204 THE IMPOSITION OF THE HANDS...ORIGIN OF CONFIRMATION

YOUCAT Lesson 204

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

204  What does Sacred Scripture say about the sacrament of Confirmation?

In the Old Testament, the People of God expected the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Messiah.  Jesus lived his life in a special Spirit of Love and of perfect unity with his Father in heaven.  This Spirit of Jesus was the “Holy Spirit” for whom the people of Israel longed; this was the same Spirit whom Jesus promised to his disciples, the same Spirit who descended upon the disciples fifty days after Easter, on the feast of Pentecost.  And it is again this same Holy Spirit of Jesus who descends upon everyone who received the sacrament of Confirmation.  [1285-1288, 1315]

…..Photo above: …..“The imposition of hands is rightly recognized by the Catholic tradition as the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation.”—Pope Paul VI …..204

In the Acts of the Apostles, which were written a few decades after the death of Jesus, we see Peter and John traveling about to confirm new Christians by imposing hands on those who previously “had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus”, so that their hearts might be filled with the Holy Spirit.  113-120, 310-311

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for the Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  Acts of the Apostles 8:14-15

Chrism (from Greek chisma=oil of anointing; and Christos=anointed one): Chrism is an ointment made out of a mixture of olive oil and balsam.  On the morning of Holy Thursday, the bishop consecrates it, so that it can be used in Baptism, Confirmation, priestly and Episcopal ordination, also the consecration of altars and bells.  Oil is a symbol of joy, strength, and health.  People anointed with chrism are supposed to spread “the aroma of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:15).

…….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 (OC), 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

CONFIRMATION IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION

…….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 1:33-34)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; 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; John 16:7-15; 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 2:38)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 the 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}

IN BRIEF

…….1315 "Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:14-17). --CCC