Confirmation
A sacrament in which the Holy Ghost is given to those already baptized in order to make them strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ. It has been variously designated: bebaiosis or confirmatio, a making fast or sure; teleiosis or consummatio, a perfecting or completing, as expressing its relation to baptism. With reference to its effect it is the […]
Confirmation
The sacrament of confirmation is found in Bible passages such as Acts 8:14–17, 9:17, 19:6, and Hebrews 6:2, which speak of a laying on of hands for the purpose of bestowing the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 6:2 is especially important because it is not a narrative account of how confirmation was given and, thus, cannot be […]
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
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.89 For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are […]
Confirmation
CHARLES M. MANGAN The Sacrament of Confirmation — along with the Sacraments of Baptism and the Most Holy Eucharist — form the “Sacraments of Initiation.” The Second Vatican Council, in its Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium), states that those who are baptized and then confirmed obtain the “special strength of the Holy Spirit” […]
Baptism of the Lord and the Sacrament of Confirmation
Is 42:1-4; 6-7; Ps 29, Acts 10:34-38; Mt 3:13-17 (cycle C) Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio This article originally appeared in Our Sunday Visitor as a reflection on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. It is reproduced here by permission of the author. At first glance, the scene makes little sense. John’s strident call to […]
The Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation
JOHN A. HARDON S.J. From the dawn of Christian history, Baptism and Confirmation have been very closely associated. To belong to the Catholic Church means that Baptism is the door to obtaining such graces as only baptized persons have a claim to. To this day, Catholics belonging to the Eastern rite receive both sacraments in […]