CHRISTIAN LIVING

SACRAMENT OF INITIATION: CONFIRMATION

A. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT

Historical background: OLD TESTAMENT

The Spirit in the OLD TESTAMENT: In the OT, there is no mention of the Holy Spirit. It speaks
rather of the Spirit of God or the Spirit of Yahweh. The Hebrew word of God’s Spirit is ruah. Ruah can
either mean wind, breath or spirit. Like the wind, the Spirit of God cannot be seen itself but can only be
understood through its effects. Sometimes, like a great wind, the spirit can act with extraordinary
power. In the Hebrew Scriptures, this can be seen in the great acts of God: the creation of the word
(Genesis), the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 14) and in the actions and words of the great leaders of Israel
such as the kings and the prophets. In O.T, a king or leader was anointed with oil which symbolizes the
presence of God’s Spirit in the person.

Like a breath, the spirit is a source of life and is an inner principle of life. We rarely pay much
attention to the fact that we are breathing but it is our breath which allows us to live and act. Likewise,
the spirit often goes unnoticed because it works silently and imperceptibly as it leads in the ways of
God’s love.

Historical background: NEW TESTATMENT

In the N.T, the Holy Spirit’s presence was especially noted in Jesus baptism at the River Jordan.
In the night before his death, Jesus promised his closet disciples that he would never abandon them. He
would continue to be present in them in a new way through the Spirit, the Paraclete or Advocate. During
the Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in the form of little tongues of fire. In this
event, the disciples were transformed from fearful individuals to fearless preachers and witnesses of the
gospel. In their ministry, the disciples laid hands on new Christians and baptized with the Spirit.

The life of a Christian is a life in the spirit. The Sacrament of Confirmation is a time when we
celebrate the life of the Spirit in the Church and in these receiving the sacrament.

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

- Is a sacrament in which through the power of the Holy Spirit, a baptized person is drawn into
closer union with the church and endowed with strength to actively spread the good news.

Baptism 1st part

- The forgiveness of sin Priest and Deacon

Confirmhation 2nd part - during the middle ages

- Strengthening Bishop

Reasons

Two developments that led to the separation of Baptism and confirmation

1. Sense of urgency of the now universal practice of infant baptism

2. The unavailability of the bishop to attend to the past baptismal rite

 To save this we must separate the 1st part to the second part

Pentecost
 - The feast celebrated by the church in memory of the descent of the holy spirit upon the
apostles.
- Birthday of the church

TWO ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTIC OF SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

 Closer union with the Church

 Strengthening and empowerment by the Holy Spirit to actively spread the Faith

PUBLIC WITNESSES OF THE FAITH:

 Witness to the kingdom of God

 Witness to Jesus the Christ, as the unique Savior of all
 Witness to the freedom from the slavery of sin brought by God’s presence through Christ and
the spirit.
 Witness to the love of God.

QUALITIES OF A CHRISTIAN WITNESS

To be an effective witness to Christ and the Church demands certain basic qualities:

 Personal knowledge, awareness and experience of Christ in their daily lives.

 Strong and enthusiastic Christian convictions and active commitment to Christ and the Church.
 Basic grounding in scripture, Church teaching and fundamental human experience
 The human leadership qualities of honesty and integrity that inspire confidence.
 Communication skill needed to present Christ’s challenge to the Filipino of Today in an attractive
and persuasive manner
 Willing to risk and suffer for the Kingdom of God.

*If you are a follower of the church you must be the follower of Christ.

KNOW ABOUT CHRIST

 CHRIST IS JUST THERE

 CHRIST IS OUR FRIEND
 CHRIST IS OUR PROVIDER
 I LOOK AS CHRISTIAN AS HEALER

WHAT DOES THE PRESENCE OF THE SPIRIT DO FOR US?

 THE SPIRIT SETS US FREE. The great enemy of love is Fear. The Spirit of God allows us to live in
freedom from fear and freedom to love, just how the apostles were freed from their fear to
proclaim Jesus and the good news after Pentecost.
 THE SPIRIT ALLOWS US TO SEE WHO WE TRULY ARE: AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD
 THE SPIRIT ENABLES US TO LIVE A NEW LIFE- to be the new creation.
 “THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is Love, Joy, Peace, Patient, Endurance, Kin dness, Generosity, Faith,
Mildness and chastity

WHAT DOES CONFIRMATION DO?

 It increases and deepens the baptismal rite

 It unites us more firmly to Christ.
 It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit within us.
 It gives us special strength to spread and defend the faith by words and action
RECEIVING CONFIRMATION

WHO CAN RECEIVE CONFIRMATION?

Every baptized person not yet confirmed can should receive the sacrament of
confirmation.

AGE OF DISCRETION

WHO CAN CONFIRM?

The original minister of Confirmation is the Bishop.

Celebration of the sacrament

3 main components of the ritual:

 LAYING ON OF HANDS
- An ancient practice symbolizing a special call or mission in the Church. It emphasizes the mission
of each Christian to spread the Good News both in words and deeds.
 ANOINTING WITH CHRISM OIL ON THE FOREHEAD
- As in baptism, the oil is a symbol of being chosen by God for special vocation the life of the grace
and holiness in God’s spirit.
 THE WORDS “BE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT”
- Confirmation does not make the Spirit present for the first time (but in baptism). It offers a seal
of the Holy Spirit. In ancient times, kings seal their representatives to make them official. Being
sealed in the Holy Spirit means God offers his Spirit to us and we commit to live a life in the
Spirit.

RITES

 CONSECRATION OF THE SACRED CHRISM – done by the bishop during the Chrism mass on Holy
Thursday. Hence, it precedes the celebration of confirmation.
 RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES AND PROFESSION OF FAITH BY THE CONFIRMANDS
 INVOCATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
 ANOINTING WITH CHRISM OIL on the forehead, which is done by the laying on of the hand and
through the words: “Accipe signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti” (BE SEALED WITH THE GIFT OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT)
 THE SIGN OF PEACE- it concludes the rite of the sacrament and signifies ecclesial communion
with the bishop and with all the faithful.