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Confirmation

The word "confirmation" is derived from confirmare, which means "to strengthen." The Rite of Confirmation, laying of apostolic hands on baptized believers, strengthens persons through the action of the Holy Spirit at the time they assume personal responsibility for their baptismal vows. In the early days of the Church, when most of the new members were adults, this "Laying on of Hands" was a part of the service of Holy Baptism and was immediately followed by First Communion. This same procedure is used today when adults are baptized at a service presided over by a bishop. In addition to laying hands on the newly baptized, the Bishop may anoint them with oil (chrism).

As infants were brought into the fellowship through Baptism, the Western Church lengthened the period between Baptism and the Laying on of Hands. It recognized that one's growth from a child, primarily nourished by the Christian family, into a mature adult member of the Body of Christ is a process extending through a number of years. In Confirmation persons do not "join the Church." They joined -- or, better, "were joined to" -- the Church in Baptism. But now they renew their promise to obey Jesus as their Lord and accept for themselves responsibility for Christian belief and life previously accepted by others on their behalf. Then through the sacramental action of the laying on of the bishop's hands, their status as mature and responsible members of the Christian community is to signified and the special gifts of the Holy Spirit for adult Christian life and ministry become theirs.

Candidates for confirmation must have been baptized, must be penitent for their sins, must be ready to affirm their confession of Jesus as Savior and Lord, and must have received such instruction as will guide them in being intelligent, loyal, and regular members of the Christian community and effective ambassadors or Christ in daily life.

In addition to the Rite of Confirmation for those baptized as children, the Church provides special forms for the bishop to use when admitting to the Church persons who were baptized in another denominations and for blessing persons who desire to re-affirm their baptismal vows.

The Sacrament of Holy Confirmation, which completes and "seals" our Baptism, is administered by a bishop. By the imposition of the bishop's hand on our head, we come into sacramental unity with the Successors in Office to the Holy Apostles commissioned by Christ himself to govern His Church.

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