Unit 3: Confirmation

(Acts 19:16) → narrated by Luke

(Acts 19:16) → narrated by Luke

“Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesized”

(2 Corinthians 1:21-22) → words of Paul

“The one who gives us security with you in Christ and who anointed us is God; he has also put his seal upon us and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment”

(Ephesians 1:13) → words of Paul

“In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit”

What deeper meaning does “oil” signify?

-healing
-strengthening

What deeper meaning does “anointing” signify?
-Divine Favor (explain action/process and description)

Action/Process:
- God’s choosing or calling (you have the free will to accept or deny it)
Description:
- God calls people for a specific mission (he initiates the mission for someone(s)

What deeper meaning does “anointing” signify?
-Consecration (explain action/process and description)

Action/Process:
- The act of setting apart for a sacred purpose (anoint)
-The action of taking someone and making them a king, for example
Description:
1. Happens in the context of a ritual
- graduation (looking different + diploma; symbol)
- transition (tassel)
- things you do, symbols, action/words
-mass (vests, oil, words)
2. In the ritual, there’s the anointing of the oil

What deeper meaning does “anointing” signify?
-Empowerment (explain action/process and description)

Action/Process:
- Receiving divine strength or authority
Description:
- Once consecrated, you receive the power of the Holy Spirit

What deeper meaning does “anointing” signify?
-Holiness (explain action/process and description)

Action/Process:
- The act of living in a state of life set apart for God (sisters or priests, etc.)
Description:
1. Doing the will of God (set apart)
2. Living righteously (following commands)
3. Being set apart from sin
- receiving the Spirit of the Lord

What Old Testament Stories Prefigure Confirmation?
-Aaron and his sons (person, scripture, office, how, HS, ministry, witness)

Person: Aaron
Scripture (where): Exodus 40: 9-15
Office (authority): Priesthood
How: With oil → he was anointed
Holy Spirit: The spirit of the Lord fell upon Aaron
Ministry (do): Priestly ministry
Witness: To be a witness of faith → sacrifice

What Old Testament Stories Prefigure Confirmation?
-David’s anointing as King (person, scripture, office, how, HS, ministry, witness)

Person: David
Scripture (where): 1 Samuel 16: 4-13
Office (authority): Kingship (by Samuel)
How: With oil → he was anointed
Holy Spirit: The spirit of the Lord rushed upon David
Ministry (do): Kingly ministry
Witness: To be a witness of faith through the service of the people

What Old Testament Stories Prefigure Confirmation?
-Isaiah and his Vision (person, scripture, office, how, HS, ministry, witness)

Person: Isaiah
Scripture (where): Isaiah 6: 1-13
Office (authority): Prophet
How: With fire → he was anointed
Holy Spirit: The spirit of the Lord has anointed me …
Ministry (do): Prophetic ministry
Witness: To be a witness to faith through proclaiming God’s word

When did Jesus prepare our understanding of Confirmation?

-Jesus was anointed at His baptism when the Holy Spirit came down
-He prepares Baptism (washing) and Confirmation (anointing)
-Baptism initiates us and Conformation completes our initiation (complete seal of the gifts of the Holy Spirit which is another indelible mark)

How do we understand confirmation through the stories of Elijah + Elisha vs. Jesus + John ?

Elijah + Elisha:
-Jordan River
-Elijah passes the torch to Elisha
-Elijah anointed Elisha and Elisha wants x2 the Holy Spirit that Elijah had
-Fire descends and the gates of heaven open

Jesus + John:
-Jordan River
-John anoints Jesus
-Jesus becomes greater and receives a lot of the HS
-Heaven’s gates open and the Spirit descends
1. This’s how we understand confirmation (greater outpouring of the HS)
2. We’re given the mission to sacrifice, serve, and proclaim the word as a sign of maturity

When was Confirmation Instituted?

-Pentecost → the outpouring of the Holy Spirit through fire

Did the Apostles Confirm?

Yes
(Acts 8: 14-17): Sent Peter and John (bishops… top)
1. They sent the bishops to do this job
2. They want the Samaritans to receive the full power of the Holy Spirit
3. They had only been baptized, no confirmation so they still lacked full initiation of the HS/its power
4. We see something new → anointing of the hands

Are there different names to refer to Confirmation?

Yes
1. Confirmation: by the Holy Spirit, we are called to our mission to serve, sacrifice, and proclaim the word
2. Chrismation: we are anointed as priests, prophets, and kings) → identity

Latin Rite and Eastern Rites

-The teachings aren’t different, only the rituals are (each church has its own pope, the east calls them patriarchs, and they are all in union with the Latin pope)
-Must be united with the Latin pope because Peter founded the original Church (by the power of God)

How’s Baptism celebrated today?
- Minister

Ordinary: Bishop
Extraordinary: Priest
1. When bishop says so
2. During Confirmation season (spring)
3. Life or death situation
4. Easter Vigil

How’s Baptism celebrated today?
- Form

“Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”
→ word change: by putting an “s”, you’re sealed in the gifts which would mean you’re sealed in gifts instead of the Holy Spirit

How’s Baptism celebrated today?
- Matter

Chrism oil: been blessed by the Bishop (perfumed)

How’s Baptism celebrated today?
- Frequency

Once (must be valid)

How’s Baptism celebrated today?
- Requirements

Absolute:
1. Must be baptized (or else invalid)
2. Intention (or else invalid)

By Cannon Law: (licit or illicit)
1. Age of Reason (Latin rights)
2. Receiving instruction → paid off priests to skip class
3. Sponsor who’s a practicing Catholic
4. Must be free from mortal sin *
→ still sealed in the HS but must go to confession

How’s Baptism celebrated today?
- Sacramental Effects (6)

6 Effects:
1. Completion and incretion of baptismal graces
2. We’re more perfectly united and bound to Christ
3. We receive the “double portion” of the Holy Spirit and gifts (7 gifts of the HS)
4. You receive a special strength, of the HS, to defend your faith (supernatural gift)
5. You’re sent on a mission to be priests, prophets, and kings
6. You receive another special character (inedible mark)

How’s Confirmation Celebrated?

5 Steps:
1. The local bishop sets the age (age someone can be instructed for confirmation…classes)
2. Need to attend Confirmation classes
3. Sponsor needs to be at least 16 years old, baptized, confirmed, practicing catholic, and no parents allowed
4. Must write a letter to the bishop → shows intention
5. Tradition: Picking a Confirmation name (change in mission) → spiritual change (name = adopted)

What are the different gifts of the Holy Spirit?
- 7 Gifts (main point)

1. Wisdom: Seeing with God’s eyes (gift of knowing true values like God does)
2. Understanding: Grasping the deeper meaning of the faith (God help understand mysteries)
3. Counsel: Hearing God’s guidance in moral decisions
4. Fortitude: It’s the strength to stand firm in faith
5. Knowledge: Seeing the path of God’s plan (vocation changes your path to holiness → salvation)
6. Piety: Loving as God’s child
7. Fear of the Lord: Awe in the presence of the Divine Lord (divine holiness) → inspired by God’s grandeur

What are the different gifts of the Holy Spirit?
- 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit (main point)

-How much is the Holy Spirit moving in my life
-Almost like a sign / measure how much of an impact the Holy Spirit is having on your life → how much it’s working within you
-Gage how much we allow the HS to work in our lives

What are the different gifts of the Holy Spirit?
- Supernatural Gifts of the Holy Spirit (main point)

-The HS, through these gifts, helps build and increase the faith of others → inspire