Confirmation

Catholic confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. It is also one of the three sacraments of initiation, along with baptism and holy communion, that bring a person into full communion with the Church.

What is Catholic Confirmation?

Catholic confirmation is a sacrament that completes and strengthens the grace of baptism. It is a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit that seals the baptised person as a child of God and a member of Christ’s body, the Church. It also gives the person the gifts of the Holy Spirit to live as a faithful disciple and witness of Christ.

The essential rite of confirmation is the anointing with sacred chrism (oil mixed with balsam and consecrated by the bishop), which is done by the laying on of the hand of the minister who pronounces the words: "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Who Can Receive Confirmation?

In the Catholic Church, anyone who has been baptised properly can and should be confirmed. The usual age for confirmation varies depending on the local practice and the decision of the bishop. In some places, confirmation is given at an early age, such as seven or eight, while in others it is given at a later age, such as twelve or fifteen. In any case, confirmation should be preceded by adequate catechesis and preparation.

The ordinary minister of confirmation is a bishop, who is the successor of the apostles and has received the fullness of the sacrament of holy orders. However, a bishop can delegate his authority to confer confirmation to a priest, especially in cases of necessity or pastoral convenience.

Why is Confirmation Important?

Confirmation is important because it strengthens and confirms our baptismal grace and identity. It makes us more closely united to Christ and his Church. It increases in us the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. These gifts help us to grow in faith, hope and love, and to live according to God’s will. They also enable us to share in the mission of evangelizing and serving others in charity.

Confirmation also gives us a special bond with the bishop and his local church. By being confirmed by him or his delegate, we express our communion with him and our participation in his apostolic ministry. We also affirm our belonging to the universal Church, which is made up of many local churches united under the Pope.

How to Prepare for Confirmation?

To prepare for confirmation, we need to pray, study and practice our faith. We need to deepen our relationship with God and his Church through prayer, especially by participating in the sacraments of reconciliation and holy eucharist. We need to learn more about our faith and its teachings through catechesis, reading and reflection. We need to live out our faith in action by following God’s commandments and serving others in love.

We also need to choose a confirmation sponsor and a confirmation name. A confirmation sponsor is a baptised and confirmed Catholic who can guide and support us in our spiritual journey. A confirmation name is usually the name of a saint or a biblical figure who inspires us or whom we want to imitate.

What Happens During Confirmation?

During confirmation, we renew our baptismal promises and profess our faith in God and his Church. We are then presented to the bishop or his delegate by our sponsor, who places his or her hand on our shoulder. The bishop or his delegate lays his hand on our head and anoints our forehead with sacred chrism, saying: “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” We respond: “Amen.” He then gives us a sign of peace, saying: “Peace be with you.” We respond: "And with your spirit."

By this rite, we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit and his gifts. We are marked with an indelible spiritual seal that shows that we belong to Christ and his Church. We are empowered to live as faithful disciples and witnesses of Christ in the world.

If you have any questions or concerns about baptism or if you would like to schedule a baptism for yourself or your child, please contact us at edcathpar[at]adam.com.au or call us on 0499 486 699. We look forward to welcoming you into our parish family!