spirit”

1629
Confirmation

Old testament
• healing
• strengthening
• empowerment
1629
Confirmation

› Aaron was anointed as high priest

› Samuel anointed Saul and David as king

› Isaiah was anointed as prophet

NEW TESTAMENT
Jesus Christ is the “Annointed One”

Triple Role:
 Prophet
 Priest
 Servant King

1629
 › "Therefore let us leave the elementary
teachings of Christ and go on to maturity, not
laying again the foundation of repentance from
acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,
instruction about baptisms, the laying on of
hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal
judgment" (Heb. 6:1–2). 
Ordo salutis
How is confirmation celebrated?

Role play
Effects of the
Sacrament of
Confirmation
Confirmation brings an increase
and deepening of Baptismal graces
1. Rooting us more deeply as
adopted sons and daughters of
God.
2. uniting us more firmly to
Christ
3. increasing the seven gifts of
the Holy Spirit in us.
wisdom
understanding
counsel
knowledge
fortitude
piety
fear of the Lord
4. bonding us more perfectly to
the Church
5. giving us a special strength of
the Hoy Spirit to spread and
defend the faith by word and
deed as true witnesses of Christ,
to confess the name of Christ
boldly and to never be ashamed
of the Cross.”
Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of Baptismal graces by:

 rooting us more deeply as adopted sons and daughters of

God.
 uniting us more firmly to Christ.
 increasing the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit in us.
 bonding us more perfectly to the Church.
 giving us a special strength of the Hoy Spirit to spread and
defend the faith by word and deed as true witnesses of
Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly and to never
be ashamed of the Cross.” (CCC#1303)
Symbols and Rituals in
Confirmation
Laying on of hands
› The Bishop stretches out his hand over the children and
calls down the power of the Holy Spirit. This is
a profound gesture which is also used in other sacraments
including the anointing of the sick and ordination of a
priest. 

› In Confirmation, the Bishop or Priest calls upon the gifts

of the Holy Spirit to overshadow the person being
confirmed.
Anointing with Oil

› Chrism, which is a special oil blessed by the

Bishop is used for anointing during the
confirmation ceremony. Anointing is a symbol of
being called and strengthened for an important
task, which is derived from ancient times. In
Confirmation, the person is being anointed to go
forth in life as a Catholic, as a disciple of Jesus,
as a person of the Spirit, with confidence and
strength.
Words
› The bishop or priest performing the confirmation
recites the words ‘_______Be sealed with the gift of
the Holy Spirit’.

› This symbolises a legal contract when 

signed and sealed is considered authentic and binding.
To be sealed with the Spirit is to be confirmed as a
Christian believer.
The Sign of Peace

› This Sign of Peace is used within the

Confirmation ceremony as a sign of our unity and
that we are one people of God, one body of
Christ. When the bishop or Priest says ‘Peace be
with you’ during the Confirmation ceremony or
during Mass, he is saying it on behalf of the
community to symbolise that we are all one with
the Church.
White Garment 

› The person being confirmed usually wears a

white garments to symbolise their purity. 
White Garment 

› The person being confirmed usually wears a

white garments to symbolise their purity. 
 Sacrament Ordinary Ministers Extraordinary Ministers

bishop, priest or deacon; but

laity delegated by the bishop, or, in
Baptism reserved normally to the parish
case of necessity, anyone
priest

bishop or (in Eastern (in Western Church) priest given

Confirmation
Churches) priest faculty by law or special grant

Eucharist bishop or priest none

instituted acolyte (if not enough

Eucharist (distribution of) – Holy clergy)
bishop, priest or deacon
Communion other laity (if not enough clergy or
acolytes)

extraordinary minister of Holy

Eucharist (exposition of) bishop, priest or deacon Communion or another person
deputed by the local Ordinary

Reconciliation bishop or priest none

Anointing of the Sick bishop or priest none

bishop (for liceity, at least three

Holy Orders none
at an episcopal ordination)

husband and wife (Western

Matrimony tradition); officiating priest none
(Eastern tradition)
EXTRAORDINARY MINISTER
› The person who, in case of necessity, is
permitted or specially delegated to
administer one of the sacraments. Baptism,
confirmation, and the Eucharist may have
extraordinary ministers. 
ORDINARY AND
EXTRAORDINARY MINISTER
› The ordinary minister of confirmation is a
bishop, but for special pastoral reasons simple
priests may confirm.

› When they do, their power derives from the

papal authorization, which the Holy See
actuates in them in virtue of their priestly
ordination; it is not a mere extra sacramental
delegation.
THANKS!
Any questions?