Gonzaga Test Baptism and Confirmation

What is confirmation?

completes Baptism, giving the faithful the Gifts of the Holy Spirit so they will have the courage to boldly proclaim and live the Catholic Faith.

How is the idea of anointed present in the Old Testament, in the Gospels, and in the life of the Christian today?

In the OT, certain individuals were anointed on God's command as priests, prophets, and kings. Anointed, Messiah, and Christ are synonymous. Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament who was anointed by the Holy Spirit and shares the gift of the Holy Sprit with his followers, a messianic people.

when do we first see the Sacrament of Confirmation?

First recorded in the Acts of the Apostles when Sts. Peter and John were to lay hands on followers of Christ in Samaria who had only been baptized and not received the Holy Spirit.

What motivated the apostles to begin carrying out the mission that Christ had given them?

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit as Pentecost.

why is baptism an initiation?

It is the beginning of the Christian journey, the door through which we arrive at the other sacraments.

What are the goals of the Christian journey, and where are they realized?

Holiness and perfection are goals that can only be realized in eternal life.

In the Old Testament, what is the relationship between the words anointed, Christ, and Messiah?

They all mean the same thing

What does it mean in the Old Testament to be called anointed?

Being chosen by God to be a king, priest, or prophet 

What special messiah did the prophets fortell?

A descendant of David would receive the Spirit of the Lord

What are the gifts of the spirit that the Messiah would receive?

Wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord

When do we see this prophecy fulfilled?

We see this at the baptism of Christ, when the Holy Spirit rested upon him in the form of a dove

Who else was to receive this outpouring of the Holy Spirit?

All of God’s people, starting with the Apostles 

As illustrated by Maino in "Pentecost" (p. 54), who was with the Apostles when the Holy Spirit descended upon them?

Mary, the mother of Jesus (hence our lady is mother of the church)

How are the sacraments of baptism and confirmation linked since the very beginning?

St. Peter told the Jews to whom he preached in Jerusalem that they should repent and be baptized and they would “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”

What was the effect of the pastor’s preaching on the day of Pentecost?

Some 3000 people were baptized and confirmed that day

How do we know from the Acts of the Apostles that Baptism and Confirmation are separate Sacraments?

The Apostles learned that missionaries baptized converts in Samaria but the converts had not received the Holy Spirit. Sts. Peter and John laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Why is confirmation called the sacrament of fullness?

It indicates that the Christian has reached the fullness of the graces of Baptism and has received the imprint or seal of the Holy Spirit. This seal is ontological - at the level of being.

Why are baptism confirmation called the double sacrament?

they are closely related 

When is Confirmation administered today?

Eastern Rites = celebrated immediately after Baptism, even with infants

Latin Rite = celebrated after the age of reason, when adults convert in the Latin Rite, they receive Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist

In the Latin Rite, why is Confirmation administered by a bishop?

Emphasizes the newly confirmed’s unity with the bishop and the entire Church.

Laying on of hands 

Origin - Acts of the Apostles

Meaning - The Apostles laid their hands on the Baptized to give them the Holy Spirit

Chrismation

Origin - use of consecrated oil was added in the early Church, it is still called this in the Eastern Church

Meaning - anointing with Sacred Chrism signifies the anointing with the Holy Spirit and corresponds to the name Christian, which means follower of Christ, anointed one.

Confirmation

Origin - coined by St. Ambrose (4th century)

Meaning - strengthening or completion of the faith begun at Baptism

Wisdom (gift)

 Tasting or intimately experiencing the mind and nature of God

Understanding (gift)

Ability to understand divine mysteries, such as the nature of God and divine truths.

Counsel (gift)

Being instructed by the Holy Spirit  as to what actions to take so they are morally right

Fortitude (gift)

Courage to defend and live the demands of our Christian life in a hostile environment

Knowledge (gift)

supernatural understanding that all creation, our good actions, and all the good that has been achieved in history, comes from God and is directed toward him

Piety (gift)

seeing God as our father and our neighbor as brother and sister

Fear of God (gift)

Fear of separating oneself from God out of love for God and dread of justice

What were some of the spectacular manifestations of the Sacrament of Confirmation in the early Church?

People spoke languages they had never learned and were healed, and there were thousands of conversions.

How does the Holy Spirit adapt himself to the needs of various times and individuals?

Holy Spirit gives individuals the gifts they need, which vary from time to time and individual to individual

In the words of St Peter, we partake of the ‘____ ____’ through the Holy
Spirit. As such, we have a place and an office not found before. This ‘_____’ is
eternally new.

