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Sacrament
of Confirmation |
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| Confirmation is the Sacrament in which the Holy Spirit is given in a special way to those already baptized in order make them strong in faith and to enable them to profess it courageously in deed and in word.
We can say that Confirmation is the Sacrament of "Christian maturity." Those who received the Sacrament, by the power of the Holy Spirit which lives in them, are grown in faith and are ready for adult Christian life. |
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| During Confirmation we receive gifts of the Holy Spirit. Traditionally, we differentiate two kinds of gifts: the first kind is intended for our own sanctification, the second kind, called also "charisms," is meant for helping other people and building of a community, and sometimes has an extraordinary character. |
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| There are
seven gifts of the Holy Spirit which assist us in our own sanctification: |
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| 1 |
| Wisdom |
| - this gift helps us to understand temporary character of this world, and to love and long for heaven. |
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| 2 |
| Understanding |
| - this gift helps us to grasp the truths of religion. |
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| 3 |
| Counsel |
| - this gift enables us to choose correctly things which will add to the glory of God and aim in our salvation. |
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| Fortitude |
| - by this gift we receive courage to overcome the obstacles and difficulties that arise in the practice of our religious duties. |
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| 5 |
| Knowledge |
| - this gift in a practical way tells us what to do and what to avoid in our journey of faith. |
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| 6 |
| Piety |
| - this gift strengthen our confidence in God and fills us with joy which comes from the service to God. |
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| 7 |
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| Gifts of the Holy Spirit which are meant for building up of a Christian community and in general, helping other people, include works of charity, administration of temporal affairs, helping and serving our brothers and sisters by word, deed, and prayer. It is important to remember that each one of us received some of these gifts; we have to recognize them and use them. |
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| The bishop is usually the minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation. The rite consists of imposition of hands by the bishop, prayer and anointing with the holy oil called chrism. |
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| Imposition of hands signifies the enrollment in the service of Christ. The anointing with chrism signifies fullness of grace and spiritual strength which one receives, which enables him or her to win over sin. |
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| Baptism
| Reconciliation | Eucharist |
Confirmation | Marriage |
Ordination |
Anointing |
| Mission
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| ©2002 Society of
the Divine Word, USA Western Province - All Rights Reserved |
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