The Sacrament of Confirmation

Confirmation is the last of the three sacraments of initiation and thus the sacrament which completes Christian initiation for Catholics, sometimes known as the ‘sacrament of Christian maturity’. In the same way the Apostles received an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, we are anointed and strengthened by the Holy Spirit through Confirmation. 

And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:3-4)

Both baptism and confirmation are sacraments closely related to each other. Confirmation is the ratification of our baptismal grace and strengthening of the Holy Spirit, however only individuals who have already received baptism can be confirmed. Similarly, although baptism is the beginning of Christian initiation, through confirmation, Christian initiation is completed. As the CCC states:

Since Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist form a unity… without Confirmation and Eucharist, Baptism is certainly valid and efficacious, but Christian initiation remains incomplete. (CCC #1306)

With the anointing of oil, confirmands receive an ‘indelible mark’ on their soul, or are marked with the ‘seal’ of the Holy Spirit. This signifies our greater belonging to Christ, our promise to partake in His mission, and His promise of the Holy Spirit forever with us. It is a deepening of God’s own baptismal promises to us. 

Similarly, as the Apostles were sent out to spread the Good News after Pentecost, confirmation calls us to be stronger bearers of our faith to others. The CCC elaborates on this: 

For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptised] 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.” (CCC #1285)

Thus as Catholics reach Christian maturity, confirmation is the sacrament that completes their initiation and sets them out to be His disciples to the world. As we are confirmed, the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to us at our baptism (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord) are strengthened. The strengthening of these gifts will push us to be the faces of Christ to the world. To follow in His footsteps and live as He did.

I will put my spirit within you so that you walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them. (Ez 36:27)

The CCC also clearly states the effects of confirmation as we strengthen our baptismal grace:

From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:

it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, “Abba! Father!”;it unites us more firmly to Christ;it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross (CCC #1303)

In conclusion, Confirmation is the final sacrament of Christian initiation, paralleling the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. It is the completion and strengthening of our baptismal grace and further empowers us to be disciples of Christ and spread His Word to the world.