Divine Nature; state

What is the relationship between Confirmation and the Cross?

The gifts the Holy Spirit gives us in Confirmation help us to embrace and love the struggles we experience in life.

Is Confirmation necessary for salvation?

It is not but we are obliged to receive it because of the great help it gives us in living as Christ’s followers.

Is it sinful to delay Confirmation?

Yes

What is the matter of Confirmation?

Sacred Chrism (a blessed oil)

What is the form of Confirmation?

“Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit,” as the minister traces the Sign of the Cross on the forehead of the confirmand with chrism.

Who is the ordinary minister of Confirmation in the Latin Rite?

the bishop

Why does the confirmand have a sponsor and take on a new name?

They take the name of a saint to represent their new responsibility. They are aided in living their life by a sponsor.

What are the basic elements of the celebration of Confirmation?

A bishop lays his hands on the recipient and prays that God will send the Holy Spirit upon him or her. This is a sign of being protected by the Lord and the power of grace.

Who is the extraordinary minister of Confirmation in the Latin Rite?

Priests are delegated under certain circumstances. i.e. when adults are admitted into the Church at Easter Vigil and in emergenciesH

How do the Eastern Rites maintain unity with the bishop in administering Confirmation?

The Sacred Chrism that the priest uses was consecrated by his bishop.

Why does it make sense for the sponsor to be one of the godparents?

The Confirmation sponsor fulfills the same role as the Baptismal sponsor.

Why does the Confirmation ceremony in the Latin Rite include the renewal of Baptismal promises and the Profession of Faith?

In Infant Baptism, the Baptismal Promises and Profession of Faith were made in the child’s name. Now the child can renew these promises on their own.

How are Christians kings, priests, and prophets?

We’re called to participate in Christ’s role as king, priest, and prophetW

How do we prepare for Confirmation?

Through a period of study and discernment so as to respond fully to the graces we will receive.

What is apostolate?

To spread the Faith through word and example to live out our Confirmation graces

In what 3 specific roles or offices of Christ are we called to participate in by reason of our anointing in Confirmation?

The kingly, priestly, and prophetics offices of ChristH

How do we carry out our kingly vocation?

using the gifts we’ve been given to cooperate in the Church’s missionH

How do we come to understand our role or vocation in the life of the Church?

Through prayer and discernment

What is the ministerial priesthood?

men who receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders and are ordained to celebrate the Sacraments

What is the primary sacrifice celebrated by the ministerial priesthood?

Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

What sacrifice is offered by every Christian in the exercise of their priestly
mission in the Church?

Each person is called to take every aspect of their life (prayer, work, family life, relationships, hobbies, relaxation, and even struggles, temptations, and sufferings) and unite these to the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.

When is the best time to make these offerings?

1. When they occur

   1. At Mass

How do lay persons carry out a prophetic role in the Church?

Every Christian is called to make Christ known through word and deed

What are the minimum requirements for receiving Confirmation?

Must be baptized, reached age of reason (abt. 7 y.o.) and have the intention to receive the Sacrament.

What is the effect of receiving Confirmation in a state of mortal sin?

The person would receive an indelible mark or seal on the soul but not receive the graces of the Sacrament and would be guilty of a sacrilege. Once the sin is confessed, the Sacrament would be efficacious.

How would one repair the problem of having received Confirmation in a state of mortal sin?

Make a good confession, mentioning improper reception of Confirmation

What is the usual age of Confirmation in the US?

High school years. In Archdiocese of NY, 7th or 8th grace.

Why is it deferred until high school?

Until the confirmand is ready to accept their role as a mature Christian.

What are two great ways to prepare for Confirmation in addition to preparation programs?

1. Confession

2. Personal prayer

How is Baptism prefigured in the Old Testament?

• The Flood

• crossing of the Red Sea

• Crossing of Jordan River into Promised Land

Why is Baptism the foundation of Christian Life?

The individual receives supernatural life, membership in the family of God, access to other Sacraments (especially Confirmation and the Eucharist).

God came to save us and started the plan of salvation through ___. How many people answered this invitation?

Noah; Noah’s family (I think 8 people?) and animals 

Who were the people called by God for a specific purpose

Noah, Moses, Abraham

What is God’s intention always?

To save us

What does it mean to prefigure something 

To show beforehand by a figure or type 

How does the story of Noah and the ark prefigure Baptism?

God used the Flood to purge the earth of moral evil (not physical). Just like this, Baptism washes away Original and personal sin.

