SACRAMENTS

CONFIRMATION

NATURE

CONFIRMATION IS SACRAMENT BY WHICH WE RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE SUPERABUNDANCE OF HIS GIFTS THAT WE MAY BECOME ADULT CHRISTIANS IN THE CHURCH, THAT IS, CAPABLE OF TAKING AN ACTIVE PART IN THE HOLY SACRIFICE AND OF BEING WITNESSES AND APOSTLES OF JESUS CHRIST.

Baptism and Confirmation are closely linked. Baptism makes us children of God and of the Church. The divine life in the newly baptized is just in its germinal stage. Confirmation by a special gift of the Holy Spirit develops the grace of baptism and gives maturity to our spiritual life. Confirmation leads directly to the Eucharist, the crown and culmination of Christian initiation.

CONFIRMATION AND THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

Prefiguration of the sacrament of confirmation may be seen in certain rites of the Old Testament times.

Laying on of hands: This is a very ancient gesture of blessing and there are numerous instances of this both in the Old and New Testament writings (for example, Genesis 48, 8-20; Deut. 34, 9, Mk. 10,6; Acts 9, 17; 19, 6).

Anointing with oil: Anointing, in the Old Testament, was a sign of consecration to the Lord, a symbol that a man is filled with the spirit of God, It was given to Kings (I Sam. 10, lf), Priests (Exod. 4Q, 12-15) and Prophets (I Sam. 16, 13f).

Even when no oil was used the descent of the spirit of God on man was considered an anointing: The man, on whom the Spirit, rests is God’s anointed’ (Is, 61, 1; 42, 1). Jesus confirms this Isaian prophecy about himself in his discourse in the synagogue of Nazareth (Lk. 4, IS).

In the New Testament we see Jesus at the Last Supper promising his apostles the Holy Spirit, the Intercessor and Comforter, who would be with them always illuminating their understanding and giving them strength and courage to carry on their mission (Jn. 14, 16-17; 15, 26). After resurrection Jesus renewed his promise (Acts 1,s). It was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostle and those others assembled together with them (Acts 2, 1-4).

The Pentecost reveals the nature and effects of Confirmation. With the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles a mysterious change comes over them. The apostles, till then timid and ignorant, experience a sudden influx of inspiration and strength. Now they are filled with courage and wisdom, and they come out boldly to proclaim Jesus Christ as the Son of God and saviour of mankind. It is this miraculous transformation that is immediately striking in St. Peter's telling message on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2, 14-42).

ADMINISTRATION OF CONFIRMATION IN THE CHURCH

In apostolic times the sacrament of confirmation was administered by the laying on of hands (Acts 8, 14-17; 19, 6)' Later the Church specified the sacramental rite. The minister lays his hand on the head of the recipient arid makes the sign of the cross on his forehead with the holy oil (chrism) reciting at the same time the prescribed formula of confirmation.

The ordinary minister of confirmation is the bishop. However, the bishop can delegate his authority to any priest as and when need arises. Yet the administration of the sacrament by the bishop is particularly significant in the sense that there will be a more evident relationship to the first pouring forth of the Holy Spirit on the day of

Pentecost.

CONDITIONS FOR VALID RECEPTION

Confirmation is, as it were, the continuation and completion of the sacrament of baptism. Hence for a valid and worthy reception it is necessary that the recipient be a baptised Christian. Besides he is required to know the principal truths of the Christian religion and be in the state of grace.

Like baptism, the sacrament of confirmation, too, imprints the soul with an everlasting character or seal whereby it is marked and set apart for God for ever. For this reason, the sacrament of confirmation can be received only once.

EFFECTS OF THE SACRAMENT

If worthily received, the sacrament of confirmation produces a three-fold effect in us:

(1). By confirmation Jesus fills us with the: Holy Spirit and a superabundance of His gifts. We receive the Holy Spirit in a very special way. The spirit lead us to a more intimate union with the Father and the Son. Confirmation increases the sanctifying grace in us and intensifies the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. Besides there is the sacramental grace of confirmation which enables us to live our Christian life fully, so that its inner radiance may shed its light on the world around.

(2). By confirmation Jesus makes us adult Christians in the Church. An adult Christian is one who is capable of shouldering his responsibilities as a Christian, of sharing in the sacrifice of Christ by the witness of his genuine Christian life, and of working for the growth of the Kingdom of God. A Christian becomes adult by an inner spiritual transformation confirming and deepening the baptismal grace. This transformation is effected through the sacrament of confirmation.

(3). In confirmation we are marked by the Holy Spirit with an indelible character whereby Jesus gives us our share in the continuation of His mission in the Church. Here the symbolism of the chrism is particularly relevant. Anointed as we are with the fragrant holy oil, we are obliged to spread around us the fragrance of Christ (2, Cor. 2,

14-16). Jesus gives us the inner strength we need to bear witness to him in our own lives and to take upon ourselves with diligence our share in the royal, prophetic and priestly mission of the Church.

SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE

On the day of His ascension Jesus said to His disciples: ‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be my witnesses.’ He says the same to us on the day of our confirmation. The Second Vatican Council reminds us of our obligation as confirmed Christians in the following words: ‘By the sacrament of confirmation the faithful are more perfectly bound to the Church and are endowed with the special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence, as true witnesses of Christ, they are mare strictly obliged to spread the faith by word and deed’ (L.G. art. 11).

The confirmed Christian dedicates himself to Christ with his whole heart. He is not afraid to own to the world that he is a Christian. He will never let public opinion govern his conduct. He is fully aware of his dignity as a witness of Christ. He makes the light of the divine life within him shine out. He helps to set up Christ’s Kingdom in the world around him. He draws others to Christ by what he says, but even more by the example of his Christian life. He is conscious of his missionary duty.

Like other sacraments confirmation too derives its efficacy from the paschal mystery of Jesus. We are therefore partakers of the same mystery through the sacrament of confirmation. We must then take the crosses of our daily lives and die with Christ in order that we may rise with Him as new men ready to go forth as worthy witnesses of His gospel to the far ends of the earth.

Besides, we become the living temples of the Holy Spirit through baptism and confirmation. We must therefore be led by the spirit and be filled with His gifts- wisdom, understanding, counsel, courage, knowledge, piety and the fear of God and with the fruits of His gifts - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control -- whereby we will be made a new creation in the Spirit.