The Sacrament of ConfirmationThe Sacrament of Confirmation

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

Misconceptions about ConfirmationMisconceptions about Confirmation

Confirmation Confirmation is notis notsomething one does in something one does in order to graduate.order to graduate.Confirmation Confirmation is notis notsomething one does just something one does just to get married in the to get married in the Catholic ChurchCatholic ChurchConfirmation Confirmation cannotcannot be be reduced to a rite of reduced to a rite of passage.passage.Confirmation is not a Confirmation is not a cultural celebration or cultural celebration or party.party.

ConfirmationConfirmationConfirmation is a Confirmation is a SacramentSacrament (Holy (Holy Mystery):Mystery):As a sacrament it As a sacrament it communicatescommunicates and and reveals communion with reveals communion with God and his grace.God and his grace.Confirmation confers a Confirmation confers a sacramental charactersacramental characterthat cannot be erased that cannot be erased and that and that predisposespredisposesthe 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 completescompletesthe baptismal grace.the baptismal grace.The Christian participates The Christian participates now fully in the body of now fully in the body of Christ with rights an Christ with rights an obligations of a spiritual obligations of a spiritual and temporal character.and temporal character.The Confirmed person is The Confirmed person is compelled to compelled to witnesswitnessthe 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 liveslives’’ character, words character, words and actions. and actions.

ConfirmationConfirmation

Confirmation has a Confirmation has a MessianicMessianic (salvific) (salvific) character.character.Christ (messiah) Christ (messiah) promisedpromised to send his to send his Spirit. 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 faithTo 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 glad because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.to the Lord.”” Luke 4: 18Luke 4: 18--1919

ConfirmationConfirmation

Like Christ,Like Christ,We are anointed (chosen)We are anointed (chosen)Eastern Catholics use the Eastern Catholics use the word Chrismation instead word Chrismation instead of confirmation to of confirmation to highlight this important highlight this important aspect. The word aspect. The word Chrismation like the word Chrismation like the word Christian comes from Christian comes from Christ (the anointed one).Christ (the anointed one).

ConfirmationConfirmation

Like Christ, Like Christ, We are anointed to We are anointed to proclaim the good proclaim the good news of the Kingdom news of the Kingdom of God ( to be of God ( to be witnesses)witnesses)

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

Become Become involveinvolve in your community of faith (parish), in your community of faith (parish), through its different through its different ministriesministries..Be a Be a role model of faithrole model of faith to your family, friends and your to your family, friends and your community.community.ShareShare youryour faithfaith with your cowith your co--workers and friends.workers and friends.Support Support social justicesocial justice (listen to the Pope and the (listen to the Pope and the bishopbishop’’s call for social change in society on areas such: s call for social change in society on areas such: racism, prejudice, wages, right to life, abortion, racism, prejudice, wages, right to life, abortion, euthanasia among others).euthanasia among others).Get to know your Get to know your Catholic faithCatholic faith, the scriptures., the scriptures.

What does Confirmation involve?What does Confirmation involve?

Confirmation involves a Confirmation involves a mature faithmature faith ( a desire ( a desire to grow in the knowledge to grow in the knowledge of God).of God).Confirmation involves a Confirmation involves a commitment to onecommitment to one’’s s faith (Church)faith (Church)Confirmation involves a Confirmation involves a commitmentcommitment to know to know more about our faithmore about our faith’’ s s teachingsteachings, , practicespractices and and traditionstraditions..

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

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

The celebration of The celebration of Confirmation celebrates Confirmation celebrates the faith of the Church in the faith of the Church in thethe powepower of the Holy r of the Holy Spirit given to us at Spirit given to us at Pentecost. Pentecost. The Power of the Holy The Power of the Holy Spirit is Spirit is life transforminglife transforming..

Acts 2: 1Acts 2: 1--1313

QuestionsQuestions

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

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

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

The Spirit of God is given The Spirit of God is given to us through the to us through the sacraments of initiationsacraments of initiation. . We believe the Holy We believe the Holy Spirit:Spirit:A. A. Lives in usLives in usB. B. Act through usAct through usC. C. Assist usAssist usD. D. Strenghten usStrenghten usE. E. Guide usGuide us

QuestionQuestion

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

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

A. Through his birth ( Jesus A. Through his birth ( Jesus was was conceivedconceived by the by the power of Holy Spirit)power of Holy Spirit)B. At his baptism, Jesus was B. At his baptism, Jesus was anointedanointed andand revealedrevealed as as GodGod’’s son.s son.C. In his preaching, Jesus C. In his preaching, Jesus revealed that the Spirit was revealed that the Spirit was upon himupon him ( Matthew 3: 13( Matthew 3: 13--17)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 anointedanointed 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 Lordsand the Lords’’divine protection.divine protection.D. Through the D. Through the gift of faithgift of faithE. 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 mission How is the Spirit tied to the mission of Christ?of Christ?

