Confirmation is a Sacrament in the Catholic Church in which the one who is confirmed (confirmandi) receives the gifts of the Holy Spirit through the imposition of hand and anointing with oils by the bishop.
We are born spiritually in the sacrament of Baptism. We become sharers in the divine life of the most Blessed Trinity.
As we practice the virtues of faith and hope and love and as we unite with Christ in His Church in offering worship to God, we also grow in grace and goodness. But at this stage our spiritual life, like the life of a child, is largely self-centered. We tend to be preoccupied with the needs of our own soul, with the effort to “be good.” We cannot be wholly self-centered, of course—not if we understand what it means to be a member of Christ’s Mystical Body, and not if we understand the significance of the Mass.
Baptism, the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation”, whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For, by the sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized are more perfectly bound with a special bond of the Holy Spirit. Hence, they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and to defend the faith by word and example.
Minister of Confirmation
The ordinary minister of Confirmation is the Bishop. A Priest can also confer this Sacrament if he has the faculty to do so, either by the general law of the Church or by way of a special grant from the competent authority. A record of all Confirmations should be sent to the Chancery for insertion in the Bishop’s Confirmation book. Information should include: the names of those confirmed; the age of the person; names of the father and mother and sponsor; place and date of baptism; Church where the sacrament was administered; and the name of the bishop or priest who confirmed. Entries should be made in the Parish Confirmation and Baptismal Registers. If the person was baptized in another parish, notice should be sent to that parish. Such notification forms can be obtained from the Chancery. In the Diocese of Roseau the age for Confirmation is at least fourteen (14) years.
Preparation
Secure the candidate’s Baptismal Certificate to ensure that he/ she has been baptized. There is a two-year Confirmation Programme in which those at least twelve (12) years of age are enrolled for the necessary formation leading to Christian maturity and responsibility in the Church Community and the society. Failure to comply with the requirements of the programme (e.g. occasional retreats, outreach activities and regular Sunday liturgy and ministry) would indicate the candidate’s lack of readiness to become an “adult member.” In such a case, a postponement would be in the best interest of the candidate and of the Church Community that is in need of good committed Christian witnesses. Candidates will retain their baptismal name to show that Confirmation completes the process begun in Baptism.
Sponsors
Sponsors must be confirmed, be practicing Catholics in terms of life-style and church attendance, and must be regular communicants (must have fulfilled their Easter duty). Given this basic eligibility, selection of Sponsors is preferred as follows:
N.B.: Parents and sponsors – like the candidates – are to be actively involved in the phases of confirmation preparation. From the very beginning of the programme the sponsor for each candidate should be chosen with the intention of journeying with his/her candidate all through that period of preparation. There should be no last minute selection of sponsor.
Confirmation is the sacrament of initiation in which a baptized person receives special gifts of the Holy Spirit and is strengthened in grace. It is administered typically by a bishop, by anointing of the candidate with chrism (consecrated oil) and making the Sign of the Cross on the forehead saying, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit." Confirmation bestows a permanent character on the soul and cannot be received again.
"For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed." - Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1285
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