CONFIRMATION

Confirmation (or Chrismation) is the sacrament of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit whom Christ Jesus sent. Jesus instructed his Apostles that they "will receive the power of the Holy Spirit" and called upon the Apostles to be his "witnesses to the ends of the earth". At the Pentecost, the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit), and began to spread the Word of God. The Acts of the apostles is often called the gospel of the Holy spirit. The rite of Confirmation is anointing the forehead with chrism, together with the laying on of the minister's hands and the words, "Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit." The recipient receives the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. On occasion one may receive one or more of the charismatic gifts of the Spirit. The ecclesial effect and sacramental grace of the sacrament give the recipient the strength and character to witness for Jesus Christ. In the East the priest administers the sacrament immediately after Baptism. Confirmation in the West is administered by the Bishop to children from age 7 to 18, but generally to adolescents, for example, to a graduating class of grade school children.

Signs And Symbols:

1.) Chrism- (Greek word literally meaning "an anointing"), also called "Myrrh" (Myron), Holy anointing oil, or "Consecrated Oil," is a consecrated oil used in the Roman Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Orthodox churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the OldCatholic churches, and some Anglican and Lutheran churches in the administration of certain sacraments and ecclesiastical functions. Pure or scented olive oil, although typically not called chrism today, has been called chrism in the past, including oil used by Protestants and Restorationists in some forms of Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick and foot washing. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints or Mormons, chrism is used in some of their temple ordinances.

2.) Laying on of Hands- is a religious practice found throughout the world in varying forms. In Christian churches, this practice is used as both a symbolic and formal method of invoking the Holy Spirit during baptisms, healing services, blessings, and ordination of priests, ministers, elders, deacons, and other church officers, along with a variety of other church sacraments and holy ceremonies.

3.) Slight blow on the cheek- The bishop gives the person he confirms a slight blow on the cheek, to put him in mind that he must be ready to suffer everything, even death, for the sake of Christ.

THE EUCHARIST
Eucharistia means thanksgiving, and the Eucharist is the "source and summit of the Christian life." The Paschal mystery of Christ is celebrated in the liturgy of the Mass. The Mass is the Eucharist or principal sacramental celebration of the Church, established by Jesus at the Last Supper, in which the mystery of our salvation through participation in the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of Christ is renewed and accomplished. The word "Mass" comes from the Latin missa, as it refers to the mission or sending forth of the faithful following the celebration, so that they may fulfill God's will in their daily lives. The essential signs of the sacrament are wheat bread and grape wine, on which the blessing of the Holy Spirit is invoked during the Sacrifice of the Mass, and the priest pronounces the words of consecration spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper: "This is my body...This is the cup of my blood. The bread and wine through Transubstantiation become the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, and we receive the Real Presence of Jesus when we receive Holy Communion. Our soul is nourished, helping us to become like Christ. The Eucharist is the heart and source of community within the Church. Receiving Holy Communion with others during the Mass brings unity of the Church, the Body of Christ. Signs And Symbols: 1.) Wine- Otherwise is known as the fruit of vines the wine in the Eucharist is used to symbolize the blood of Christ. 2.) Water- Reminds us that it is God who give us life. Symbolizes cleansing and purity.

3.)Holy Eucharist- is a sacrament and a sacrifice. In the Holy Eucharist, under the appearances of bread and wine, the Lord Christ is contained, offered, and received. (a) The whole Christ is really, truly, and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist. We use the words "really, truly, and substantially" to describe Christ's presence in the Holy Eucharist in order to distinguish Our Lord's teaching from that of mere men who falsely teach that the Holy Eucharist is only a sign or figure of Christ, or that He is present only by His power. (b) All Christians, with but few minor exceptions, held the true doctrine of the Real Presence from the time of Christ until the Protestant Revolution in the sixteenth century.

(c) The word "Eucharist" means "Thanksgiving." 4.) Bread- Otherwise known as the Host is used to symbolize the body of Christ during the Eucharist. No Matter how many people there are attending the mass both the Body and the Blood of Christ (the bread and the wine) are carried up in the single plate and chalice. This represents the unity of the members attending and the unity of the church. 5.) Chalice- It is a cup which holds the wine of Jesus' blood in the sacrament of Holy Communion. 6.) Ciborium- is a vessel, originally a drinking cup, but later used to refer to a receptacle for the Blessed Sacrament. The word is also used for an element of church architecture. The ancient Greek word referred to the the cup-shaped seed vessel of the Egyptian water-lily nelumbium speciosum and came to describe a drinking cup made from that seed casing, or in a similar shape. These vessels were particularly common in Egypt and the Greek East. The word "'ciborium'" was also used in classical Latin to describe such cups, although the only example to have survived is in one of Horaces odes. 7.) Stole- is a liturgical vestment of various Christian denominations. It consists of a band of colored cloth, formerly usually of silk, about seven and a half to nine feet long and three to four inches wide, whose ends may be straight or may broaden out. The center of the stole is worn around the back of the neck and the two ends hang down parallel to each other in front, either attached to each other or hanging loose. The stole is almost always decorated in some way, usually with a cross or some other significant religious design. It is often decorated with contrasting galoons (ornamental trim) and fringe is usually applied to the ends of the stole piece of white linen or lace may be stitched onto the back of the collar as a sweat guard which can be replaced more cheaply than buying a new stole. 8.) Transubstantiation- is the official Roman Catholic concept referring to the change that takes place during the sacrament of Holy Communion (Eucharist). This change involves the substances of bread and wine being turned miraculously into the substance of Christ himself. The underlying essence of these elements is changed, and they retain only the appearance, taste, and texture of bread and wine. Catholic doctrine holds that the Godhead is indivisible, so every particle or drop thus changed is wholly identical in substance with the divinity, body, and blood of the Savior. 9.) Communion- is defined as the act of sharing, or holding in common; participation. The word "communion" as translated in the King James Version is the Greek word "koinonia" and it means a partnership, participation or social intercourse, fellowship, communion, communication, distribution, contribution or to communicate. It is a remembrance of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. He gave His life a ransom for whoever believes. The elements in themselves are not the issue, it is the fact that believers assemble together to fellowship, to remember Christ's sacrifice and to examine their own hearts as to whether they have any unconfessed sin. This is something that we are privileged to do.