Confirmation: The Sacrament That Seals You with the Holy Spirit

Confirmation is the second of the three sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist — by which a person is fully brought into the Catholic Church. Its purpose is to complete the grace of baptism. At baptism a person receives the Holy Spirit and is made a child of God; at Confirmation that same Spirit is given in a fuller way, sealing and strengthening what baptism began.

The Church roots Confirmation in Pentecost, when the apostles received the Holy Spirit and were transformed from frightened followers into bold witnesses. In the same way, Confirmation is meant to bring the baptized to a more mature and committed faith — not a graduation from the Church, but an empowering for mission within it. It gives the Christian a deeper share in the very Spirit who animated Christ and the apostles, so that he or she can live the faith with conviction and defend it when necessary (CCC 1285).

The heart of the sacrament is simple and ancient. After a renewal of baptismal promises, the minister extends his hands over those to be confirmed and prays that they receive the Holy Spirit. Then comes the essential act: the minister anoints the forehead of each person with sacred chrism — a perfumed oil consecrated by the bishop — while laying a hand on them and saying, "Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit." The person responds, "Amen," and the minister adds, "Peace be with you."

The anointing with chrism carries rich meaning: in Scripture oil signifies strength, healing, and consecration, and the word "Christ" itself means "anointed one," so to be anointed is to be configured more closely to him. The bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation, and this is deliberate: his role links the newly confirmed to the apostolic origins of the Church and to the whole community of believers, not just their local parish (CCC 1300).

The Church teaches that Confirmation brings a real increase and deepening of the Holy Spirit's presence. It roots the person more deeply as a child of God, unites them more firmly to Christ, increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit, strengthens their bond with the Church, and gives a special strength to spread and defend the faith by word and action — to be, in the old phrase, a witness and a "soldier" of Christ.

Like Baptism and Holy Orders, Confirmation imprints an indelible spiritual character on the soul, a permanent mark that configures the Christian to Christ. Because of this permanent seal, Confirmation, like Baptism, can be received only once and is never repeated. This character is why the sacrament is understood not as a temporary boost of feeling but as a lasting change in the person's relationship to God and to the Church's mission (CCC 1303–1305).

Any baptized person who has not yet been confirmed can and should receive Confirmation, since it completes their initiation. In the Latin Catholic Church the sacrament is often given around the age of reason or in the teenage years, so that it can be received as a personal, considered commitment — though the exact age varies by country and diocese. In the Eastern Catholic Churches, and in the case of adults received into the Church, Confirmation is normally given together with Baptism and First Communion in a single celebration.

Those being confirmed are ordinarily expected to be in a state of grace, to have prepared through catechesis, and to have a sponsor — often one of their baptismal godparents — who supports them in living the faith. Candidates frequently take the name of a saint, choosing a model and patron for their Christian life. Adults are always welcome to be confirmed, and no one is too old to receive this completion of their baptism (CCC 1306–1311).