The Sacrament of The Sacrament of ConfirmationConfirmation

Mr. Pablo CuadraReligion class

What is confirmation?What is confirmation?

Confirmation is one of Confirmation is one of the three sacraments the three sacraments of of initiationinitiation. .

Confirmation is Confirmation is known as known as Christmation Christmation by the by the Eastern Catholic Eastern Catholic churcheschurches in in communion with communion with Rome. Rome.

Misconceptions about Misconceptions about ConfirmationConfirmation

Confirmation Confirmation is notis not something one does in something one does in order to graduate.order to graduate.

Confirmation Confirmation is notis not something one does something one does just to get married in just to get married in the Catholic Churchthe Catholic Church

Confirmation Confirmation cannotcannot be reduced to a rite of be reduced to a rite of passage.passage.

Confirmation is not a Confirmation is not a cultural celebration or cultural celebration or party.party.

ConfirmationConfirmation Confirmation is a Confirmation is a

SacramentSacrament (Holy (Holy Mystery):Mystery):

As a sacrament it As a sacrament it communicatescommunicates and and reveals communion reveals communion with God and his with God and his grace.grace.

Confirmation confers a Confirmation confers a sacramental charactersacramental character that cannot be erased that cannot be erased and that and that predisposespredisposes the Christian person to the Christian person to receive the very life of receive the very life of God, and his divine God, and his divine protection.protection.

ConfirmationConfirmation

Confirmation Confirmation completescompletes the the baptismal grace.baptismal grace.

The Christian The Christian participates now fully in participates now fully in the body of Christ with the body of Christ with rights an obligations of rights an obligations of a spiritual and temporal a spiritual and temporal character.character.

The Confirmed person is The Confirmed person is compelled to compelled to witnesswitness the Christian faith with the Christian faith with convictionconviction by word and by word and deeds.deeds.

ConfirmationConfirmation

Confirmation Confirmation perpetuates (keeps perpetuates (keeps alive) the grace of alive) the grace of PentecostPentecost..

In other words, the In other words, the action and presence action and presence of the Holy Spirit of the Holy Spirit manifested in our manifested in our lives’ character, lives’ character, words and actions. words and actions.

ConfirmationConfirmation

Confirmation has a Confirmation has a MessianicMessianic (salvific) character.(salvific) character.

Christ (messiah) Christ (messiah) promisedpromised to send to send his Spirit. his Spirit.

This promise was This promise was fulfilled at Easter fulfilled at Easter Sunday and at Sunday and at Pentecost.Pentecost.

ConfirmationConfirmation

At confirmation we At confirmation we receive the Holy Spirit, receive the Holy Spirit, The paraclete, the The paraclete, the advocate.advocate.

To help us continue the To help us continue the mission of our Lord.mission of our Lord.

To To strengthenstrengthen our our baptismal faithbaptismal faith

To guide us toward the To guide us toward the truth.truth.

The Mission of Christ our The Mission of Christ our MissionMission

““The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Lord.” Luke 4: 18-19Luke 4: 18-19

ConfirmationConfirmation

Like Christ,Like Christ, We are anointed We are anointed

(chosen)(chosen) Eastern Catholics use Eastern Catholics use

the word Chrismation the word Chrismation instead of confirmation instead of confirmation to highlight this to highlight this important aspect. The important aspect. The word Chrismation like word Chrismation like the word Christian comes the word Christian comes from Christ (the anointed from Christ (the anointed one).one).

ConfirmationConfirmation

Like Christ, Like Christ, We are anointed to We are anointed to

proclaim the good proclaim the good news of the news of the Kingdom of God Kingdom of God ( to be witnesses)( to be witnesses)

How to be a witness?How to be a witness?

Become Become involveinvolve in your community of faith in your community of faith (parish), through its different (parish), through its different ministriesministries..

Be a Be a role model of faithrole model of faith to your family, friends to your family, friends and your community.and your community.

ShareShare your your faith faith with your co-workers and with your co-workers and friends.friends.

Support Support social justicesocial justice (listen to the Pope and the (listen to the Pope and the bishop’s call for social change in society on areas bishop’s call for social change in society on areas such: racism, prejudice, wages, right to life, such: racism, prejudice, wages, right to life, abortion, euthanasia among others).abortion, euthanasia among others).

Get to know your Get to know your Catholic faithCatholic faith, the scriptures., the scriptures.

What does Confirmation What does Confirmation involve?involve?

Confirmation involves a Confirmation involves a mature faithmature faith ( a ( a desire to grow in the desire to grow in the knowledge of God).knowledge of God).

