John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.

– Luke 3:16

Confirmation is one of three Sacraments of Christian Initiation. It is the final step in sealing Christians with the gift of the Holy Spirit and preparing them for an apostolic life. It leaves an indelible mark on their souls signifying that they belong to Christ.

The Sacraments of Initiation

Ideally, the Sacraments of Initiation are celebrated together: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. “Each of these sacraments focuses on a different aspect of our life as believers: birth, breath and nourishment,” says Carol Luebering in her Catholic Update article, “Confirmation: A Deepening of Our Christian Identity.”

Latin Rite cradle Catholics are baptized within the first few weeks of birth, and are confirmed later in life, although this is not how it has always been done. In the early days of the Church, Confirmation would immediately follow Baptism in the same celebration, because Confirmation is the completion of baptismal grace.

After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened (for him), and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove (and) coming upon him.

– Matthew 3:16

What is Confirmation?

Confirmation is probably best described by the effects is has on a person (Effects of Confirmation). In The Catholic Source Book, Rev. Peter Klein describes Confirmation as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as given to the apostles on Pentecost, increasing and deepening baptismal grace. He further explains that Confirmation:

1. Roots us more deeply as a child of God
2. Unites us more closely to Christ
3. Increases in us the gifts of the Holy Spirit
4. Perfects our bond with the Church
5. Strengthens us with the Holy Spirit to confess and defend our faith in action and word, to give witness to Christ, and to never be ashamed of the Cross.

Sacrament of Confirmation

In the early days of the Church, the bishop would anoint the baby’s head with oil in the Sacrament of Confirmation. As the Church grew and dioceses became larger, bishops could no longer participate in every baptism; therefore, Confirmation came to be celebrated later in life. Confirmands, those being confirmed, now celebrate the sacrament as a group. The bishop may delegate a priest to perform Confirmation using the chrism (blessed, perfumed olive oil) blessed by the bishop.

“Jesus anointed the Apostles, who in turn anointed more bishops, and so the chain has continued through the centuries,” Says Brian Singer-Towns in his book, The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth. “Therefore the bishop who anoints you at Confirmation is connecting you directly to Christ himself.”

When Confirmation is celebrated separately from Baptism, the confirmands together with the Congregation will renew their baptismal promises. This may be done at a Sunday Mass when the bishop can visit the parish. It is also done at the Easter Vigil Mass when those entering the Catholic Church celebrate all three Sacraments of Initiation.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (#1299), “In the Roman Rite, the bishop extends his hands over the whole group of the confirmands. Since the time of the apostles, this gesture has signified the gift of the Spirit. The bishop invokes the outpouring of the Spirit in these words:

All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
By water and the Holy Spirit
You freed your sons and daughters from sin
And gave them new life.
Send your Holy Spirit upon them
To be their helper and guide.
Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The spirit of right judgment and courage,
The spirit of knowledge and reverence.
Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.”

As the bishop or priest anoints the head with oil, he says, “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.”

He said to them, “Did you receive the holy Spirit when you became believers?” They answered him, “We have never even heard that there is a holy Spirit.”
He said, “How were you baptized?” They replied, “With the baptism of John.”
Paul then said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.”
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when Paul laid (his) hands on them, the holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

– Acts 19:2-6

“Confirmation is the ’seal’ of God’s promise,” Luebering explains. “It marks us as God’s property, a people set apart. [It is] a sacrament of faith in God’s fidelity to us.”

“Because this [spiritual] mark is permanent, Confirmation cannot be repeated,” says Singer-Towns.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you.

– John 14:16-17

Confirmation Names

In some cultures, confirmands take the names of saints as their confirmation names. Doing so claims the saints as their patrons. Although this is a common practice, it is not required.

Symbols of Confirmation

The symbols of Confirmation are the bishop’s staff and miter, a dove, and a lamp with oil.

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