Catechism of the Catholic Church · Part Two › Section Two › Chapter One · Article 2 (§§1285–1321)
Paragraphs · 37
The Catechism's text is under copyright, so each paragraph is quoted briefly here with a link to the full text at vatican.va.
The Sacrament of Confirmation
- §1285 — Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.vatican.va
I. Confirmation in the Economy of Salvation
- §1286 — In the Old Testament the prophets announced that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the hoped-for Messiah for his saving mission. The descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at his baptism by John was the sign that this was he who was to come, the Messiah, the Son of God.vatican.va
- §1287 — This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah's, but was to be communicated to the whole messianic people. On several occasions Christ promised this outpouring of the Spirit, a promise which he fulfilled first on Easter Sunday and then more strikingly at Pentecost.vatican.va
- §1288 — "From that time on the apostles, in fulfillment of Christ's will, imparted to the newly baptized by the laying on of hands the gift of the Spirit that completes the grace of Baptism.vatican.va
- §1289 — Very early, the better to signify the gift of the Holy Spirit, an anointing with perfumed oil (chrism) was added to the laying on of hands.vatican.va
- §1290 — In the first centuries Confirmation generally comprised one single celebration with Baptism, forming with it a "double sacrament," according to the expression of St. Cyprian.vatican.va
- §1291 — A custom of the Roman Church facilitated the development of the Western practice: a double anointing with sacred chrism after Baptism. the first anointing of the neophyte on coming out of the baptismal bath was performed by the priest; it was completed by a second…vatican.va
- §1292 — The practice of the Eastern Churches gives greater emphasis to the unity of Christian initiation. That of the Latin Church more clearly expresses the communion of the new Christian with the bishop as guarantor and servant of the unity, catholicity and apostolicity of his Church,…vatican.va
II. The Signs and the Rite of Confirmation
- §1293 — In treating the rite of Confirmation, it is fitting to consider the sign of anointing and what it signifies and imprints: a spiritual seal. Anointing, in Biblical and other ancient symbolism, is rich in meaning: oil is a sign of abundance and joy; it cleanses…vatican.va
- §1294 — Anointing with oil has all these meanings in the sacramental life. the pre-baptismal anointing with the oil of catechumens signifies cleansing and strengthening; the anointing of the sick expresses healing and comfort.vatican.va
- §1295 — By this anointing the confirmand receives the "mark," the seal of the Holy Spirit. A seal is a symbol of a person, a sign of personal authority, or ownership of an object.vatican.va
- §1296 — Christ himself declared that he was marked with his Father's seal. Christians are also marked with a seal: "It is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has commissioned us; he has put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."vatican.va
- §1297 — The consecration of the sacred chrism is an important action that precedes the celebration of Confirmation, but is in a certain way a part of it.vatican.va
- §1298 — When Confirmation is celebrated separately from Baptism, as is the case in the Roman Rite, the Liturgy of Confirmation begins with the renewal of baptismal promises and the profession of faith by the confirmands.vatican.va
- §1299 — In the Roman Rite the bishop extends his hands over the whole group of the confirmands. Since the time of the apostles this gesture has signified the gift of the Spirit.vatican.va
- §1300 — The essential rite of the sacrament follows. ]." In the Eastern Churches, after a prayer of epiclesis the more significant parts of the body are anointed with myron: forehead, eyes, nose, ears, lips, breast, back, hands, and feet.vatican.va
- §1301 — The sign of peace that concludes the rite of the sacrament signifies and demonstrates ecclesial communion with the bishop and with all the faithful.vatican.va
III. The Effects of Confirmation
- §1302 — It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.vatican.va
- §1303 — From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: - it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba!vatican.va
- §1304 — Like Baptism which it completes, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the "character," which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness.vatican.va
- §1305 — This "character" perfects the common priesthood of the faithful, received in Baptism, and "the confirmed person receives the power to profess faith in Christ publicly and as it were officially (quasi ex officio)."vatican.va
