CONFIRMATION
The sacrament of Confirmation is described by Vatican II
in terms of its two essential characteristics: closer union
with the Church, and strengthening and
empowerment by the Holy Spirit to actively spread
the faith.
The sacrament of Confirmation is conferred by “anointing
with the holy Chrism on the forehead, done while
imposing the hands and by these words: Be sealed with
the gift of the holy spirit”
In the OT anointing signified healing, purification and
strengthening, but most of all empowerment.
Aaron was anointed high priest
Samuel anointed Saul and David as king
Isaiah was annointed prophet
Christ is the Anointed One
Christ is the Anointed One, perfectly fulfilling through the power of
the Holy Spirit the triple role of Prophet, Priest, and Servant-King.
Hence, through Confirmation, Christians share more fully in Christ’s
prophetic, kingly, and priestly roles.
Through the laying on of hands, they are claimed by Christ as his
own, and empowered by the Spirit to spread the Gospel by word and
deed, and the build up Christ’s Body, the Church.
The ordinary minister of Confirmation is the Bishop who is the
successor of the apostles, with the fullness of the sacrament of Holy
Orders.
However, for grave reasons, the Bishop may delegate to priests the
faculty to administer the sacrament.
EFFECTS OF
CONFIRMATION
The main effect of Confirmation is to strengthen and confirm the
grace of Baptism. This means a more intense sharing in the
mission of Christ.
Empowering us to be public witnesses of the faith:
1. Witness to the Kingdom of God and God’s power present in the new
age begun in Christ;
2. Witness to Jesus the Christ, as the unique Savior of all;
3. Witness to the freedom from the slavery of sin brought by God’s
presence through Christ and the Spirit;
4. Witness to the love of God, Father, Risen Incarnate Son, and Spirit,
by loving service of others in the Spirit; and
5. Witness to Christ’s real presence in the Christian community, the
People of God, the Church.
This witness flows from the permanent “character”
imprinted on those confirmed by the Sacrament:
Signed with oil by the Bishop’s hand, the baptized person
receives the indelible character, the seal of the Lord,
together with the gift of the Spirit, which conforms him
more closely to Christ and gives him the grace of spreading
the Lord’s presence among men.
AGE FOR
CONFIRMATION
In ancient times, the sacrament of confirmation was given
immediately after the Baptism.
But when infant Baptism became the standard practice, the
sacrament of Confirmation was postponed to a later time, age of
discretion.
Today, some are advocating restoring the original unity while
others wish to postpone it further to young adulthood.
Age of discretion: The adolescents begin to move away from
childish ways and take their first steps toward a personally chosen
Faith, and begin to take an active part in Christian community life.
Most agree that Confirmation is: 1) a sacrament of initiation,
2)received only once which 3) completes Baptism, 4) by a post-
baptismal reception of the Holy Spirit.
From the anthropological view, confirmation would be classified as
a transitional ritual.
As a transitional ritual, confirmation marks a change in the self-
understanding of those confirmed.
The change is basically from being passively served to active
service of others in the Church, from first initiation into the
Church to a public declaration of full discipleship in the
Church’s ministry.
The “time” for the celebration of this change is not
primarily a matter of chronological age (chronos), but
rather of the appropriate moment (kairos) for making
this change.
This “appropriate moment” ordinarily does not come
spontaneously, but has to be prepared for, over a
certain period of time.
GODPARENTS/SPONSORS
FOR BAPTISM AND
CONFIRMATION
In the Philippines, social relations between families often
seem to play the dominant role in the choice of godparents
and sponsors for Baptisms and Confirmations.
However, this practice might lead to secularizing and
obscure the primary Faith-meaning of the sacraments.
This temptation must be faced and overcome by insisting
on the proper faith norms for choosing godparents and
sponsors.
A. Ordinarily at least 16 years old
B. Good-living Catholics who themselves have been
initiated in the three sacraments of Baptism,
Confirmation and the Eucharist.
C. Who are capable and truly intend to help the newly
baptized/confirmed to faithfully live up to all the duties
inherent in Christian life.
Today the Church recommends that
the godparents at Baptism be present
and even the sponsor at Confirmation.