Catechism
#1285‑1321
CCPPoole,Jr. January 8, 2000, revised July 13,
2005
Outline
1. Acts of
the Apostles
2. Time of
Reception
3.
Sacramental Effects
4. Relation
to Baptism
5. Rite of
Confirmation
6. Chrism
1. Acts Of the Apostles:
"Peter
and Paul prayed....for the Samaritans to receive
the Holy Spirit "
"They
had only been baptized"
"Paul
laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came
down on them"
See
scripture passages: Acts
8:14 -16; 9: 6.
2. Time
of Reception
In the
Western Church confirmation is generally
received during early adolescence,
It is
called the sacrament which leads to Christian maturity
In the
Eastern Church it is received immediately after
the baptism of infants
For adults
the three Sacraments of Initiation
(Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist)
are received at the same ceremony
with first confession made beforehand
Attendance
at the program or process called the
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
Is now mandatory for adults joining the church
unless special circumstances warrant an
exception
3.
Sacramental Effects
Confirmation
is a sacrament of initiation
It confers
a deepening of God's friendship
It provides
sacramental graces that
illuminate the mind and strengthen the
will
It puts a
permanent character on the soul
4.
Relation
to Baptism
Baptism is
a sacrament of spiritual regeneration
Confirmation
is a sacrament of spiritual strengthening
Confirmation
perfects and completes the initiation of baptism
Before
Vatican II the confirmed were called Soldiers of Christ
They are
now called confirmati (singular confirmatus,
confirmata)
Baptism
makes us children of God, and confirmation
gives us the grace to be loyal disciples
of Christ
5. Rite of confirmation
Laying on
of hands with the invocation
"All powerful God _ _ _ _ _ _ _ send your Holy Spirit
on them to be their helper and guide,
give him the spirit of
wisdom and understanding, the spirit of
right judgment and
courage, the spirit of knowledge and
reverence. Fill them
with the spirit of wonder and awe in
your presence.
We ask this through Christ our Lord"
Then comes
the anointing with chrism, saying
"Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit
".
The seven
gifts of the Holy Spirit were enumerated above
6. Chrism
Chrism is
oil of olives (or some other plant) mixed with
balsam or perfume, and consecrated by the
bishop
on Holy Thursday at the Chrism
Mass.
Chrism is
used for anointing at confirmation and ordination,
and also for the dedication of churches
and altars.
Ccppoole,jr january 8,
2000, revised july 13, 2005
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