“When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.” (Acts 2:1-4)

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In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, we gain an understanding of confirmation. During Pentecost, the disciples of Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus before He ascended back into Heaven. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the disciples became witnesses of Christ, and received the courage and faith to go and proclaim the Good News to the streets. Through their actions day after day, people believed in the Word of God and were baptised.

 

Almost all Christian denominations practice confirmation in one way or another when people first dedicate their lives to Christ. Many times baptism and confirmation happen at the same time, especially when adults are brought into the Catholic faith from a different or no religion. Confirmation involves repenting, and renewing baptismal promises in many Christian churches. Individuals in the Catholic Church receiving confirmation, have hands laid on them and are anointed with oil. Confirmation is the strengthening of faith, just like the disciples received to go out and proclaim the Gospel. Christ’s work has become our work, and we are being sent on a mission by the Holy Spirit to seek the truth more fully and put our faith into good works. (see 2 Timothy 1:6)

 

Confirmation is the second sacrament of the Catholic Church, and is one of the three initiation sacraments. Participants receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit during confirmation. As mentioned, in baptism in the Catholic Church, and some other churches, it is our parents who speak on our behalf. In confirmation, we speak for ourselves, confessing our belief in the Lord and Saviour publicly to the Church and to God.

 

Through the sacrament of confirmation, members who are receiving  the Holy Spirit, receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. These seven gifts are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and the fear of the Lord. All these gifts comes from God, himself. And of course Christians must be saying yes to God to receive these gifts. 

 

What a big part of confirmation gives us other than the gifts of the Holy Spirit, is an opportunity to seek and to understand what we truly believe as Christians. Confessing beliefs rather than just pondering them is quite different. God knows what’s in our hearts and minds, and He knows when we speak the truth. Furthermore, one beautiful thing about confirmation is hearing individuals proclaiming “I do” to the congregation and to God. (see Acts 19:2-6)

 

“The bishop will then lay his hands upon them, invoking, “Lord God, you who have made these worthy of the removal of sins through the bath of regeneration, make them worthy to be filled with your Holy Spirit, grant to them your grace, that they might serve you according to your will, for to you is the glory, Father and Son with the Holy Spirit, in the holy Church, now and throughout the ages of the ages. Amen” After this he pours the oil into his hand, and laying his hand on each of their heads, says, “I anoint you with the Holy Spirit.” then, after sealing each of them on the forehead, he shall give them the kiss of peace and say, “The Lord be with you.” And the one who has been baptized shall say, “And with your spirit.” So shall he do to each one” St Hippolytus of Rome [Apostolic Tradition 21-22 9c. A.D 215)]