The Sacrament of Confirmation Sunday Rice and Stew (Catholic Catechism) 13/02/2022

CONFIRMATION AS SACRAMENT

 

 

Confirmation is one of sacrament of Christian initiation that perfect baptismal grace, give us the Holy Spirit in order to become more deeply rooted in the divine affiliation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission and help us bear witness to the Christian faith through our words and actions.

 

 

INDELIBLE MARK OF CONFIRMATION

 

The candidate to be confirm received a seal or a mark of owners which cannot be erased or repeated again.

 

 

RITES & SIGNS OF CONFIRMATION

 

 

The rite of confirmation simply refers to how the bishop confirms the candidate. The bishop invokes the outpouring of the Spirit in these words.

 

 

“All powerful God, father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life, send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide.

 

 

Give them the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of right judgement and courage, the Spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the Spirit of wonder and awe in your presence we ask this through Christ our Lord”. (Catechism of the catholic Church 1299).

 

The bishop anoints the forehead with Chrism oil and pronounce these words “be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Catechism of the catholic Church 1300).

 

 

THE ROLE OF BISHOP IN CONFIRMATION

 

 

One of the roles of a Bishop is to administer confirmation. This is because it shows a close bond that joins the confirmed to the church and mandate received from Christ to bear witness to him.

 

 

AGE OF CONFIRMATION

 

 

Confirmation even though it is sometimes called the sacrament of maturity, it does not have a specific age. Once a person is baptized, he is old enough to be confirmed.

 

 

The Bible in the book of wisdom says that “for old age is not measured for the length of time, or measured by number of years.”

 

 

St. Thomas also tells us that the age of body does not determine the age of the soul. Even in childhood man can attain spiritual maturity (Catechism of the catholic Church 1308).

 

 

PREPARATION FOR CONFIRMATION

 

 

The candidate should be prepared towards a more intimate union with Christ, the Holy Spirit and his actions, gifts and bidding’s and also the teaching of the Church.

 

 

EFFECT OF CONFIRMATION

 

 

1. It roots us more deeply in the divine affiliation (becoming adopted sons and daughters of God) which make us cry “Abba Father”.

 

 

2. It unites us more firmly to Christ.

 

 

 

3. It increases the gift of the Holy Spirit in us.

 

 

 

4. It renders our bond with the Church more perfect.

 

 

 

5. It gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses to Christ to confess the name of Christ boldly and never to be ashamed of the cross (Catechism of the catholic Church 1303).

 

 

Note: For one to receive confirmation, he/she must be in a state of grace.

 

 

 

May God Bless you, Happy Sunday.