The Spirit The Spirit helps us carry helps us carry on the mission of Christon the mission of Christ..The Spirit The Spirit inspires us to inspires us to follow Christfollow Christ’’s teachingss teachingsThe Spirit The Spirit help ushelp uspromote and promote and live the live the Kingdom of God through Kingdom of God through love, peace, and justicelove, peace, and justice

QuestionQuestion

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

What is Pentecost?What is Pentecost?

Pentecost is the Pentecost is the feastfeastof the Holy Spiritof the Holy SpiritOn Pentecost the On Pentecost the disciples of Jesus disciples of Jesus were filled with the were filled with the Holy SpiritHoly SpiritThe ChurchThe Church’’s mission s mission began on Pentecostbegan on Pentecost

Before PentecostBefore Pentecost

A. A. The disciplesThe disciples of Jesus of Jesus were were afraidafraid. . B. The disciples of Jesus B. The disciples of Jesus were were discourageddiscouragedC. The disciples of Jesus C. The disciples of Jesus were were disappointeddisappointedD. The disciples of Jesus D. The disciples of Jesus were were confusedconfused..John 20:19John 20:19

After PentecostAfter Pentecost

A. A. The disciples were no The disciples were no longer afraid of longer afraid of persecutionpersecutionB. The disciples B. The disciples recovered the faithrecovered the faithC. The disciples were C. The disciples were ready to continue what ready to continue what Jesus startedJesus startedD. The disciples D. The disciples were were clear about God and his clear about God and his will.will.

The effects of ConfirmationThe effects of Confirmation

A. Courage : mental strengthA. Courage : mental strengthB. Hope: Positive outlook on lifeB. Hope: Positive outlook on lifeC. Strength: Power to conquer temptation C. Strength: Power to conquer temptation D. Purpose: Direction and meaning in lifeD. Purpose: Direction and meaning in lifeE. Peace: the strength to overcome anxiety and E. Peace: the strength to overcome anxiety and fear.fear.F. Grace: The power to do GodF. Grace: The power to do God’’s wills willG. Truth: The power to do and follow what is G. Truth: The power to do and follow what is right and true.right and true.

QuestionsQuestions

How do you allow the grace of How do you allow the grace of Confirmation to shape your life and your Confirmation to shape your life and your mission?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 handshandsAnd And the wordsthe words: : Be Be sealed with the gift of sealed with the gift of the Holy Spiritthe Holy Spirit

QuestionQuestion

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

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

Confirmation Confirmation is is celebrated after celebrated after baptismbaptismIn the East In the East confirmation confirmation is known is known as Chrismationas Chrismation

How is Confirmation celebrated in How is Confirmation celebrated in the West?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 not Confirmation does not follow baptismfollow baptism (only (only in some exceptions).in some exceptions).

Why are we anointed with Chrism?Why are we anointed with 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 is early Church. Chrism is connected to the word connected to the word Christ, Christ, ““anointed oneanointed one””We are anointed We are anointed so that so that we can spread the we can spread the Kingdom of God on this Kingdom of God on this earth.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 healingstrength and healingIn the sacrament of In the sacrament of confirmation confirmation we we receive strength to be receive strength to be witnesses of Christ witnesses of Christ resurrectedresurrected, and to do , and to do what is right and what is right and good.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) and consecration (made holy) and serviceservice

Can Confirmation be repeated?Can Confirmation be repeated?

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

What happens at Confirmation?What happens at 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: 212 Corinthians 1: 21--2222

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 BishopOnly the bishop can Only the bishop can delegatedelegate(appoint) a priest to confirm (appoint) a priest to confirm in his name on special in his name on special occasions or circumstances.occasions or circumstances.In the In the Eastern ChurchesEastern Churchespriest can confirm infants priest can confirm infants after baptism.after baptism.

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

The role of the sponsor is The role of the sponsor is to help the one being to help the one being confirmed remain firm confirmed remain firm and strong in the faith.and strong in the faith.Sponsors are Sponsors are role modelsrole modelsof of faithfaith, their task is to , their task is to give support and give support and inspiration to those living inspiration to those living the Christian faith.the 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 remind to remind us of baptism.us of baptism.A new name A new name is a sign is a sign of a new life and a of a new life and a new way of livingnew way of living..

QuestionQuestion

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

The End