203 CONFIRMATION IS A SPECIAL OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - part 3 of 5 parts

YOUCAT Lesson 203, part 3 of 5 parts

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

The Sacrament of Confirmation

203  What is Confirmation?

Confirmation is the sacrament that completes Baptism; in it the gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed upon us.  Anyone who freely decides to live a life as God’s child and asks for God’s Spirit under the signs of the imposition of hands and anointing with chrism receives the strength to witness to God’s love and might in word and deed.  He is now a full-fledged, responsible member of the Catholic Church.  [1285-1314]

Painting: …..The descent of the Holy Spirit on Mary and the apostles. …..203

…….THE EFFECTS OF CONFIRMATION

…….1302   It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. –Catechism of the Catholic Church

…….1303   From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: 
- it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!";(Romans  8:15)¹¹⁷ 
- it unites us more firmly to Christ; 
- it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us; 
- it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;(compare Lumen Gentium 11)¹¹⁸ 
- it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross(compare Council Of Florence (1439): Denzinger-Schönmetzer  1319; Lumen Gentium 11; 12)¹¹⁹

Recall then that you have received the spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear in God's presence. Guard what you have received. God the Father has marked you with his sign; Christ the Lord has confirmed you and has placed his pledge, the Spirit, in your hearts.( St. Ambrose, De myst. 7,42:Patrologia Latina 16,402-403)^{120 --CCC}

…….1304   Like Baptism which it completes, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the "character," which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness.(compare Council Of Trent (1547): Denzinger-Schönmetzer 1609; Luke 24:48-49)¹²¹ –CCC

…….1305   This "character" perfects the common priesthood of the faithful, received in Baptism, and "the confirmed person receives the power to profess faith in Christ publicly and as it were officially (quasi Ex officio)."(St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae III,72,5, ad 2)¹²² –CCC