Confirmation involves a Confirmation involves a commitment to one’s commitment to one’s faith (Church)faith (Church)

Confirmation involves a Confirmation involves a commitmentcommitment to know to know more about our faith’ s more about our faith’ s teachingsteachings, , practicespractices and and traditionstraditions..

Confirmation Confirmation involves a sharing involves a sharing of this gift of faith of this gift of faith with others.with others.

What is the faith of the What is the faith of the Church?Church?

The celebration of The celebration of Confirmation celebrates Confirmation celebrates the faith of the Church the faith of the Church in thein the powe power of the r of the Holy Spirit given to us Holy Spirit given to us at Pentecost. at Pentecost.

The Power of the Holy The Power of the Holy Spirit is Spirit is life life transformingtransforming..

Acts 2: 1-13Acts 2: 1-13

QuestionsQuestions

What is one thing you would like to What is one thing you would like to see changed in your heart?see changed in your heart?

What is one change you would like to What is one change you would like to see in the world?see in the world?

How does the Spirit of God act How does the Spirit of God act in us?in us?

The Spirit of God is The Spirit of God is given to us through given to us through the the sacraments of sacraments of initiationinitiation. We believe . We believe the Holy Spirit:the Holy Spirit:

A. A. Lives in usLives in us B. B. Act through usAct through us C. C. Assist usAssist us D. D. Strenghten usStrenghten us E. E. Guide usGuide us

QuestionQuestion

During difficult times or choices in During difficult times or choices in life how do you experience the life how do you experience the presence or guidance of The Holy presence or guidance of The Holy Spirit?Spirit?

How Is the Spirit present in How Is the Spirit present in the life of Jesus?the life of Jesus?

A. Through his birth A. Through his birth ( Jesus was ( Jesus was conceivedconceived by the power of Holy by the power of Holy Spirit)Spirit)

B. At his baptism, Jesus B. At his baptism, Jesus was was anointedanointed and and revealedrevealed as God’s son. as God’s son.

C. In his preaching, Jesus C. In his preaching, Jesus revealed that the Spirit revealed that the Spirit was was upon himupon him ( Matthew ( Matthew 3: 13-17)3: 13-17)

D. In his D. In his actionsactions: : forgiveness, miracles, forgiveness, miracles, healings, exorcism.healings, exorcism.

How is the Spirit present in our How is the Spirit present in our lives?lives?

A. In our baptism ( we are A. In our baptism ( we are marked marked forever)forever)

B. In our confirmation ( We B. In our confirmation ( We areare anointed anointed and filled with and filled with the gifts of the the gifts of the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit))

C. In our daily lives ( We are C. In our daily lives ( We are strengthened strengthened throughthrough the the sacramentssacraments and the Lords’ and the Lords’ divine protection.divine protection.

D. Through the D. Through the gift of faithgift of faith E. In our actions ( our good E. In our actions ( our good

deeds toward God and deeds toward God and neighbor)neighbor)

F. In the Truth (When we F. In the Truth (When we practice honesty and justice)practice honesty and justice)

How is the Spirit tied to the How is the Spirit tied to the mission of Christ?mission of Christ?

The Spirit The Spirit helps us helps us carry on the mission of carry on the mission of ChristChrist..

The Spirit The Spirit inspires us inspires us to follow Christ’s to follow Christ’s teachingsteachings

The Spirit The Spirit help ushelp us promote and promote and live the live the Kingdom of God Kingdom of God through love, peace, through love, peace, and justiceand justice

QuestionQuestion

In what concrete ways are you In what concrete ways are you bringing the Kingdom of God closer bringing the Kingdom of God closer to the men and women of today?to the men and women of today?

What is Pentecost?What is Pentecost?

Pentecost is the Pentecost is the feastfeast of the Holy of the Holy SpiritSpirit

On Pentecost the On Pentecost the disciples of Jesus disciples of Jesus were filled with the were filled with the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit

The Church’s The Church’s mission began on mission began on PentecostPentecost

Before PentecostBefore Pentecost

A. A. The disciplesThe disciples of of Jesus Jesus were were afraidafraid. .

B. The disciples of B. The disciples of Jesus Jesus were were discourageddiscouraged

C. The disciples of C. The disciples of Jesus Jesus were were disappointeddisappointed

D. The disciples of D. The disciples of Jesus Jesus were were confusedconfused..

John 20:19John 20:19

After PentecostAfter Pentecost

A. A. The disciples were The disciples were no longer afraid of no longer afraid of persecutionpersecution

B. The disciples B. The disciples recovered the faithrecovered the faith

C. The disciples were C. The disciples were ready to continue ready to continue what Jesus startedwhat Jesus started

D. The disciples D. The disciples were were clear about God and clear about God and his will.his will.

The effects of ConfirmationThe effects of Confirmation

A. Courage : mental strengthA. Courage : mental strength B. Hope: Positive outlook on lifeB. Hope: Positive outlook on life C. Strength: Power to conquer temptation C. Strength: Power to conquer temptation D. Purpose: Direction and meaning in lifeD. Purpose: Direction and meaning in life E. Peace: the strength to overcome E. Peace: the strength to overcome

anxiety and fear.anxiety and fear. F. Grace: The power to do God’s willF. Grace: The power to do God’s will G. Truth: The power to do and follow what G. Truth: The power to do and follow what

is right and true.is right and true.

