1. MEETING JESUS IN THE SACRAMENTS
CHAPTER 4
THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

2. The Gift of Speech
Confirmation is the “sacrament of the Holy Spirit” The Holy Spirit is the source of holiness and love in the Church, and the bond of unity among all Christians

3. Understanding the Sacrament of Confirmation
We are “more perfectly bound to the Church and are endowed with the special strength of the Holy Spirit”
Many times Jesus promised the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
Pentecost: Birthday of the Church

4. Origins of the Sacrament of Confirmation
Laying on of hands—ancient gesture used in Confirmation that symbolizes the giving of the Father’s own Spirit to the recipient
Anointing with perfumed oil (chrism) added later

5. Two Traditions of the Sacrament Emerge
Confirmation and Baptism were a single celebration—“double sacrament”
As the numbers of Christians increased, the bishop could not attend all Baptisms
The Church in the West desired to maintain a connection to the bishop—a double anointing was begun
At Confirmation, the bishop confers the second anointing
The Church in the East celebrates Baptism and Confirmation as one single celebration

6. Teachings about Confirmation
The Council of Trent defended the sacramental character of Confirmation In the United States, the age of Confirmation ranges from the age of discretion (age seven) to age sixteen

7. Celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation
The bishop blesses the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick, and Chrism at an annual diocesan celebration The celebration of Confirmation ordinarily takes place at Mass in the presence of the Christian assembly.

8. The Rite of Confirmation
The bishop dips his right thumb in the chrism, then (with his thumb) makes the sign of the Cross on the forehead of the person, saying “N., be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit”

9. Others Things about the Sacrament
Every baptized person who is not yet confirmed can and should receive the Sacrament
Adequate preparation and instruction is necessary
The “original minister” of the Sacrament of Confirmation is a bishop

10. The Grace of Confirmation
Baptism and Confirmation are intimately linked
Baptism gives us a new life in Christ and a new identity as members of him Body, the Church
Confirmation strengthens, intensifies, deepens and builds on the graces we were given at Baptism

11. The Grace of Confirmation
Confirmation completes Baptism and perfects Baptismal grace

12. The Grace of Confirmation
Roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, “Abba, Father!”
Unites us more firmly to Christ
Increases the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in us
Renders our bond with the Church more perfect
Gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ

13. Confirmation Confers a New Character
The “character” of Confirmation helps us to spread and defend the faith as witnesses of Christ and to never be ashamed of the Cross We see ourselves as God’s anointed.

14. Sr. Thea Bowman
A Catholic convert and African-American religious in the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration “I don’t make sense of suffering; I try to make sense of life”