The second of the Sacraments is Confirmation (although
today for most who were baptized as infants, it is the fourth
Sacrament that they receive). Baptism, Confirmation and
Eucharist make up the “Sacraments of Initiation” by which
one becomes a full member of the Church. The Sacrament
of Confirmation completes baptismal grace. Like Baptism,
Confirmation makes an indelible mark on the soul. The
reception of this Sacrament increases one’s responsibility
before God to live out the Catholic Faith, and not simply
live it out but actively spread and defend the Faith by one’s
actions and words. The faithful Catholic can never
separate himself from his faith as some people try to do by
saying, “Well, I personally believe such and such, but . . . ”
To claim to personally believe the Church’s teaching on a
particular issue, be it abortion, contraception or any other
issue while at the same time supporting and or advocating
just the opposite of what the Church teaches is a tragic
betrayal of one’s baptismal and confirmation promises.
Originally in the Latin Church Confirmation was received
at the same time as Baptism (and this is still the case in the
Eastern Churches) but, as Infant Baptism became the norm
in the Western Church, the two Sacraments were
separated with Confirmation coming at a later time when
the recipient could understand and thus profess the Faith.
And so, the Sacrament was offered at the end of childhood,
and at that time the recipient would also make his First
Communion. Pope St. Pius X changed the order around,
saying that the Eucharist was so important that children
should be able to receive it as soon as they understand, or
reach the age of reason, (around seven years of age).
The ordinary minister of the Sacrament is the Bishop (a
priest may confirm in certain circumstances, such as when
baptizing an adult, or with the permission of the Bishop).
The Sacrament begins with the renewal of one’s baptismal
promises and the profession of Faith. The Bishop then
extends his hands over the confirmandi invoking the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and then he anoints each one
individually with the Sacred Chrism on the forehead and
says, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” He then
offers the recipient the sign of peace. The matter of this
Sacrament is the Sacred Chrism (which is consecrated by
the Bishop on Holy Thursday at the Chrism Mass to which
all his priests come and concelebrate, renewing their own
priestly promises: this same Chrism is used to anoint the
hands of the newly ordained priests). The form of the
Sacraments is the laying on of hands and anointing. The
effect of the Sacrament is, of course, the special outpouring
of the Holy Spirit as was granted to the Apostles on the day
of Pentecost. It unites us more firmly to Christ, increasing
the gifts of the Holy Spirit within us, and indelibly marks the
soul.
Notices:
Opus Dei, “Evening of Recollection” for women will not
meet this month.
On March 11