Understanding the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation

7 gifts of the Holy Spirit

Wisdom - Helps us value God's presence and keep Him central in our lives. Understanding - Enables us to grasp the meaning of God's message. Knowledge - Lets us know God more deeply and recognize His greatness and love. Counsel - Helps us make moral decisions aligned with God's plan. Fortitude - Courage to do what is right, even in difficulty. Piety - Inspires true devotion and prayer to God. Fear of the Lord - Awe before God; desire not to lose His friendship.

Oil in the ancient world

Strength, beauty, healing, limbering for battle, and consecration.

Birthday of the Church

Pentecost.

Matter and form of Confirmation

Matter: Anointing with Sacred Chrism and laying on of hands. Form: "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Requirements for valid Confirmation

The person must be baptized; matter and form must be used properly.

Requirements for licit reception of Confirmation in the Western Church

Age of reason (around 7+), proper instruction, and intention to receive the sacrament.

Encouragement for fruitful reception of Confirmation

Confession, prayer, understanding the faith, choosing a spiritual sponsor, and preparation.

Ordinary minister of Confirmation in the Western Church

Bishop. A priest may be delegated.

Ordinary minister of Confirmation in the Eastern Church

The priest who also baptizes.

Who can administer Confirmation in an emergency

Any priest.

Can Confirmation be repeated? Why or why not?

No—it leaves an indelible mark or seal of the Holy Spirit.

Effects of Confirmation

Perfection of baptismal grace, Increase of gifts of the Holy Spirit, Indelible spiritual mark, Strength to witness Christ, More deeply united with Christ and Church, Discernment of God's call and stewardship.

Liturgical context of Confirmation

Normally celebrated within Mass, after the Liturgy of the Word and before the Eucharist.

Obligation to receive Confirmation

Yes.

Order of the sacraments of initiation in the Eastern Church

Baptism → Confirmation → Eucharist (usually all at once, even in infancy).

Typical order in the Western Church

Baptism → Eucharist → Confirmation (usually in adolescence).

Common U.S. order since 1911

Baptism (infancy), Eucharist (age 7), Confirmation (teens).

Purpose of Confirmation

Strengthens the grace of Baptism, deepens union with Christ, and empowers us to spread and defend the faith.

Role of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation

It is a special outpouring like Pentecost—strengthening us with gifts, uniting us with the Church, and empowering us for mission.

Personal Pentecost

Just as the Church was empowered at Pentecost, Confirmation empowers the individual with the Spirit to live and proclaim the Gospel.

Sacred Chrism

A perfumed oil consecrated by the bishop; used to anoint during Confirmation, signifying union with the Church.

Connection of Confirmation to Baptism

It confirms and completes the grace of Baptism and is part of full Christian initiation.

Seal of the Holy Spirit

A permanent spiritual mark of belonging to Christ, received in Confirmation.

Three oils used in Latin sacraments

Oil of the infirm (healing), Oil of catechumens (strength against evil), Sacred Chrism (consecration).

Baptism as the basis of Christian life

It cleanses us of original sin and is the visible sign of our death with Christ; it's the gateway to life in the Spirit and all other sacraments.

What Baptism does

Cleanses original (and personal) sin, gives sanctifying grace, initiates us into the Church, and transforms us into children of God.

Baptism's connection with identity

It makes us beloved children of God, a new creation, and shares in the priesthood of Christ—our spiritual "birthday."

Symbols used in Baptism

Water: life, cleansing, destruction; Oil of catechumens: strength to resist evil; Sacred chrism: anointing priest/prophet/king; Baptismal candle: Christ enlightens; Baptismal garment: new creation; Salt (extraordinary form): protection/preservation.

Form and matter of Baptism

Form: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit"; Matter: Water, must touch the body (immersion or pouring valid).

Who can administer Baptism

Ordinary minister: bishop, priest, or deacon; extraordinary: anyone in emergency who intends what the Church intends and uses proper form/matter.

Great Commission

Jesus' command to the apostles to baptize all nations in the name of the Trinity (Matthew 28).

Why Jesus was baptized

To show solidarity with humanity, renew creation, and act out a new Exodus and Israel's restoration.

Difference between John's baptism and Jesus' baptism

John's was for repentance; Jesus elevated baptism to a sacrament that confers grace.

Baptism of Desire

Salvation for those intending to be baptized and repenting of sin, but who die before receiving the sacrament.

Baptism of Blood

Salvation given to unbaptized martyrs who die for Christ.

Original sin

The state inherited from the first humans—loss of original holiness and justice, not personal guilt, but contracted. Baptism cleanses it.

Five meanings of original sin

First human sin

Inherited guilt

Concupiscence

Ancestral sin (fallen world)

Lack of grace/righteousness

Concupiscence

Disordered desires due to original sin—not that things are bad, but we want them wrongly.

Personal sin

Sin that we choose to commit—unlike inherited original sin.

Original holiness and original justice

Original holiness: friendship with God.

Original justice: no suffering or death before the Fall.

Effects of original sin after Baptism

We're cleansed of guilt and given grace, but consequences like concupiscence remain.

Infant Baptism

God acts first—faith in His initiative

God's love is unconditional

Babies are born with fallen nature.

What Baptism initiates us into

A lifelong process of conversion and growth in grace.

Sanctifying grace

God's divine life in us; restores relationship with Him and enables us to live like Christ.

Justification in Baptism

Being made right with God—Baptism starts our spiritual transformation and makes us a new creation.

Neophyte

A newly baptized person who becomes an adopted child of God and temple of the Holy Spirit.

Can Baptism be repeated?

No—it marks us permanently as belonging to Christ and is valid for life.

Effects of Baptism

Cleanses sin

Grants grace

Becomes part of the Church

Shares in Christ's priesthood

Begins supernatural life.

Vincible ignorance

Not knowing something you could have found out with effort.

Invincible ignorance

Not knowing something you couldn't have known due to lack of access or ability.

Role of water as a symbol in Baptism

Symbolizes life, cleansing, destruction, and new creation.

How Baptism shares in the priesthood of Christ

Baptized persons offer their lives to God like priests offer Mass—sharing in Jesus' priesthood.