YOUCAT Lesson 203, part 1 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]
Photo: …..While the sponsor places
his hand on the newly confirmed, the bishop
anoints the young adult with the Oil of Chrism..... 203
When a coach sends a soccer player onto the playing field,
he puts his hand on his shoulder and gives him final instructions. We can understand Confirmation in a similar
way. A hand is placed upon us. We step out onto the field of life. Through the Holy Spirit we know what we have
to do and we have been given the power to do it. He has motivated us. His mission resounds in our ears. We sense his help. We will not betray his trust or disappoint
him; we will win the game for him. We
just have to want to do it and listen to him.
119, 120
Confirmation (from Latin confirmatia=strengthening, consolidation),
like Baptism and the Eucharist, is one of the three sacraments of initiation of
the Catholic Church. As the Holy Spirit
descended upon the disciples who were gathered on Pentecost, so the Holy Spirit
comes to every baptized person for whom the Church requests the gift of the
Holy Spirit. It secures and strengthens
him to be a living witness to Christ.
…….THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
…….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.(compare Roman Ritual, Rite of
Confirmation (Ordo Confirmationis), Introduction 1)89 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."(Lumen
Gentium 11; compare Ordo Confirmationis,
Introduction 2)90
–Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition
…….1286
In
the Old Testament the prophets announced that the Spirit of the Lord would rest
on the hoped-for Messiah for his saving mission.(compare Isaiah 11:2; Isa 61:1; Luke 4:16-22)91 The descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus
at his baptism by John was the sign that this was he who was to come, the
Messiah, the Son of God.( compare Matthew 3:13-17; John 1:33)92 He was conceived of the Holy Spirit; his
whole life and his whole mission are carried out in total communion with the
Holy Spirit whom the Father gives him "without measure."(John 3:34)93 --CCC
…….1287 This
fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah's, but was to be
communicated to the whole
messianic people.(compare Ezekiel 36:25-27; Joel 3:1-2)94 On several occasions Christ promised this
outpouring of the Spirit,(compare Luke 12:12; John 3:5-8;
Jn 7:37-39; Jn16:7-15; Acts of the Apostles 1:8)95 a
promise which he fulfilled first on Easter Sunday and then more strikingly at
Pentecost.(compare John 20:22; Acts of the Apostles 2:1-14)96 Filled with the Holy Spirit the apostles
began to proclaim "the mighty works of God," and Peter declared this
outpouring of the Spirit to be the sign of the messianic age.(Acts of the Apostles 2:11; compare Acts 2:17-18)97 Those who believed in the apostolic
preaching and were baptized received the gift of the Holy Spirit in their turn.(compare Acts of the Apostles 2:3)98 –CCC
…….1288 "From
that time on the apostles, in fulfillment of Christ's will, imparted to the
newly baptized by the laying on of hands the gift of the Spirit that completes
the grace of Baptism. For this reason in the Letter to the Hebrews the doctrine concerning Baptism and
the laying on of hands is listed among the first elements of Christian
instruction. The imposition of hands is rightly recognized by the Catholic
tradition as the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation, which in a certain
way perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church."(Paul VI, Divinae
consortium naturae, 659; compare Acts of the Apostles 8:15-17; Acts 19:5-6; Hebrews 6:2)99
–CCC
…….1289 Very
early, the better to signify the gift of the Holy Spirit, an anointing with
perfumed oil (chrism) was
added to the laying on of hands. This anointing highlights the name
"Christian," which means "anointed" and derives from that
of Christ himself whom God "anointed with the Holy Spirit."(Acts 10:38)100 This rite of anointing has
continued ever since, in both East and West. For this reason the Eastern
Churches call this sacrament Chrismation, anointing with
chrism, or myron which
means "chrism." In the West, the term Confirmation suggests that this sacrament both
confirms and strengthens baptismal grace. –CCC
…….1290
In
the first centuries Confirmation generally comprised one single celebration
with Baptism, forming with it a "double sacrament," according to the
expression of St. Cyprian. Among other reasons, the multiplication of infant
baptisms all through the year, the increase of rural parishes, and the growth
of dioceses often prevented the bishop from being present at all baptismal
celebrations. In the West the desire to reserve the completion of Baptism to
the bishop caused the temporal separation of the two sacraments. The East has
kept them united, so that Confirmation is conferred by the priest who baptizes.
But he can do so only with the "myron" consecrated by a bishop.(Corpus
Canonum Ecclesiarm Orientalium, Can. 695 § 1; CEOC 696 § 1)101 –CCC
…..1291 A custom
of the Roman Church facilitated the development of the Western practice: a
double anointing with sacred chrism after Baptism. The first anointing of the
neophyte on coming out of the baptismal bath was performed by the priest; it
was completed by a second anointing on the forehead of the newly baptized by
the bishop.(compare St.
Hippolytus, Trad. Ap. 21:Sources Chrẻtiennes 11,80-95)102 The
first anointing with sacred chrism, by the priest, has remained attached to the
baptismal rite; it signifies the participation of the one baptized in the
prophetic, priestly, and kingly offices of Christ. If Baptism is conferred on
an adult, there is only one post-baptismal anointing, that of Confirmation. –CCC
…….1292 The
practice of the Eastern Churches gives greater emphasis to the unity of
Christian initiation. That of the Latin Church more clearly expresses the
communion of the new Christian with the bishop as guarantor and servant of the
unity, catholicity and apostolicity of his Church, and hence the connection
with the apostolic origins of Christ's Church. –CCC
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