Through the sacrament of confirmation, God strengthens our souls like the Holy Spirit strengthened the disciples of Jesus on Pentecost. They then went out and preached the gospel fearlessly. Through confirmation, Catholics are strengthened to meet the spiritual challenges in your life.
Confirmation is regarded as the perfection of Baptism, because, as the introduction to the Rite of Confirmation states: by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.
The Form of the Sacrament of Confirmation
Many people think of the laying on of hands, which signifies the descent of the Holy Spirit, as the central act in the Sacrament of Confirmation. The essential element, however, is the anointing of the confirmand (the person being confirmed) with chrism (an aromatic oil that has been consecrated 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.
For queries,
Fr. Thomas Kalariparambil, Pastor
Mrs. Rose Mary, Sacramental Coordinator
