The Sacrament of Confirmation
Summary
TLDRIn this enlightening discussion, Father Jack explains the significance of the sacrament of Confirmation in the Catholic Church. He clarifies that while the Holy Spirit is received at baptism, Confirmation serves as an intensification and a personal empowerment to carry out the mission of Jesus. The sacrament is likened to the Apostles' experience at Pentecost, where they were given the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel. The use of the Oil of Chrism symbolizes the anointing and preservation in faith. The color red during Confirmation ceremonies represents the fire of the Holy Spirit. Confirmands receive seven gifts from the Holy Spirit, including wisdom, understanding, and strength, which are always available to them. Sponsors play a crucial role as role models and guides in faith. The choice of a Confirmation name, usually a saint's name, provides an opportunity to connect with the saint's example. The bishop, as the diocesan leader, administers Confirmation to signify the individual's connection to the Church. Father Jack emphasizes that Confirmation is not the end but the end of the beginning of one's life in the Church, empowering them to embark on their mission with the Holy Spirit's guidance.
Takeaways
- đïž The sacrament of confirmation is considered the completion of initiation into the Catholic Church, building on the foundation laid by baptism.
- đ„ The Holy Spirit is received anew during confirmation, intensifying and strengthening the grace received at baptism, and empowering individuals to carry out their baptismal mission.
- đ Confirmation is likened to the Christian's own Pentecost, where individuals are given the grace to spread the Gospel and introduce Jesus to others.
- đ§ The use of the oil of chrism in confirmation symbolizes anointing with the Holy Spirit, similar to Jesus' baptism, and serves to preserve individuals in their faith.
- đŹ Being 'sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit' at confirmation is akin to a seal on a letter, marking individuals as authentic followers of Christ to carry out His mission.
- đŽ The color red used in confirmation ceremonies represents the fire of the Holy Spirit, as experienced by the apostles on the feast of Pentecost.
- đ The Holy Spirit bestows seven gifts upon confirmation recipients: wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety, and reverence.
- đ Individuals can call upon the Holy Spirit's gifts in various situations, such as patience in waiting or understanding in difficult conversations.
- đ” Adult confirmation ceremonies exist for those who have not been confirmed, and it's also an opportunity for those preparing for marriage.
- đŁïž A confirmation sponsor, similar to a godparent at baptism, is a practicing Catholic who supports and guides the confirmed individual in their faith journey.
- âïž Confirmation names, typically those of saints, are taken on to provide an example and spiritual intercession for the confirmed individual.
- đšâđŠ± The bishop, as the leader of the diocese, usually performs confirmations to signify the individual's connection with the church community.
- đ Confirmation is a one-time sacrament, marking the end of the Christian initiation process and the beginning of an individual's active mission in the Church.
Q & A
What is the sacrament of confirmation in the Catholic Church?
-The sacrament of confirmation is a rite that completes the initiation into the Catholic Church. It is an intensification of baptism, providing a strengthening of the baptismal grace and the Holy Spirit to help carry out the mission of spreading the Gospel to others.
Why is the Holy Spirit received again at confirmation if it was already received at baptism?
-The Holy Spirit is received again at confirmation to help believers carry out their baptismal mission more effectively. It is a way to strengthen and empower individuals to spread the message of Jesus Christ to others.
What is the significance of the sacrament of confirmation being likened to our participation in Pentecost?
-Confirmation is seen as a personal Pentecost because, like the Apostles on Pentecost, the confirmed receive the Holy Spirit to go out and proclaim the Gospel. It is a moment when individuals are given the grace to spread the mission of Jesus.
Why is the oil of chrism used in the sacrament of confirmation?
-The oil of chrism is used as it symbolizes the anointing with the Holy Spirit, similar to Jesus' baptism. It also serves as a preservative, signifying that the Holy Spirit given at confirmation helps to preserve the individual in their faith and life of grace.
What does it mean to be 'sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit' during confirmation?
-Being sealed with the Holy Spirit is like receiving a mark that authenticates us as belonging to God. It signifies that we are set apart and called to carry out the mission of Jesus in the world.
Why is the color red often associated with confirmation ceremonies?
-The color red is used to symbolize the fire of the Holy Spirit that came upon the Apostles at Pentecost, and which is given to the confirmed during their sacrament.
What are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit traditionally associated with confirmation?
-The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, strength or fortitude, piety, and reverence of God. These gifts are always available to the confirmed to help them in their spiritual journey.
Is it possible for adults who have not been confirmed to receive the sacrament?
-Yes, it is never too late. There are adult confirmation ceremonies held annually in many dioceses, and individuals preparing for marriage who have not been confirmed can also receive the sacrament.
What are the responsibilities of a confirmation sponsor?
-A confirmation sponsor, similar to a godparent at baptism, should be a practicing Catholic aged 16 or older. They are expected to support the confirmed in their growth in faith, set a good example, and provide encouragement and teaching if necessary.
