Confirmation; Marriage; Holy Orders

What do Catholics teach about Confirmation? The Sacrament of Confirmation often happens

in the middle of a Mass; after the sermon and before receive the Eucharist.

The Presentation of the CandidateThe names of everybody to be confirmed are read

out. Each one stands up so everyone can see and then goes to the Bishop at the front

The Renewal of Baptismal PromisesEach candidate is asked questions about what they

believe. They promise to reject evil. These promises are like an enrolments into the Catholic Church. It is a bit like joining a club, except that the promises affect the whole of a person’s life.

What do Catholics teach about confirmation? The Laying on of hands

The Bishop lays his hands on each of the candidates. This is to show them that they have the special job of living like Jesus would want and showing other people how to do the same. The hands are a symbol of the power and strength that will come to them through the Holy Spirit.

The anointing with Chrism The Bishop says the Candidates name. This can be a

special confirmation name (normally a saints name) or the name they usually use.

The Bishop then draws the sign of the cross on the forehead of the candidate with the oil of Chrism. This oil is an ancient sign of being chosen by God. Oil can be used to heal or to give strength.

The Bishop then says, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit,” followed by “Peace to be with you,” and the candidate replies, “And also with you.” (Catholics: What do they believe)

What Catholics teach about Confirmation Confirmation is to baptism what growth is

to generation. Now it is clear that a man cannot advance to a perfect age unless he had first been born; in like manner, unless he has first been baptized he cannot receive the Sacraments of Confirmation (ST III:72:6)

Confirmation impartsa. An increase of sanctifying Grace which makes

the recipient a “perfect Christian”

b. A special sacramental grace consisting in the seven fits of the Holy Ghost and notably in the strength and courage to confess boldly the name of Christ

Catholic Proof texts for confirmation Acts 8:14-17 -When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that

Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:1-6 - While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." 3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?“ "John's baptism," they replied. 4 Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

What the Bible teaches about confirmation The bible specifically teaches that faith

must precede conversion, not follow it.Mark 16:16 – he who believes and is

baptized shall be savedRom 10:17 – Consequently, faith comes

from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ

There is no biblical concept mirroring confirmation

What the bible teaches about confirmation The Bible is silent on the matter of such a

ritual. In fact, the idea that a person can “confirm” to another that he/she is in the faith is denied in Scripture

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children” (Romans 8:16).

“Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14)

What Catholics teach about marriage According to the council of Trent this dogma has

always been taught by the Church, and is thus defined in cannon I, Sess. XXIV “If anyone shall say that matrimony is not truly and properly one of the Seven Sacraments of the Evangelical law, instituted by Christ our Lord, by was invented in the Church by men, and does not confer grace, let him be cursed.”

Effects of the Marriage Sacramenta. It must be a sacred religious rite (ceremony)

instituted by Christ

b. This rite must be a sign of interior sanctificationc. It must confer this sanctification or Divine Grace

d. This effect of Divine grace must be produced, not only in conjunction with the respective religious act, but through it

What Catholics say about Holy Orders Order primarily means a relation and thus

generally means rank, in this sense it was applied to clergy and laity. It also indicates what differentiates laity from clergy or the carious ranks of the clergy, and thus means spiritual power. The sacraments of Order is the sacrament by which grace and spiritual power for the discharge of ecclesiastical offices are conferred (New Advent Encyclopedia)

What Catholics say about holy Orders Christ founded his church as a

supernatural society, the Kingdom of God. In this society there must be the power of ruling; and also the principles by which the members are to attain their supernatural end which is held by faith, and supernatural grace by which man is formally elevated to super natural power.

This power of order was committed by our Lord to his Apostles, who were to continue his work and to be his earthly representatives (Acts 20:21)

What Catholics teach about Holy Orders The Council of Trent defined major and

minor orders1. Priests-Bishops-Cardinals-Tonsure

(scholarly monks)

2. Deacons – Ceremonial servants

3. Sub-deacons – Ceremonial assistants

4. Acolytes – Ceremonial attendants (lower)

5. Exorcists – drive out demons

6. Readers – ceremonial readers (teachers)

7. Porter - Doorkeeper

What the bible says about Leadership Biblical Leadership has –

Elders/Teachers; Deacons (1 Tim. 3); Evangelists

The Early church also had Apostles and prophets because the word needed to be confirmed and established (Ephesians 4; Acts 20; Titus 1)