Confirmation
Confirmation is a sacrament where baptized Catholics receive the Holy Spirit and become adult members of the Catholic Church. The person being confirmed is anointed with chrism oil by a bishop, accompanied by the words “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit”. This seal is a consecration, representing the safeguarding by the Holy Spirit of the graces conferred on the Christian at Baptism.
“ 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…The imposition of hands is rightly recognized by the Catholic tradition as the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation, which in a certain way perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church ” ( CCC §1288).
The sacrament of Confirmation is ordinarily conferred by the bishop. Typically, teenagers who have reached their 16 th birthday, after having attended Confirmation class and gone through a period of discernment receive the sacrament. Adults who are entering into full communion with the Catholic Church (through RCIA), or children who have reached the age of reason (through RCIC), receive the three sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) at the Easter Vigil.
Choosing a Confirmation Sponsor:
Just as with baptism, the candidate for Confirmation is to seek the spiritual help of a sponsor. It is appropriate for one of the godparents from baptism to act as a sponsor because it reinforces the unity between Baptism and Confirmation ( CCC §1311). When choosing a sponsor the following requirements must be met. they must be at least 16 years old
- they must be a practicing Catholic in good standing who has received the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist)
- may not be the mother or father of the individual being confirmed
Please contact the parish office at 317-632-9349 for more information regarding preparation for First Communion.