What is Confirmation and what do you receive in it?

Answer 1

Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments, the third Sacrament of Initiation in the Roman Catholic Church. (Baptism is the first Sacrament of Initiation and Eucharist is the second.) A sacrament is a sign of God's love and presence in our lives. Sacraments give sanctifying grace - the free gift of God's love - pepe God's life. Confirmation establishes the beginning, NOT the end or "graduation," of a life of full participation and responsibility in the Church. Confirmation is the sacrament in which the candidate receives the fullness of the Holy Spirit that was given to us at Baptism. This is the same Spirit that filled the Apostles with the zeal and courage needed by all who are to be public witnesses to Christ. Confirmation celebrates God's presence in our lives as the Holy Spirit continues to guide, strengthen, and empower us to live and witness the Good News of Jesus Christ. Christians, on the day of their Confirmation, become public witnesses to Christ and his saving works. Confirmation is not our first encounter with the Holy Spirit. The first encounter takes place at Baptism. The Trinity comes to dwell in the newly baptized as they are born again in water and the Spirit. Baptism brings people into a personal union with God. Thus introduced to the ways of God and the Spirit, the sacrament of Confirmation continues the process by having the Holy Spirit strengthened within us. Confirmation completes and perfects Baptism. When you go to Confirmation, you kneel before the bishop. Your sponsor stands behind you with his right hand on your right shoulder. This holy oil is called holy chrism. It is olive oil with which balsam is mixed. The bishop makes the sign of the cross on your forehead with holy chrism. Then you remain kneeling where you are until the priest wipes away the holy chrism. This little blow on the cheek is to remind you that you must be ready to suffer for your Faith. After all have been anointed the bishop stands at the altar and extends his hands over you and prays that the Holy Spirit may enter into your soul. Then all kneel and say the Apostles' Creed. This is a profession of faith made at Confirmation.

Answer 2

Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: * it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation; * it unites us more firmly to Christ; * it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us; * it renders our bond with the Church more perfect; * it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.

Answer 3

The Gifts Of the Holy Spirit.