What is the significance of choosing a confirmation name?
-A confirmation name, usually a saint's name, is taken on to provide an example of Christian life and virtues. It can be an opportunity to revisit the saint's name given at baptism or to choose a new one to honor a particular saint.
Why is the bishop typically the minister for confirmation?
-The bishop, as the leader of the church in the diocese, performs confirmation to signify the individual's connection with the diocese and to emphasize the importance of the sacrament as a completion of Christian initiation.
Does confirmation mean the end of one's involvement with the Church?
-No, confirmation is not the end but rather the end of the beginning. It signifies the start of an individual's mission in the Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Outlines
đ Understanding Confirmation: Its Significance and Relation to Baptism
This paragraph explores the sacrament of confirmation within the Catholic Church, addressing common questions about its necessity and its relationship with baptism. Father Jack explains that while the Holy Spirit is received at baptism, confirmation serves as an intensification or strengthening of baptism, providing a new way of receiving the Holy Spirit. It is likened to the Apostles' experience on Pentecost, where they received the Holy Spirit to carry out their mission. The sacrament is described as a participation in Pentecost, where individuals are given the grace to spread the Gospel and introduce Jesus to others. The use of the oil of chrism symbolizes anointing with the Holy Spirit, similar to Jesus' baptism, and serves to preserve and strengthen one's faith.
đĄ The Role of the Holy Spirit and the Color Red in Confirmation
The paragraph delves into the symbolism and practical aspects of confirmation. The phrase 'be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit' is explained as a mark of authenticity and possession by the Holy Spirit, similar to a seal on a letter. The frequent use of the color red during confirmation ceremonies is linked to the tongues of fire that symbolized the Holy Spirit's presence at Pentecost. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are detailed, including the seven gifts traditionally associated with the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety, and reverence. These gifts are available to believers at all times to assist in various situations. The paragraph also addresses the process for adults who have not been confirmed, the role of a sponsor, and the significance of choosing a confirmation name. Lastly, it clarifies that confirmation is a one-time sacrament, signifying the completion of Christian initiation, but it is only the beginning of one's mission and life within the Church.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄConfirmation
đĄHoly Spirit
đĄBaptism
đĄPentecost
đĄSacrament
đĄOil of Chrism
đĄSealing with the Holy Spirit
đĄColor Red
đĄGifts of the Holy Spirit
đĄAdult Confirmation
đĄSponsor
đĄConfirmation Name
đĄBishop
Highlights
Through the sacrament of confirmation, our initiation into the Catholic Church is made complete.
We receive the Holy Spirit again or in a new way at confirmation, intensifying and strengthening our baptism.
Confirmation is our participation in Pentecost, when we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel like the apostles.
The Holy Spirit given at confirmation helps us persevere in the faith and preserve us in the life of grace.
The oil of chrism used in confirmation symbolizes our anointing with the Holy Spirit and helps preserve us in the faith.
Being 'sealed' with the Holy Spirit at confirmation marks us as authentically belonging to God and His mission.
The color red in confirmation ceremonies symbolizes the fire of the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost and confirmation.
The Holy Spirit gives us seven gifts - wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, strength, piety, and reverence of God.
We receive all seven gifts of the Holy Spirit at confirmation and can call upon them anytime.
Adults who have not been confirmed can still receive the sacrament through adult confirmation ceremonies or before marriage.
A confirmation sponsor, similar to a baptismal godparent, is a practicing Catholic who supports the confirmand's faith growth.
Taking a confirmation name, usually a saint's name, provides an example of Christian life to follow.
The bishop, as the church leader in the diocese, ordinarily administers the sacrament of confirmation.
We only need to receive confirmation once, as it completes the seal of the Holy Spirit and our Christian initiation.
Confirmation is not the end of our life in the Church, but rather the end of the beginning as we begin our mission of Jesus in the world.
Confirmation is the completion of our initiation into the Catholic Church, but it is just the beginning of our mission in the Church.
