The Sacrament of Confirmation

Last night, I wrote about one sacrament of the Church that I feel is kind of forgotten, the Anointing of the Sick.  Today, I will write about another one that I feel likewise about and that is the Sacrament of Confirmation.

This Sacrament is kind of forgotten for several reasons, in my mind:

1)     The other two Sacraments of Initiation, Baptism and Eucharist, are much better known and discussed in common parlance.   Many people, even if they have no intent of practicing their Faith, get their children baptized.   When people think of “going to church”, they think of going to Mass, to the Eucharist.

2)      The other Sacraments that can be received only once are better known for their long term effects; Baptism, Matrimony, and Holy Orders.  We know what happens when a couple gets married, or a man gets ordained, and the indelible marks they impart upon the souls who receive them.

3)      Of all the Sacraments, what this one does precisely is probably the least understood.  What distinguishes it from Baptism is probably not clear to many.

Here are some Scriptural foundations for the existence of this Sacrament.

“The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).  Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 8:15-17 (note the distinction between being baptized and having hands laid upon someone)

Therefore let us go on toward perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith toward God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.  Hebrews 6:6 (again note the distinction between being baptized and the laying on of hands)

So, we have evidence right from the beginning that baptism alone is not sufficient for the fullness of Christian initiation.   This should alert those who have been baptized only, but not confirmed, to give this Sacrament another look.  This Sacrament can be received any time after Baptism, as long as one is in a state of grace.  In the Eastern Church, it is received immediately after Baptism.  In the Western Church, it is received some time after (unless it is an adult being baptized at the Easter Vigil).   In most Dioceses, it is usually received during one’s high school years, although some Dioceses are moving it closer to around the same time one receives his or her First Holy Communion, which I think makes more sense.  One should have the fullness of the Spirit available to him or her as soon as he or she reaches the age of reason, in my opinion.   The bottom line, it is never too late to receive this Sacrament.

The early Church added an anointing with perfumed oil to the laying on of hands to this Sacrament.  The name “Christian” means “anointed one” and in Acts 10:38, we read God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.   This oil is distinct from the oil used at Baptism and the Anointing of the Sick.   The Catechism in paragraph 1294 explains: Anointing with oil has all these meanings in the sacramental life. The pre-baptismal anointing with the oil of catechumens signifies cleansing and strengthening; the anointing of the sick expresses healing and comfort. The post-baptismal anointing with sacred chrism in Confirmation and ordination is the sign of consecration. By Confirmation Christians, that is, those who are anointed, share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit with which he is filled, so that their lives may give off "the aroma of Christ." (We see here an allusion to the “perfume” mentioned earlier.)

The rite of Confirmation is explained in paragraph 1299 and 1300 of the Catechism:  In the Roman Rite the bishop extends his hands over the whole group of the confirmands. Since the time of the apostles this gesture has signified the gift of the Spirit. The bishop invokes the outpouring of the Spirit in these words:

All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,                                                                       
by water and the Holy Spirit
you freed your sons and daughters from sin
and gave them new life.
Send your Holy Spirit upon them
to be their helper and guide.
Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of right judgment and courage,
the spirit of knowledge and reverence.
Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

The essential rite of the sacrament follows. In the Latin rite, "the sacrament of Confirmation is conferred through the anointing with chrism on the forehead, which is done by the laying on of the hand, and through the words: 'Accipe signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti' [Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.]."

So now we come to the crucial part, what does this Sacrament do?  I think the key to understanding this Sacrament lies in the name of it. The name “Confirmation” signifies the ratification of Baptism, and the strengthening of Baptismal grace.  It says “There is baptismal grace in this person that is ready now to be unleashed in the world.”   It strengthens and brings to fulfillment what is begun in Baptism.  The Sacrament of Confirmation takes the graces received in Baptism and “stirs them up” so that they can affect not just the individual, but they can now flow from the individual to the Church and the world, to bear fruit.   It ratifies, but then also, increases, and deepens the Baptismal grace, so that the individual, in the words of the Catechism (p.1303), can 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.   We referenced before this quote when discussing the oil and it worth reposting here:  By Confirmation Christians, that is, those who are anointed, share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit with which he is filled, so that their lives may give off "the aroma of Christ.

So whereas the grace of the Sacrament of Baptism is more geared toward the internal spiritual life of the one receiving it, the grace of this Sacrament is geared more toward the public witness of the person in his or her faith journey.   This Sacrament is a consecration of a person to the mission of Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Baptism incorporates us into God’s family; Confirmation incorporates us into God’s mission.

So is your life of faith having an impact in the world?   If not, and you have been baptized, but not confirmed, it may be time to take a look at this wonderful Sacrament.  If this sacrament was deemed necessary in the early days of Christianity, when there were so many Saints and martyrs, it certainly should be deemed necessary now, when we likewise face many challenges and obstacles to living a Christian life.

I received this Sacrament my first year of college (thank you, Saint Anselm College, for offering this opportunity.)  I had stopped practicing the Faith just about the time when I would normally have begun Confirmation preparation in early high school.  It was a wonderful experience, perhaps made special by the fact that it was a small group of us who had made a free conscious decision to avail ourselves of the Sacrament, as opposed to a large group just going through the motions as is the case unfortunately in a lot of places, where it is seen as “graduation” instead of what it truly is, just the beginning.   Our group definitely wanted and desired the Sacrament, and we definitely were going to make use of it.   I pray I have so far, but I also pray that I have only “just begun”.    If you have not been confirmed, please get confirmed, and be all you can be for God, the Church, and the world.

Joseph, terror of demons, pray for us.