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What is Confirmation?

Confirmation means accepting responsibility for your faith and destiny. Childhood is a time when you're told what to do, and you react positively to reward and negatively to punishment. Adulthood, even young adulthood, means that you must do what's right on your own, not for the recognition or reward but merely because it's the right thing to do. The focus is on the Holy Spirit, who confirmed the apostles on Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4) and gave them courage to practice their faith. Catholics believe that the same Holy Spirit confirms Catholics during the Sacrament of Confirmation and gives them the same gifts and fruits.

Confirmation marks the point in the Christian journey at which you affirm for yourself the faith into which you have been baptized and your intention to live a life of committed discipleship. This affirmation is confirmed through prayer and the laying on of hands by the confirming bishop. The Church also asks God to give you power through the Holy Spirit to enable you to live in the way of Jesus.

Effects of Confirmation

Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal graces by:

Rooting us more deeply as adopted sons and daughters of God. Uniting us more firmly to Christ. Increasing the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit in us. Bonding us more perfectly to the church. Giving us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and deed

as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly and to never be ashamed of the Cross.

Conditions of Confirmation

Luke 11:13 - If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

John 7:37-39- In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

John 14:15-18 - If ye love me, keep my commandments. Romans 6:23- For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ

our Lord. 1 Corinthians 2:10 - But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all

things, yea, the deep things of God. Ephesians 5:25-26- Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave

himself for it; 2 Timothy 1:7- For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a

sound mind.

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Sacrament of Confirmation

The sacrament of confirmation completes the sacrament of baptism. If baptism is the sacrament

of re-birth to a new and supernatural life, confir- mation is the sacrament of maturity and coming of age.

The real confession of Christ consist in this 'that the whole man submits himself to Truth, in the

judgment of his understanding, in the submission of his will and in the consecration of his whole power

of love. To do this, poor-spirited man is only able when he has been confirmed by God's grace'

This confirmation in the power of the Holy Spirit leading to a firm profession of faith has always

been the particular effect which Catholic tradition has ascribed to the sacrament. It is effect which

complements and completes that of baptism.

Symbols and Symbolism:

the cross, under which all Christians gather to live and pray water, by which the new member is brought into the life of the community

light, which provides direction to one’s life in the community Word of God, which forms every Christian gathering for prayer, and chrism, the holy oil which speaks of the fragrant presence of the Spirit of God

Gifts of Holy Spirit

Wisdom-The gift of wisdom leads the soul of those who have it to see things from God’s perspective. Wisdom is fullness of knowledge through affinity for the divine, as when a person comes to know Christ’s Passion through suffering. It is also love, which inspires contemplative reflection on what we believe and directs the mind to judge according to its precepts. The gift of wisdom supplements the virtue of faith and shields us against folly.

Understanding- The gift of understanding gives to the mind of those who have it a charisma for apprehending Christ’s public revelation easily and profoundly.

More specifically, the gift of understanding helps those who have it penetrate to the heart of revealed truth even when they do not fully understand its entire meaning. It gives great confidence in the revealed word of God and leads those who have it to reach true conclusions from revealed principles.

Understanding is greater than faith. Faith is assent to the defined articles of Catholic teaching. Understanding goes farther because it gives insight into these defined articles of belief. The gift of wisdom exceeds the gift of understanding in that it shows us God’s perspective.

Understanding is also one of the Five Intellectual Virtues.

Counsel- The gift of counsel perfects in those who have it the virtue of prudence. It enables them to judge promptly and rightly, as by supernatural intuition, what should be done in difficult situations. It primarily enhances one’s own prudent conduct, and only secondarily that of others.

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The Holy Spirit speaks to the heart through the gift of counsel and shows those who have it what to do. Christ gave His followers a gift like counsel when He told them, Mt 10:19 “When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

Fortitude- The gift of fortitude brings to those who have it a dauntless spirit of resolution, firmness of mind, and indomitable will to persevere with a quiet faith in God’s providence that overcomes all obstacles. It also brings courage to persist in the practice of virtue despite trials, illness, persecution or external failure. A Catholic who becomes fervent in God’s service will soon be condemned by the world, but the gift of fortitude will sustain him as he walks toward the Cross.

Knowledge- The gift of knowledge perfects the virtue of faith. It enables those who have it to judge the whole spectrum of creatures and objects from a supernatural viewpoint. Through infused knowledge the faithful can see God’s providence in whatever enters their lives and put creatures to the right use.The gift of knowledge is often called “the science of the saints” because it enables those who have it to swiftly discern between the impulses of temptation and the inspirations of grace.

Piety-The gift of piety perfects the virtue of justice toward God. It infuses an instinctive love for God and devotion to those who are consecrated to God. Piety arises from the Holy Spirit’s supernatural communication, rather than from effort or acquired habit.The gift of piety enables those who have it to see God as a loving Father. St. Paul told us, Rom 8:14 “All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, ’Abba! Father!’ it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” The gift of piety also infuses in those who have it an affectionate obedience to God because they love Him so much.

Fear of the Lord- The gift of fear of the Lord confirms in those who have it the virtue of hope and infuses profound respect for God’s glory and selfless love for God. It protects from sin through dread of offending God.This gift has nothing to do with servility or fear of punishment. We express fear of the Lord in a perfect Act of Contrition.

Fruits of Holy Spirit Love- Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is

not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Joy- The joy referred to here is deeper than mere happiness, is rooted in God and comes from him. Since it comes from God, it is more serene and stable than worldly joy, which is merely emotional and lasts only for a time. The fruit of joy is the awareness that God is one's strength and protector.

Peace- Peace is the result of resting in a relationship with God.[9] Peace is more than an absence of conflict. It is the tranquil state of a soul fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly

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lot, of what so ever sort that is. It is a kind of equilibrium that comes from trusting that everything is in the hands of God.

Patience- Patience includes the concepts of forbearance, long-suffering, and the willingness to bear wrongs patiently.

Kindness- Kindness is doing something and not expecting anything in return. Kindness is respect and helping others without waiting for someone to help one back. It implies kindness no matter what. We should live "in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left".

Goodness-

1. The state or quality of being good2. Moral excellence; virtue;3. Kindly feeling, kindness, generosity,joy in being good4. The best part of anything; Essence; Strength;5. General character recognized in quality or conduct.

Faithfulness-Faithfulness is committing oneself to something or someone, for instance, to one's

spouse, to a cause, or to a religion. Being faithful requires personal resolve not to wander away

from commitments or promises. It's not always easy to be faithful. Christian faith requires trust

in God. "O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done

wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth".[32] "I pray that out of his

glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that

Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith".

Gentleness- "a disposition that is even-tempered, tranquil, balanced in spirit, unpretentious,

and that has the passions under control. The word is best translated 'meekness,' not as an

indication of weakness, but of power and strength under control. The person who possesses this

quality pardons injuries, corrects faults, and rules his own spirit well".

Self-control- The Greek word used in Galatians 5:23 is "egkrateia", meaning "strong, having

mastery, able to control one's thoughts and actions."

"...make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to

knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and

to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love".