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Understanding the Sacrament of Confirmation

The sacrament of confirmation strengthens baptismal grace and more perfectly binds recipients to the Church. It imprints an indelible character, enriches one with gifts of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith, and obliges one to be a witness of Christ. Biblical foundations include Acts passages describing the apostles laying hands on the baptized who then received the Holy Spirit, and Ephesians references to being sealed with the Holy Spirit.

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5 views2 pages

Understanding the Sacrament of Confirmation

The sacrament of confirmation strengthens baptismal grace and more perfectly binds recipients to the Church. It imprints an indelible character, enriches one with gifts of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith, and obliges one to be a witness of Christ. Biblical foundations include Acts passages describing the apostles laying hands on the baptized who then received the Holy Spirit, and Ephesians references to being sealed with the Holy Spirit.

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Jp Desc
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Sacrament of Confirmation

Definition of the Sacrament from:


a.) Catechism of the Catholic Church
1285 Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the
"sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to
the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of
baptismal grace. For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound
to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true
witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed."
b.) Code of Canon Law
Can. 879 The sacrament of confirmation strengthens the baptized and obliges them more
firmly to be witnesses of Christ by word and deed and to spread and defend the faith. It imprints
a character, enriches by the gift of the Holy Spirit the baptized continuing on the path of
Christian initiation, and binds them more perfectly to the Church.
Biblical Foundations

Acts 8:14-17 Then they laid hands on them and they received the holy Spirit

The people of Samaria were baptized in Christ, but did not receive the fullness of the Spirit until
they were confirmed by the elders. Confirmation is a sacrament that Jesus Christ instituted
within His Catholic Church to further strengthen those who have reached adulthood.

Acts 19:5-6 And when Paul laid [his] hands on them, the holy Spirit came upon them,
and they spoke in tongues and prophesied

The people of Ephesus were baptized in Christ, but Paul laid hands on them to seal them with the
Holy Spirit. This sealing refers to the sacrament of confirmation.

Eph. 1:13 In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

Paul writes that the baptized Ephesians were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

Eph. 4:30 And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the
day of redemption.

Paul says the Ephesians were sealed in the Holy Spirit of God in reference to the sealing of
confirmation.

Heb. 6:2 instruction about baptisms and laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead
and eternal judgment.

Paul gives instruction to the Hebrews about the laying on of hands, in reference to confirmation,
not ordination. The early Church laid hands upon the confirmand to administer the sacrament of
confirmation. This also refers to the cycle of life and its relationship to the sacraments - baptism,
confirmation, death and judgment - which apply to all people.
Additional Biblical Scriptures

John 6:27 - Jesus says the Father has set His seal on Him. As the Father sets His seal on
Jesus, so Jesus sets His seal on us on the sacrament of baptism, and later, in the sacrament

of confirmation.
Rev. 9:4 - the locusts could not harm those with the seal of God upon their foreheads.
2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in
you through the laying on of my hands,

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