IV. Who can Receive This Sacrament?
- §1306 — Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Since Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist form a unity, it follows that "the faithful are obliged to receive this sacrament at the appropriate time," for without Confirmation and Eucharist, Baptism is certainly valid and efficacious, but Christian initiation remains incomplete.vatican.va
- §1307 — The Latin tradition gives "the age of discretion" as the reference point for receiving Confirmation. But in danger of death children should be confirmed even if they have not yet attained the age of discretion.vatican.va
- §1308 — Although Confirmation is sometimes called the "sacrament of Christian maturity," we must not confuse adult faith with the adult age of natural growth, nor forget that the baptismal grace is a grace of free, unmerited election and does not need "ratification" to become effective.vatican.va
- §1309 — Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit - his actions, his gifts, and his biddings - in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life.vatican.va
- §1310 — To receive Confirmation one must be in a state of grace. One should receive the sacrament of Penance in order to be cleansed for the gift of the Holy Spirit.vatican.va
- §1311 — Candidates for Confirmation, as for Baptism, fittingly seek the spiritual help of a sponsor. To emphasize the unity of the two sacraments, it is appropriate that this be one of the baptismal godparents.vatican.va
V. The Minister of Confirmation
- §1312 — The original minister of Confirmation is the bishop. In the East, ordinarily the priest who baptizes also immediately confers Confirmation in one and the same celebration.vatican.va
- §1313 — In the Latin Rite, the ordinary minister of Confirmation is the bishop. Although the bishop may for grave reasons concede to priests the faculty of administering Confirmation, it is appropriate from the very meaning of the sacrament that he should confer it himself, mindful that…vatican.va
- §1314 — If a Christian is in danger of death, any priest should give him Confirmation. Indeed the Church desires that none of her children, even the youngest, should depart this world without having been perfected by the Holy Spirit with the gift of Christ's fullness.vatican.va
In Brief
- §1315 — "Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of…vatican.va
- §1316 — Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help…vatican.va
- §1317 — Confirmation, like Baptism, imprints a spiritual mark or indelible character on the Christian's soul; for this reason one can receive this sacrament only once in one's life.vatican.va
- §1318 — In the East this sacrament is administered immediately after Baptism and is followed by participation in the Eucharist; this tradition highlights the unity of the three sacraments of Christian initiation.vatican.va
- §1319 — A candidate for Confirmation who has attained the age of reason must profess the faith, be in the state of grace, have the intention of receiving the sacrament, and be prepared to assume the role of disciple and witness to Christ, both within the ecclesial community and in temporal affairs.vatican.va
- §1320 — The essential rite of Confirmation is anointing the forehead of the baptized with sacred chrism (in the East other sense-organs as well), together with the laying on of the minister's hand and the words: "Accipe signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti" (Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.)vatican.va
- §1321 — When Confirmation is celebrated separately from Baptism, its connection with Baptism is expressed, among other ways, by the renewal of baptismal promises. the celebration of Confirmation during the Eucharist helps underline the unity of the sacraments of Christian initiation.vatican.va
Scripture cited · 92 verses
Genesis 38:18 · Genesis 41:42 · Deuteronomy 11:14 · Deuteronomy 32:34 · 1 Kings 21:8 · Psalm 23:5 · Psalm 104:15 · Wisdom 4:8 · Isaiah 1:6 · Isaiah 11:2 · Isaiah 29:11 · Isaiah 61:1 · Jeremiah 32:10 · Ezekiel 9:4 · Ezekiel 9:5 · Ezekiel 9:6 · Ezekiel 36:25 · Ezekiel 36:26 · Ezekiel 36:27 · Joel 3:1 · Joel 3:2 · Matthew 3:13 · Matthew 3:14 · Matthew 3:15 · Matthew 3:16 · Matthew 3:17 · Luke 4:16 · Luke 4:17 · Luke 4:18 · Luke 4:19 · Luke 4:20 · Luke 4:21 · Luke 4:22 · Luke 12:12 · Luke 24:48 · Luke 24:49 · John 1:33 · John 1:34 · John 3:5 · John 3:6 · John 3:7 · John 3:8 · John 3:34 · John 6:27 · John 7:37 · John 7:38 · John 7:39 · John 16:7 · John 16:8 · John 16:9 · John 16:10 · John 16:11 · John 16:12 · John 16:13 · John 16:14 · John 16:15 · John 20:22 · Acts 1:8 · Acts 1:14 · Acts 2:1 · Acts 2:2 · Acts 2:3 · Acts 2:4 · Acts 2:5 · Acts 2:6 · Acts 2:7 · Acts 2:8 · Acts 2:9 · Acts 2:10 · Acts 2:11 · Acts 2:12 · Acts 2:13 · Acts 2:14 · Acts 2:17 · Acts 2:18 · Acts 2:38 · Acts 8:15 · Acts 8:16 · Acts 8:17 · Acts 10:38 · Acts 19:5 · Acts 19:6 · Romans 8:15 · 2 Corinthians 1:21 · 2 Corinthians 1:22 · 2 Corinthians 2:15 · Ephesians 1:13 · Ephesians 4:30 · Hebrews 6:2 · Revelation 7:2 · Revelation 7:3 · Revelation 9:4