CONFIRMATION

FROM THE TIME OF THE APOSTLES

THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH COMPLETES THE GRACE OF BAPTISM WAS IMPARTED TO THE NEWLY BAPTIZED BY THE LAYING ON OF HANDS.

THE LAYING ON OF HANDS IS RIGHTLY RECOGNIZED BY CATHOLIC TRADITION

AS THE ORIGIN OF THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

WHICH IN A CERTAIN WAY PERPETUATES THE GRACE OF THE PENTECOST

ANOINTING WITH CHRISM

IN ORDER TO SIGNIFY BETTER THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

AN ANOINTING WITH PERFUMED OIL WAS ADDED TO THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

THIS ANOINTING HIGHLIGHTS THE NAME ”CHRISTIAN”WHICH MEANS ANOINTED

AND DERIVES FROM THAT CHRIST HIMSELF WHOM GOD ANOINTED WITH THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE SIGN OF ANOINTING SIGNIFIES AND IMPRINTS:SPIRITUAL SEAL

IN THE WESTERN TRADITION, CONFIRMATION SUGGESTS:

RATIFICATION OF BAPTISM, THUS COMPLETING CHRISTIAN INITIATION, AND THE STRENGTHENING OF BAPTISMAL GRACE.

MEANING OF ANOINTING IN BIBLICAL AND OTHER ANCIENT SYMBOLISM

SIGN OF ABUNDANCE AND JOY

CLEANSES AND LIMBERS (FLEXIBLE, AGILE)

SIGN OF HEALING

MAKES RADIANT WITH BEAUTY, HEALTH AND STRENGTH

MEANING OF ANOINTING WITH OIL IN THE SACRAMENTAL LIFE

PRE-BAPTISMAL ANOINTING WITH THE OIL OF CATECHUMENS:

SIGN OF CLEANSING AND STRENGTHENING

POST-BAPTISMAL ANOINTING WITH CHRISM

IN CONFIRMATION AND ORDINATION:

SIGN OF CONSECRATION:

CHRISTIANS WHO ARE ANOINTED

SHARE MORE COMPLETELY IN THE MISSION OF CHRIST

SIGN OF HEALING AND COMFORT

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

BY THIS ANOINTING THE CONFIRMAND RECEIVES THE MARK,

THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

ESSENTIAL RITE OF CONFIRMATION

IN THE LATIN RITE, THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

IS CONFERRED THROUGH THE ANOINTING OF CHRISM ON THE FOREHEAD,

WHICH IS DONE BY THE LAYING ON OF THE HAND

FORMULA:ACCIPE SIGNACULUM DONE SPIRITUS SANCTI

BE SEALED WITH THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE SIGN OF PEACE AT THE CONCLUSION OF

THE RITE OF THE SACRAMENT

SIGNIFIES AND DEMONSTRATES

ECCLESIAL COMMUNION WITH THE BISHOP

AND ALL THE FAITHFUL

EFFECTS OF THE SACRAMENT

THE FULL OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

INCREASING AND DEEPENING OF THE BAPTISMAL GRACE

IMPRINTS ON THE SOUL AN INDELIBLE SPIRITUAL MARK

PERFECTS THE COMMON PRIESTHOOD OF THE FAITHFUL RECEIVED IN BAPTISM:

THE CONFIRMED PERSON RECEIVES THE POWER TO PROFESS FAITH IN CHRIST PUBLICLY

AND AS IT WERE OFFICIALLY

WHO CAN RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT?

EVERY BAPTIZED PERSON NOT YET CONFIRMED CAN AND SHOULD RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

MINISTER OF CONFIRMATIONBISHOP

THE BISHOP FOR GRAVE REASONS MAY CONCEDE TO PRIESTS THE FACULTY OF ADMINISTERING CONFIRMATION

IF THE CHRISTIAN IS IN DANGER OF DEATH,ANY PRIEST SHOULD GIVE HIM CONFIRMATION