SACRAMENTS: CONFIRMATION

MODULE 4

SACRAMENTS: CONFIRMATION

 The book is a complete explanation of the Seven Sacraments.

o CONFIRMATION
 To purchase the Book, or for theological inquiries (e-mails only), contact the
author:
 AUTHOR
 Rev. Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo, SHMI
 EDITION
 1st Edition, Manila, 15 August 2018 Solemnity of the Assumption
 PUBLISHER
 Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate/ Quality Catholic Publications/ Isabella
De Rosis St., Multinational 1708 Parañaque City, Philippines/ Tel. (02)
828-2338, 828-9509 sonsmaryphil@yahoo.com/ www.shmiqcp.com

WHAT IS CONFIRMATION?

 Confirmation is the Sacrament that confers the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
o It is called Confirmation because it ratifies and strengthens the
Baptismal Grace, making us mature Christians and Soldiers of Christ.
 The term Confirmation originated from the Latin word Cumfirmare, meaning
“To ratify,” since the confirmandi approve as adults the Baptism they received
when still infants.

WHEN DID JESUS INSTITUTE THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION?

 Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Confirmation on the evening of

Easter Sunday, when he appeared in the Cenacle and said: “As the
Father has sent me, so I send you. And when he had said this, he
breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John
20:21-22).

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST?

 On the Day of Pentecost of 33 AD, early in the morning, as the

Apostles with the disciples and the Virgin Mary were at prayer in the
Cenacle of Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit descended like tongues of fire
and rested on each of them: they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different languages (cf. Acts 2:1-4).
  The Greek word Pentecost means “Fiftieth Day,” as it falls 50 days after Easter. The Descent of
the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is the natal day of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

 The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. This Dogma was defined by Jesus, when he
said: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
 The Holy Spirit is the life-giving breath of God: After forming Adam from the dust of the soil, “God
breathed into his nostrils the Breath of Life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).

WHAT ARE THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

 The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are permanent dispositions that make us docile
to God’s will. They were revealed by Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon
him: a Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, a Spirit of Counsel and of Strength, a
Spirit of Knowledge and of a Spirit of Piety ... and of Fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2-
3).
 Although the Seven Gifts are permanent dispositions, they require our daily
commitment in order to bear fruit.

WHAT IS THE CHARACTER OF CONFIRMATION?

 The Character of Confirmation is the spiritual and indelible seal impressed upon
the soul by the anointing with Chrism, consecrating the confirmandi as Soldiers of
Christ, ready to engage into a spiritual battle against Satan and any form of evil.
 Being permanent, the three Sacraments imparting the Character - Baptism,
Confirmation, and Ordination, can neither be repeated nor deleted.

WHO IS THE MINISTER OF CONFIRMATION?

 The Minister of Confirmation is the Bishop, because he is part of the Apostolic

Succession, which is the unbroken chain of Ordinations connecting him to one of
the Apostles.
 The Extraordinary Minister of Confirmation is a Priest appointed by the Bishop;
but this should be only in special cases, when the Bishop is truly unable to
confirm.
 In danger of death, any Priest can administer Confirmation, even without the
Bishop’s delegation.
WHAT ARE THE BISHOP’S CROSIER AND MITER?

 THE CROSIER:
o Also known as Pastoral Staff, it signifies the Bishop’s authority and jurisdiction over the
Church. It imitates the rod given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, and the one used by the
shepherds in caring for their sheep.
 THE MITER:
o It represents a spiritual helmet, referring to the Bishop’s duty to defend the Christian faith
and the Church against all enemies, from within or without. It is composed of a tall folding
cap and two lappets hanging down from the back.

THE MINISTER OF CONFIRMATION

WHAT ARE THE BISHOP’S RING, PECTORAL CROSS, AND COAT OF ARMS?