QuestionsQuestions

How do you allow the grace of How do you allow the grace of Confirmation to shape your life and Confirmation to shape your life and your mission?your mission?

How is the Sacrament of How is the Sacrament of Confirmation celebrated?Confirmation celebrated?

The sacrament is The sacrament is celebrated through celebrated through the anointing with the anointing with chrism on the chrism on the forehead.forehead.

And And the lying on of the lying on of handshands

And And the wordsthe words: : Be Be sealed with the gift sealed with the gift of the Holy Spiritof the Holy Spirit

QuestionQuestion

Where were you confirmed?Where were you confirmed? Who was the bishop that confirmed Who was the bishop that confirmed

you?you?

How is confirmation celebrated How is confirmation celebrated in the East?in the East?

Confirmation Confirmation is is celebrated after celebrated after baptismbaptism

In the East In the East confirmation confirmation is is known as known as ChrismationChrismation

How is Confirmation celebrated How is Confirmation celebrated in the West?in the West?

In the West In the West Confirmation Confirmation is is delayed to a later delayed to a later date.date.

In the West In the West Confirmation does Confirmation does not follow baptismnot follow baptism (only in some (only in some exceptions).exceptions).

Why are we anointed with Why are we anointed with Chrism?Chrism?

Anointing with oil, has Anointing with oil, has been the been the practicepractice for for confirmation since the confirmation since the early Church. Chrism early Church. Chrism is connected to the is connected to the word Christ, “anointed word Christ, “anointed one”one”

We are anointed We are anointed so so that we can spread that we can spread the Kingdom of God the Kingdom of God on this earth.on this earth.

What is oil a symbol of?What is oil a symbol of?

Oil is a symbol of Oil is a symbol of strength and strength and healinghealing

In the sacrament of In the sacrament of confirmation confirmation we we receive strength to receive strength to be witnesses of be witnesses of Christ resurrectedChrist resurrected, , and to do what is and to do what is right and good.right and good.

What is the meaning of the What is the meaning of the different oils?different oils?

Oil of Catechumens = Oil of Catechumens = cleansing and cleansing and strengthening strengthening

Oil of the sick = Oil of the sick = healing and comforthealing and comfort

Chrism = Chrism = consecration (made holy) consecration (made holy) and serviceand service

Can Confirmation be Can Confirmation be repeated?repeated?

NO, Like baptism NO, Like baptism confirmation is confirmation is only received only received once.once.

What happens at What happens at Confirmation?Confirmation?

The The Christians Christians received a spiritual received a spiritual seal, our soul is seal, our soul is markedmarked with the with the Holy Spirit and his Holy Spirit and his strength.strength.

2 Corinthians 1: 2 Corinthians 1: 21-2221-22

Who is the minister of Who is the minister of Confirmation?Confirmation?

The original minister of The original minister of confirmation is confirmation is the Bishopthe Bishop

Only the bishop can Only the bishop can delegatedelegate (appoint) a (appoint) a priest to confirm in his priest to confirm in his name on special name on special occasions or occasions or circumstances.circumstances.

In the In the Eastern ChurchesEastern Churches priest can confirm infants priest can confirm infants after baptism.after baptism.

What is the role of the What is the role of the sponsor?sponsor?

The role of the The role of the sponsor is sponsor is to help the to help the one being confirmed one being confirmed remain firm and remain firm and strong in the faith.strong in the faith.

Sponsors are Sponsors are role role modelsmodels of of faithfaith, their , their task is to task is to give support give support and inspiration to and inspiration to those living the those living the Christian faith.Christian faith.

QuestionQuestion

Who are your role models of faith?Who are your role models of faith?

Confirmation NameConfirmation Name

A name is chosen A name is chosen (optional) (optional) to to remind us of remind us of baptism.baptism.

A new name A new name is a is a sign of a new life sign of a new life and a new way of and a new way of livingliving..

QuestionQuestion

What is your confirmation name? What is your confirmation name? Why did you choose this particular Why did you choose this particular

name?name?

The End