14. What Is Confirmation?

"You shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me." - Acts 1:8

Confirmation is the sacrament that strengthens the baptized soul by the gift of the Holy Ghost. Baptism gives supernatural life. Confirmation strengthens that life for confession of the faith, resistance to temptation, and faithful witness to Christ.

The catechism answer is simple: Confirmation is the sacrament by which the Holy Ghost strengthens us to profess the faith firmly and live as soldiers of Jesus Christ.

This does not mean the Christian becomes harsh or proud. It means he is strengthened for fidelity. A confirmed Catholic should not be ashamed of Christ, His Church, His commandments, or His Cross.

The question is not first, "Did I have a ceremony?" It is not first, "Did I choose a name?" It is not first, "Was my family present?" The question is: "Has the baptized soul been strengthened by the Holy Ghost for faithful witness?"

Confirmation is often treated lightly because many do not understand spiritual combat. They imagine Christian life as a private comfort. But Christ calls His servants to confess Him before men, resist the devil, endure trial, and remain faithful when the world contradicts Him.

The soul needs strength for that. Confirmation gives it sacramentally.

The Holy Ghost is the third Person of the Blessed Trinity. He is true God with the Father and the Son. He sanctifies, strengthens, enlightens, and gives life to the Church.

At Pentecost, the Apostles received the Holy Ghost and were strengthened for public witness. Men who had been fearful became bold preachers of Christ. This was not natural confidence. It was grace.

Confirmation gives the baptized a share in this strengthening. It is ordered toward mature Christian fidelity, not toward vague religious feeling.

Baptism makes the soul a child of God. Confirmation strengthens the baptized soul so that it may live that baptismal life more firmly.

This is why Confirmation belongs after Baptism in the order of Christian initiation. The soul is born by water and the Holy Ghost in Baptism. It is strengthened by the Holy Ghost in Confirmation. It is nourished by the Holy Eucharist.

The confirmed Catholic should remember his baptismal promises: to renounce Satan, his works, and his pomps. Confirmation strengthens the soul to live that renunciation with courage.

Traditional catechism language says Confirmation makes us soldiers of Christ. This means the Christian is strengthened for spiritual combat. He must fight sin, temptation, falsehood, cowardice, human respect, impurity, and every pressure that would make him deny Christ.

The soldier of Christ must not fight according to worldly pride. His weapons are faith, prayer, truth, obedience, charity, penance, and perseverance.

This is important for beginners. Christian courage is not rudeness. It is not restlessness. It is not delight in conflict. It is strength under Christ's command.

Confirmation strengthens the soul to profess the faith firmly. To profess the faith means to confess Catholic truth in word and life. It means not being ashamed of Christ before family, friends, work, public opinion, or persecution.

Many sins against witness begin in human respect. A person knows what is true but fears being disliked, mocked, excluded, or misunderstood. Confirmation gives grace against that fear.

The confirmed soul should ask: Do I hide the faith when duty requires witness? Do I soften truth to protect comfort? Do I remain silent when silence would betray Christ?

The Holy Ghost gives gifts that strengthen the soul: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

Wisdom helps the soul judge according to God. Understanding helps it penetrate revealed truth. Counsel helps it choose rightly. Fortitude strengthens it in difficulty. Knowledge helps it see created things in relation to God. Piety gives filial reverence. Fear of the Lord guards the soul from offending God.

These gifts are not prizes for spiritual vanity. They are helps for living faithfully.

Confirmation is conferred by anointing with sacred chrism, with the laying on of the hand, and the sacramental words appointed by the Church. The bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation.

Sacred chrism signifies strengthening, consecration, and the sweet odor of Christ. The sign on the forehead shows that the Christian must not be ashamed to confess Christ openly.

Because Confirmation is a sacrament, validity matters. The Church must guard the matter, form, minister, and intention.

Confirmation imprints a spiritual character on the soul. For this reason, it can be received only once.

This character marks the soul for stronger public witness and fuller participation in the Church's life. A confirmed Catholic should not live as though nothing has been given. He has been strengthened for duty.

The sacramental character also reminds the soul that God's gifts are serious. Grace is not given so that the Christian may remain passive.

A person preparing for Confirmation should know the basic truths of the faith, be in the state of grace, pray to the Holy Ghost, choose a fitting patron saint, and resolve to live as a faithful Catholic.

If conscious of mortal sin, he should go to confession before receiving the sacrament. Holy things must be received with reverence and proper disposition.

Parents and sponsors should not treat Confirmation as a family milestone only. They should help the candidate understand the faith and the duties of Catholic witness.

After Confirmation, the Catholic should live more firmly. He should pray daily, receive the sacraments worthily, learn doctrine, reject falsehood, avoid sin, defend the faith when duty requires, and ask the Holy Ghost for courage.

The confirmed soul should especially resist cowardice and human respect. Many betrayals begin not with hatred of Christ, but with fear of men.

Confirmation gives grace for that battle. The Christian must cooperate with it.

The soul must learn that Confirmation strengthens baptismal grace.

The soul must learn that the Holy Ghost gives power for witness and fidelity.

The soul must learn the gifts of the Holy Ghost.

The soul must learn that Confirmation makes the Christian a soldier of Christ, not a lover of conflict, but a faithful servant under command.

The soul must learn to prepare and live afterward with seriousness.

Confirmation is the sacrament by which the Holy Ghost strengthens us to profess the faith firmly and live as soldiers of Jesus Christ.

A beginner should ask: Have I been confirmed? Do I understand what Confirmation gives? Do I pray to the Holy Ghost? Do I resist human respect? Do I confess Christ when duty requires it?

The Christian life is not lived by natural strength. The Holy Ghost strengthens the soul for fidelity, witness, and perseverance beneath the standard of Christ.