Although holy water cleanses us, what remains?

Inclination to sin (concupicense)

How is Noah’s ark a “type” or prefigure of the Church?

Noah and his family were kept safe within the ark, same way how Christians are kept safe within the church.

what is excommunication?

Penalty for leaving the church through certain grave sins

how does the crossing of the Red Sea prefigure Baptism?

Israel escaped slavery and saved by passing through the Red Sea while Pharaoh’s wicked forces were destroyed in the waters. Just like in Baptism, we are freed from slavery of sin and our former lives and habits are destroyed, washed away.

how did the Chosen People’s crossing the Jordan River also prefigure Baptism?

hebrews who wandered the desert for 40 years crossed the Jordan River and entered into the Promised Land. In the waters of Baptism, the individual passes into the Kingdom of God (Promised Land).

what is the origin of the word “baptize”?

The Greek verb baptizein means “to plunge,” “to immerse,” or “to dip.”

what is the connection between baptizein and the Hebrew word “tabal”?

In the Septuagint, baptizein was used to translate the word tabal which was used to describe religious rites in which water or blood was sprinkled to purify or deliver from evil.

what does it mean to say water in ritualistic practice is used to allow the symbolic physical action to transcend into metaphysical reality?

Water is used to PHYSICALLY cleanse our bodies. Christ chose water as a symbol of SPIRITUAL cleansing. By using water to actually purify a person spiritually, the symbolic action has become metaphysical or “beyond” physical.

Jewish Rite of Purification - Problem: God is going to send an angel to kill every firstborn male child

Baptize a branch of hyssop in blood of the Passover Lamb, sprinkle it on doorposts. Angel of death will “pass-over” the home.

Jewish Rite of Purification - Problem: Touching a dead body and becoming ritually unclean. 

Baptize a branch of hyssop in water and sprinkle it over the person, he will become ritually clean again.

Jewish Rite of Purification - Problem: A Jewish priest sins

Baptizes his finger in the blood of a young bull and sprinkles it on the veil of the temple seven times, becoming clean again.

what was the purpose of St. John’s baptism?

It signifies a repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus himself underwent this baptism in order to identify himself with all men.

when did Christ insure the Sacrament of Baptism?

in Galilee, after his Resurrection

what are the main effects of Baptism?

Frees us of personal and Original Sin, incorporates us into the Body of Christ.

What were two daily practices of the Essenes?

Daily washings for purification and wearing of white garments when they shared a communal meal.

what did St. John the Baptist have in common with the Essenes?

Lived an ascetic life in the wilderness, administered a baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

how did St. John the Baptist describe the different between his baptism and the Baptism of Christ?

Said his baptism was with water for repentance while the Baptism instituted by Christ would be with the Holy Spirit and fire.

St. John’s baptism did not itself forgive sins, it was a testimony that the person baptized WANTED to be forgiven. Only person Who can forgive sins is God.

What 4 events do we experience in baptism?

The Paschal Mystery (Passion, Death, Resurrection, Ascension)

How were the Blood and water that flowed from the side of Christ on the Cross, types of the Sacraments of Eucharist and Baptism?

All of the Sacraments gain their powers through Christ”s Death on the Cross.  BChrist's side was pierced, Blood and water flowed.

Blood = literally the Eucharistic Blood that we receive at Mass.

Water = like the water of Baptism & saves us from spiritual death.

What words did Jesus use to institute the Sacrament of Baptism?

"Baptiz[e] them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

what is the form of Baptism?

"Baptiz[e] them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

What is the matter of baptism?

Water

what is justification?

Undeserved free gift from God, person is made right with God. Linked to atonement

what is ex opere operato? How does it apply to baptism?

It means “by the very fact of doing something” or “from the work worked.” Imprints the souls with a permanent mark, designating one as Christ’s follower BY THE VERY FACT of receiving the Sacrament.

Where did ex opere operato develop out of?

Donatist controversy

What is a sacrament?

Efficacious sign of grace instituted by Christ.

Why can Baptism only be received once?

Baptism makes a permanent change in our souls, can’t be removed. Christ instituted Reconciliation/ Confession for sins committed after Baptism.

What is immersion and affusion?

Immersion = submersion

Affusion = pouring 

how are the Latin and Eastern Rites of Baptism similar ?

Both have very beautiful and rich liturgies for celebrating Baptism.

what is sin?

Any chosen action by which a person places their interests before God’s will

What is the difference between mortal and venial sin?

Mortal = breaks friendship with God

Venial = damages friendship with God