Transcripts
hello everyone did you know that it is
through the sacrament of confirmation
that our initiation into the catholic
church is made complete
i've also heard that you received the
holy spirit through confirmation
but didn't we already receive this in
our baptism so why then is there a need
for the sacrament
what does confirmation even mean and
what makes it so different to baptism
well today we're joined by father jack
who's going to help us explore the
sacrament of confirmation
thank you for being here father thanks
hi everyone now i thought we received
the holy spirit during our baptism so
why do we still need to be confirmed
you're right we do receive the holy
spirit at baptism we receive the holy
spirit
again or in a new way at confirmation
it's
confirmation is like an intensification
of baptism kind of a strengthening of
baptism
but also we receive the holy spirit to
help us carry out that baptism
to others to to take jesus that we've
received
at baptism and to then give him to
others introduce him to others
so that's why we receive the holy spirit
again that confirmation what is the
sacrament of confirmation
and how does it actually help us well
the sacrament
of confirmation is kind of our
participation
in pentecost okay so on that feast of
pentecost
the apostles were given the holy spirit
and they went out
particularly saint peter after that in
proclaimed the message of jesus and they
brought many into the church
on that on that feast of pentecost
confirmation
is kind of our pentecost it's when we
receive the gift of the holy spirit
and then we're given the grace to go out
like saint peter
and spread that mission of jesus that
gospel of jesus
to introduce him to others so it's like
what you said at the first question that
is that going out and bringing jesus
into the world yeah precisely and the
holy spirit is given to us in
confirmation to help us in that mission
why do we use the oil of chrism in
confirmation
well it goes back to jesus's baptism in
the river jordan
we hear that he was anointed with the
holy spirit
and so we're anointed with oil at our
confirmation
as we receive that same gift of the holy
spirit
but also oil preserves things okay it
keeps them and
helps them last longer and the holy
spirit is given to us a confirmation
to help us persevere in the faith okay
to preserve us in the life of
grace the life of god and so we're also
anointed with oil
to preserve us in that life so during my
confirmation the bishop said these words
be sealed with the gift of the holy
spirit
can you tell me what this means yeah we
kind of forget what
be sealed might mean because we don't
send many letters
anymore a seal is something that someone
would put on a letter
or an envelope to say that it was
authentically from them
so this was their mark to say that this
letter this envelope was from them
so we're sealed with the holy spirit at
our confirmation
it's his kind of mark on us he's
drawing us out to make us his own it's
it's his mark of
us being authentically his and so we
take that mission then to the world
during confirmation ceremonies i often
have seen a lot of the color red
it's in the altar the priest sometimes
wears red why do we see a lot of red
well this goes back again to the feast
of pentecost where
the holy spirit came down on the
apostles in the appearance of tongues of
fire
and so that color red symbolizes that
fire of the holy spirit that the
apostles were given at pentecost and
that we are given at our confirmation
i heard you receive the gift of the holy
spirit
what does this mean and can you run
through some of them
well it refers to firstly the holy
spirit himself but also then
the gifts that he gives us and
traditionally we speak about
seven gifts that he gives us so wisdom
understanding counsel
knowledge strength or fortitude
piety and reverence of god
these are his seven gifts to us so do we
only receive
one or all of them and how do we use
this
we really receive all of them all seven
and we can use them
anytime anywhere the holy spirit is with
us so these gifts are always at our
disposal
you know for example if you're waiting
in a line
and you're really your patience is being
tested it's a perfect opportunity to
pray for that gift of patience
or if you're having a difficult
conversation with a friend
to pray for the gift of understanding so
there's the holy spirit's always
there to help us with these seven gifts
so what about adults who have not been
confirmed is it too late for them
no it's never too late every year in the
diocese we have an adult confirmation
ceremony in the diocese so every year
we confirm adults but also when couples
come to us
priests for marriage preparation if
they're not confirmed that's also an
opportunity
for them to receive the sacrament of
confirmation before their marriage
so what is a sponsor do they have any
requirements
and what are their responsibilities yeah
sponsored confirmation
is similar to a godparent at baptism so
they're supposed to be a practicing
catholic
and of a certain age so 16 or older
and the reason that they're practicing
or in their life of faith is because
they have a responsibility to
kind of help the person being confirmed
in their growth in the faith okay so
they set them an example give them some
encouragement
perhaps even teach them if they need it
so they have some responsibilities with
that
so they're like our support and so we
don't that way when we live our
confirmation we're not doing it on our
own
yeah precisely so i heard that some
people taken a confirmation name
what is this well the confirmation name
is
ordinarily a saints name so we take on
the saints
because of their example so they provide
an example for us
so it might be an opportunity for us to
revisit the saints name we were given
that baptism
or if we don't have one from our baptism
then it's an opportunity to take one
honoured confirmation
so i know i was baptized i go to
confession and i
take the eucharist from local parish
priests so why is the minister for
confirmation the bishop
it's a good question because he's the
kind of the leader of the church in our
area in our diocese
and so he's ordinarily does
confirmations
to remind us or signify to us
that link that we have with him in this
diocese of paramount
is a person only confirmed once
yeah confirmation is a little bit like
baptism in that sense we receive it only
once
and we only need to receive it once
because we in confirmation receive that
seal of the holy spirit so he
completes that start of our christian
life within the sacraments of initiation
with confirmation
so that's why we only need to receive it
once so confirmation is the completion
of my initiation into the catholic
church
does this mean i've graduated and don't
need to have anything to do with the
church
yeah good question the confirmation is
the completion of our initiation to the
church
now initiation means the beginning and
so it's confirmation is
just the end of the beginning in our
life in the church
we're given the holy spirit a
confirmation to begin
that mission of jesus in our life so
it's not the end
of our life in the church it's just the
beginning
well there you have it the sacrament of
confirmation thanks for joining us
father jack we learned so much thank you
you
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