Confirmation
"When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, and they went down there, and prayed for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit, for as yet He had not come down on any of them: they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit." (Acts 8:14-17)
The sacrament of Confirmation has a special place in our faith, although we don't have an exact record of when Jesus instituted it during His public life. It's one of the "many other things that Jesus did" that were not written in the Gospels (see John 21:25).
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In our Catholic Tradition*, the teachings handed down from our Lord and His Apostles, Confirmation is of equal importance to Sacred Scripture as a source of divine truth.
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In the early Church, Confirmation was known as the "Laying on of hands," and it has a close relationship with Baptism. While Baptism initiates our spiritual journey, Confirmation completes and perfects it.
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Through Baptism, we are spiritually reborn and become part of God's family, sharing in the divine life. However, our spiritual life at this stage can be self-centered, focused on our own needs and efforts to be good.
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Confirmation changes that. With a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, our faith is deepened and strengthened, empowering us not only for our own needs but also to share our faith with others and care for our neighbors.
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This sacrament is like a spiritual "growing up," as it helps us see our responsibility to Christ in others and to the Church as a whole. It equips us to bear witness to Christ's love and truth through both words and actions.
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The bishop, as the original minister of Confirmation, plays a significant role in this sacrament. While bishops typically continue to administer Confirmation, priests may also do so with the bishop's permission.
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During the Confirmation rite, the bishop or priest places his hand on each person's head, anointing them with holy oil called chrism. This oil, made of pure olive oil, symbolizes the strengthening effect of God's grace in our lives.
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In chrism, balm is mixed, representing the "sweet odor" of virtue that should characterize our lives as we put our Confirmation graces into action.
Confirmation - Pietro Longhi
Graphic Cabinets in Mirbach Palace
c. 1757 - Public Domain
Do you, your child or someone you know wish to be Confirmed?
To do so, the individual must be in grade 7 or higher, have already been Baptized and have received First Communion.
Please complete and submit the online Confirmation Request Form to be enrolled in the sacramental preparation program.
Upon receipt of the form, we will contact you to discuss the details relating to the Confirmation program.
The cross traced on our foreheads during Confirmation serves as a powerful reminder of Christ's love and calls us to live out our faith with understanding and conviction.
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In the end, Confirmation is a beautiful sacrament that deepens our connection with Christ, strengthens our bond with the Church, and empowers us to spread God's love in the world. It's an invitation to embrace God's grace and live a life filled with His Spirit.
*Pope Benedict XVI gave a catechsis (religious instruction) on Catholic Tradition in 2006.
He says that we miss the profound meaning of Catholic Tradition if we see it only as the handing on of a static Revelation.
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More than that, it is the active, continuous work of the Holy Spirit in our particular time. It makes real and tangible "the active presence of the Lord Jesus in his people, realized by the Holy Spirit".