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CHAPTER: 8
THE SIGNS AND THE RITE OF CONFIRMATION
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Which are the three
sacraments of Initiation?
Why is it that their unity is
to be safeguarded? Baptism,
the Qurbana and Confirmation
together constitute the
“sacraments of Christian
initiation,” whose unity must
be safeguarded. The reception
of the sacrament of
Confirmation is necessary for
the completion of baptismal
grace. 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.
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How did the Holy Spirit
manifest itself in the
apostles and the believers?
At Pentecost (Cf. Jn; 20:22;
Acts; 2:1-4) 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; 2:11;
2:17-18) Those who believed in
the apostolic preaching and
were baptised received the
gift of the Holy Spirit in
their turn. (Acts 2:38)
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What is the meaning of
the Holy Oil used for
anointing?
Anointing, in Biblical and
other ancient symbolism, is
rich in meaning; oil is a sign
of abundance and joy; it
cleanses, oil is a sign of
healing, since it is soothing
to bruises and wounds; and it
makes radiant with beauty,
health and strength.
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What are the implications
of the anointing at
confirmation?
The anointing with sacred
chrism in confirmation is the
sign of consecration. By
Confirmation Christians, that
is, those who are anointed,
share more completely in the
mission of Jesus Christ and
the fullness of the Holy
Spirit with which he is
filled, so that their lives
may become like that of
Christ.
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Why is the Holy Spirit
referred to as the ‘Seal of
the Father’?
Christ himself declared that
he was marked with his
Father’s seal, which is the
Holy spirit. Christians are
also marked with a seal; It is
God who has put his seal on us
and given us his spirit in our
hearts as a guarantee. This
seal of
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How does the Syrian
Liturgy highlight the
importance of the Chrism (muron)
which is used for anointing in
the sacrament of Confirmation?
The Syrian liturgy consecrates
Chrism through the following
prayer: “Father … send your
Holy spirit on us and on this
oil which is before us and
consecrate it, so that it may
be for all who are anointed
and marked with it, holy muron,
priestly muron, royal muron,
anointing with gladness,
clothing with light, a cloak
of salvation, a spiritual
gift, the sanctification of
souls and bodies, imperishable
happiness the indelible seal,
a buckler of faith and a
fearsome helmet against all
the works of the adversary.”
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