Group 2 School Year: 2011-2012: Pasig Catholic College
Group 2 School Year: 2011-2012: Pasig Catholic College
Group 2 School Year: 2011-2012: Pasig Catholic College
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A sacrament in which the Holy Ghost is given to those already baptized in order to make them strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ.
History of Confirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation is a striking instance of the development of doctrine and ritual in the Church. We can, indeed, detect much more than the mere germs of it in Holy Scripture; but we must not expect to find there an exact description of the ceremony as at present performed, or a complete solution of the various theological questions which have since arisen.
It is only from the Fathers and the Schoolmen that we can gather information on these heads.
A. Definition of Confirmation
B. Matter and Form of the Sacrament C. Recipients of the Confirmation D. Ministers of the Confirmation E. Effects of the Confirmation
As
a sacrament it communicates and reveals communion with God and his grace.
Confirmation
confers a sacramental character that cannot be erased and that predisposes the Christian person to receive the very life of God, and his divine protection.
Confirmation
baptismal grace.
completes
the
The
Confirmed person is compelled to witness the Christian faith with conviction by word and deeds. other words, the action and presence of the Holy Spirit manifested in our lives character, words and actions.
In
To help us continue the mission of our Lord. To strengthen our baptismal faith
Eastern
Catholics use the word Chrismation instead of confirmation to highlight this important aspect. The word Chrismation like the word Christian comes from Christ (the anointed one).
Some, e.g. Aureolus and Petavius, held that it consists in the imposition of hands. Others, with St. Thomas, Bellarmine, and Maldonatus, maintain that it is the anointing with chrism. According to a third opinion (Morinus, Tapper) either anointing or imposition of hands suffices.
Finally, the most generally accepted view is that the anointing and the imposition of hands conjointly are the matter.
Confirmation can be conferred only on those who have already been baptized and have not yet been confirmed. As St. Thomas says: Confirmation is to baptism what growth is to generation. Now it is clear that a man cannot advance to a perfect age unless he has first been born; in like manner, unless he has first been baptized he cannot receive the Sacrament of Confirmation (Summa Theologi 3.)72.6).
They should also be in the state of grace; for the Holy Ghost is not given for the purpose of taking away sin but of conferring additional grace. This condition, however, refers only to lawful reception; the sacrament is validly received even by those in mortal sin.
Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should receive the sacrament of Confirmation.
The Latin tradition gives "the age of discretion" as the reference point for receiving Confirmation. But in danger of death children should be confirmed even if they have not yet attained the age of discretion When infant baptism became customary, confirmation was not administered until the child had attained the use of reason.
This is the present practice, though there is considerable latitude as to the precise age.
The Catechism of the Council of Trent says that the sacrament can be administered to all persons after baptism, but that this is not expedient before the use of reason; and adds that it is most fitting that the sacrament be deferred until the child is seven years old, "for Confirmation has not been instituted as necessary for salvation, but that by virtue thereof we might be found well armed and prepared when called upon to fight for the faith of Christ, and for this kind of conflict no one will consider children, who are still without the use of reason, to be qualified." (Pt. II, ch. iii, 18.)
The bishop alone is the ordinary minister of confirmation. This is expressly declared by the Council of Trent (Sess. VII, De Conf., C. iii). A bishop confirms validly even those who are not his own subjects; but to confirm licitly in another diocese he must secure the permission of the bishop of that diocese. Simple priests may be the extraordinary ministers of the sacrament under certain conditions.
In such cases, however, the priest cannot wear pontifical vestments, and he is obliged to use chrism blessed by a Catholic bishop. In the Greek Church, confirmation is given by simple priests without special delegation, and their ministration is accepted by the Western Church as valid. They must, however, use chrism blessed by a patriarch.
: mental strength : Positive outlook on life : Power to conquer temptation : Direction and meaning in life : the strength to overcome anxiety and fear. : The power to do Gods will : The power to do and follow what is right and true.
an increase of sanctifying grace which makes the recipient a "perfect Christian"; a special sacramental grace consisting in the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost and notably in the strength and courage to confess boldly the name of Christ; an indelible character by reason of which the sacrament cannot be received again by the same person.
A further consequence is the spiritual relationship which the person confirming and the sponsor contract with the recipient and with the recipient's parents. This relationship constitutes a diriment impediment to marriage. It does not arise between the minister of the sacrament and the sponsor nor between the sponsors themselves.
In the Western Church the sacrament is usually administered by the bishop. At the beginning of the ceremony there is a general imposition of hands, the bishop meantime praying that the Holy Ghost may come down upon those who have already been regenerated: "send forth upon them thy sevenfold Spirit the Holy Paraclete."