 THE RING:
o It signifies the spiritual wedding between the Bishop and the Churc h. By wearing the ring,
the Bishop confirms his fidelity to Christ and his disciples.
 THE PECTORAL CROSS:
o It indicates the Bishop’s love for Christ and the Church. It is called Pectorale, meaning
“Chest” in Latin, because it is worn above the abdomen.
 THE COAT OF ARMS:
o It is a shield embossed with symbolic elements and a motto scroll, indicating the Bishop’s
personality, programs, and ideals of life.

WHAT IS THE MATTER OF CONFIRMATION?

 The Matter of Confirmation is the Laying of Hands and the Sacred

Chrism: the Laying of Hands confers the Holy Spirit; the Anointing with
Christ impresses the Character.

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE LAYING OF HANDS?

 The Laying of Hands signifies the coming of the Holy Spirit, which is passed from a generation onto
the next by means of Confirmation.
  In the Old Testament, the Laying of Hands conferred the blessing and authority received from God:
Isaac, for instance, blessed his son, Jacob, by laying his hands on him.
 The New Testament applies the same principle on the conferral of the Holy Spirit: the gift bestowed
on the Apostles on Pentecost is transmitted to the neophytes by the laying of their hands.

WHAT IS THE SACRED CHRISM?

 The Sacred Chrism is olive oil mixed with balsam, which is consecrated by the Bishop
during the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday at the Cathedral.
 The Olive Oil, because of its shining fluidity and gracious aroma, signifies consecration
to God and the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
 The Balsam, an aromatic perfume with the power of preserving from decay, represents
the sweet scent of Christ’s resurrection that the Faithful must bring into the world.

WHAT IS THE PROPHETIC, PRIESTLY, AND KINGLY MINISTRY OF JESUS?

 Having received the Sacrament of Confirmation, we share in the Prophetic, Kingly, and Priestly
Ministry of Jesus, by words and deeds, in accordance with our calling and state in life.
o PROPHETIC MINISTRY:
 It means that the newly-confirmed are solemnly deputized as missionaries of the
Gospel.
o KINGLY MINISTRY:
 It indicates our dominion over Satan; and also our commitment to serve like Christ.
o PRIESTLY MINISTRY:
 It signifies the offering of our prayers and worship to God, either as Faithful or
Clergy.
WHAT IS THE FORM OF CONFIRMATION?

 The Form of Confirmation are the following words: “Be sealed with the gift of the
Holy Spirit.”
 It is proclaimed by the Bishop as he lays his hand on the confirmandi’s head and
anoints their forehead with the Sacred Chrism, by making with the thumb a Sign
of the Cross.

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE SLAP ON THE CHEEK?

 The Slap on the Cheek, given by the Bishop after the Anointing with the Holy
Chrism, signifies the bravery and courage that Christ’s Soldiers must have in
defending the Christian Faith; if needed, till martyrdom.
 The symbolism was borrowed by the medieval ceremony of installation of
knights: the king, after dubbing the sword on the knight’s shoulders, would slap
his face, commanding him to honor the Code of Chivalry, without blemish and
fear, by fighting for God and justice.

WHO CAN RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION?

 Every Catholic can and should receive

Confirmation at the appropriate time: those
who convert as adults, simultaneously with
Baptism and the Eucharist; those infantly
baptized, after reaching the age of reason, and
usually at 12.
 The confirmandi have to undergo a catechetical preparation: covering in general a deeper
knowledge of the Creed, Commandments, Sacraments, and Our Father; and in particular, the Seven
Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

WHO ARE THE GODPARENTS AT CONFIRMATION?

 The Godparents are the spiritual father and mother of the confirmandi, who present them to the
Bishop during the Confirmation, and guide them towards Christian maturity.
 They should be 16 years old and above; fully initiated and practicing Catholics; who have received
Confirmation and Holy Communion.
 A person deprived of some of these requirements may be chosen only as “witness” or “secondary
sponsor” to Confirmation; but never if he is a public sinner, or has notoriously abandoned the
Catholic faith.