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G. Who May Be Confirmed?

1. Person must be:

A. Baptized B. In a state of grace,

or forgiven of any grave sins through Baptism or Reconciliation.

C. intending to receive the sacrament

D. willing to take on the role of a disciple of Christ

II. The Ritual of II. The Ritual of Confirmation: Symbolic Confirmation: Symbolic

Actions and WordsActions and Words A. The Laying of Hands: A Powerful ConnectorA. The Laying of Hands: A Powerful Connector ]] -“Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit”-“Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit”

– 1.Blessing, Creating, Comforting, Supporting1.Blessing, Creating, Comforting, Supporting A. We work with our hands, create things, and “give each other a hand”A. We work with our hands, create things, and “give each other a hand” B. the greet, comfort, and consoleB. the greet, comfort, and console C. heal by touchC. heal by touch D. support and lift peopleD. support and lift people E. help guide peopleE. help guide people F. used to make connections with peopleF. used to make connections with people

– 2.Spirit Touching Spirit2.Spirit Touching Spirit A. During confirmation, bishop anoints, with chrism on the forehead-place of wisdomA. During confirmation, bishop anoints, with chrism on the forehead-place of wisdom B. Feeling of hands on head gives a person the feeling of being strengthened by another’s touchB. Feeling of hands on head gives a person the feeling of being strengthened by another’s touch E. a bond is made the spirit of one touches the spirit of the otherE. a bond is made the spirit of one touches the spirit of the other

““BE SEALED WITH THE BE SEALED WITH THE GIFTGIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT” OF THE HOLY SPIRIT”

Continue…Continue… B. Anointing with Chrism: A Commissioning to B. Anointing with Chrism: A Commissioning to

ServiceService– 1.A Consecration1.A Consecration

A. consecrated the person to share more A. consecrated the person to share more completely in the mission of Jesus and the churchcompletely in the mission of Jesus and the church

B. bishop usually those the consecration to link the B. bishop usually those the consecration to link the person symbolically to the universal churchperson symbolically to the universal church

– 2.A Sign of the Cross2.A Sign of the Cross A. The bishop does the sign of the cross on the A. The bishop does the sign of the cross on the

candidate’s forehead with chrism and says “Be candidate’s forehead with chrism and says “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.”sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.”

III. Confirmation's III. Confirmation's HistoryHistory • A. A Separate RitualA. A Separate Ritual– 1. Western Church1. Western Church

•A. Anointing with chrism by the bishop after the water ritual of Baptism eventually had to A. Anointing with chrism by the bishop after the water ritual of Baptism eventually had to take place long after the water ritual.take place long after the water ritual.

•B. Priests began to Baptize because there were too many people for the bishop to Baptize. B. Priests began to Baptize because there were too many people for the bishop to Baptize. •C. Confirmation took its own ritual status by the third centuryC. Confirmation took its own ritual status by the third century•D. The separate anointing became a “regular” practice by the fifth century especially with D. The separate anointing became a “regular” practice by the fifth century especially with

the popularity of infant Baptism.the popularity of infant Baptism.2. 2. The Eastern and Orthodox ChurchesThe Eastern and Orthodox Churches•A. Confirmation was never really separated from BaptismA. Confirmation was never really separated from Baptism•B. Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist were given to infants in one ceremony presided by B. Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist were given to infants in one ceremony presided by

a priest.a priest.

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B. “Soldiers of Christ”B. “Soldiers of Christ”1.In the fifth century a certain abbot preached that Confirmation was 1.In the fifth century a certain abbot preached that Confirmation was

related to preparing people for spiritual combatrelated to preparing people for spiritual combata. “A soldier of Christ” and a “witness for Christ”a. “A soldier of Christ” and a “witness for Christ”

2. Bishop traditionally gave the sign of peace2. Bishop traditionally gave the sign of peace3. Later it changed for a touch3. Later it changed for a touch4. In the Middle Ages the Bishop gave a slap4. In the Middle Ages the Bishop gave a slap

a. symbolizes the hardship we must endure for Christa. symbolizes the hardship we must endure for Christ 5. A few decades ago it was return back to the sign of the cross5. A few decades ago it was return back to the sign of the cross

C. Coming of Age Versus Lifelong Growth in the SpiritC. Coming of Age Versus Lifelong Growth in the Spirit1. Confirmation does not represent an arrival point or graduation 1. Confirmation does not represent an arrival point or graduation

from childhood to adulthood.from childhood to adulthood.2. Celebrates and deepens the ongoing initiation into a new life with 2. Celebrates and deepens the ongoing initiation into a new life with

Jesus, which was started at BaptismJesus, which was started at Baptism

Continue…Continue…D. A Current DebateD. A Current Debate

1. Order of the sacraments of 1. Order of the sacraments of initiationinitiation

• ””original sequence”- Baptism, original sequence”- Baptism, Confirmation, EucharistConfirmation, Eucharist

• Some believe that Confirmation Some believe that Confirmation should be received last so that should be received last so that the person would truly be the person would truly be conscious of the Holy Spirit at conscious of the Holy Spirit at work in him or herwork in him or her

2. What age is the most appropriate 2. What age is the most appropriate to receive Confirmationto receive Confirmation

• Should be conferred at the age Should be conferred at the age of discretion- 7-18?of discretion- 7-18?

• Within the church there is still an Within the church there is still an ongoing debate on the order of ongoing debate on the order of the sacrament and the age one the sacrament and the age one should receive themshould receive them

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IV. Toward Full InitiationIV. Toward Full Initiation 1.Baptism and Confirmation 1.Baptism and Confirmation

celebrate a reality that is not celebrate a reality that is not limit to a certain age or time.limit to a certain age or time.

• A. The ongoing birth of A. The ongoing birth of Christian into new lifeChristian into new life

2. Eucharist 2. Eucharist • A. When first received it is a A. When first received it is a

great personal event and it great personal event and it plunges the Christian more plunges the Christian more deeply into the Pascal mystery.deeply into the Pascal mystery.

• B. later becomes a frequent B. later becomes a frequent event for the Christianevent for the Christian

• -a source of strength -a source of strength and nourishment that can and nourishment that can sustain him or her for a lifetimesustain him or her for a lifetime

SourcesSources……

• Celebrating Sacraments: Saint Marys PressCelebrating Sacraments: Saint Marys Press

• http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&sa=1&q=confirhttp://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&sa=1&q=confirmation+initiation&aq=f&oqmation+initiation&aq=f&oq==

• http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?backConfirmat.htmhttp://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?backConfirmat.htm&size&size=16.1kB&name=Confirmation0001=16.1kB&name=Confirmation0001

• http://images.google.com/images?http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&sa=1&q=confirmation+symbols&aq=0&oq=confirgbv=2&hl=en&sa=1&q=confirmation+symbols&aq=0&oq=confirmation+mation+