Lesson 15: On Confirmation

A. Confirmation is a Sacrament through which we receive the Holy Ghost to make us strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ.

A. The exact time at which Confirmation was instituted is not known. But as this Sacrament was administered by

the Apostles and numbered with the other Sacraments instituted by Our Lord, it is certain that He instituted this

Sacrament also and instructed His Apostles in its use, at some time before His ascension into heaven.

A. Confirmation is so called from its chief effect, which is to strengthen or render us more firm in whatever belongs to our faith and religious duties.

A. We are called soldiers of Jesus Christ to indicate how we must resist the attacks of our spiritual enemies and

secure our victory over them by following and obeying Our Lord.

A. One may and should add a new name to his own at Confirmation, especially when the name of a saint has not

been given in Baptism.

A. The bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation.

A. We say the bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation because in some foreign missions, where bishops

have not yet been appointed, the Holy Father permits one of the priests to administer Confirmation with the Holy

Oil blessed by the bishop.

A. The bishop extends his hands over those who are to be confirmed, prays that they may receive the Holy Ghost,

and anoints the forehead of each with holy chrism in the form of a cross.

A. In Confirmation, the extending of the bishop's hands over us signifies the descent of the Holy Ghost upon us and the special protection of God through the grace of Confirmation.

A. Holy chrism is a mixture of olive-oil and balm, consecrated by the bishop.

A. In Holy Chrism, the oil signifies strength, and the balm signifies the freedom from corruption and the sweetness which virtue must give to our lives.

A. Three holy oils are used in the Church, namely, the oil of the sick, the oil of catechumens, and holy chrism.

A. The form of prayer or blessing alone constitutes the difference between these oils; for they are all olive oil, but in the Holy Chrism, balm is mixed with the oil.

A. The holy oils are blessed at the Mass on Holy Thursday by the bishop, who alone has the right to bless them.

After the blessing they are distributed to the priests of the diocese, who must then burn what remains of the old oils and use the newly blessed oils for the coming year.

A. The holy oils are used as follows: The oil of the sick is used for Extreme Unction and for some blessings; the oil of catechumens is used for Baptism and Holy Orders. Holy Chrism is used at Baptism and for the blessing of some sacred things, such as altars, chalices, church-bells, etc., which are usually blessed by a bishop.

A. In anointing the person he confirms the bishop says: "I sign thee with the sign of the cross, and I confirm thee

with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

A. By anointing the forehead with chrism in the form of a cross is meant that the Christian who is confirmed must

openly profess and practice his faith, never be ashamed of it; and rather die than deny it.

A. We must openly profess and practice our religion as often as we cannot do otherwise without violating some

law of God or of His Church.

A. We have good reason never to be ashamed of the Catholic Faith because it is the Old Faith established by

Christ and taught by His Apostles; it is the Faith for which countless Holy Martyrs suffered and died; it is the Faith that has brought true civilization, with all its benefits, into the world, and it is the only Faith that can truly reform and preserve public and private morals.

A. The bishop gives the person he confirms a slight blow on the cheek, to put him in mind that he must be ready to suffer everything, even death, for the sake of Christ.

A. It is not right to test ourselves through our imagination of what we would be willing to suffer for the sake of

Christ, for such tests may lead us into sin. When a real test comes we are assured God will give to us, as He did to

the Holy Martyrs, sufficient grace to endure it.

A. To receive Confirmation worthily it is necessary to be in the state of grace.

A. Persons of an age to learn should know the chief mysteries of faith and the duties of a Christian, and be

instructed in the nature and effects of this Sacrament.

A. We should know the Chief Mysteries of Faith and the duties of a Christian before receiving Confirmation

because as one cannot be a good soldier without knowing the rules of the army to which he belongs and

understanding the commands of his leader, so one cannot be a good Christian without knowing the laws of the

Church and understanding the commands of Christ.

A. It is a sin to neglect Confirmation, especially in these evil days when faith and morals are exposed to so many

and such violent temptations.

A. By "these evil days" we mean the present age or century in which we are living, surrounded on all sides by

unbelief, false doctrines, bad books, bad example and temptation in every form.

A. Confirmation is not so necessary for salvation that we could not be saved without it, for it is not given to infants even in danger of death; nevertheless, there is a divine command obliging all to receive it, if possible. Persons who have not been confirmed in youth should make every effort to be confirmed later in life.

A. Sponsors are necessary in Confirmation, and they must be of the same good character as those required at

Baptism, for they take upon themselves the same duties and responsibilities. They also contract a spiritual

relationship, which, however, unlike that in Baptism, is not an impediment to marriage.

A. The effects of Confirmation are an increase of sanctifying grace, the strengthening of our faith, and the gifts of

the Holy Ghost.

A. The gifts of the Holy Ghost are Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of

the Lord.

A. We receive the gift of Fear of the Lord to fill us with a dread of sin.

A. We receive the gift of Piety to make us love God as a Father, and obey Him because we love Him.

A. We receive the gift of Knowledge to enable us to discover the will of God in all things.

A. We receive the gift of Fortitude to strengthen us to do the will of God in all things.

A. We receive the gift of Counsel to warn us of the deceits of the devil, and of the dangers to salvation.

A. It is clear that the devil could easily deceive us if the Holy Ghost did not aid us, for just as our sins do not

deprive us of our knowledge, so the devil's sin did not deprive him of the great intelligence and power which he

possessed as an angel. Moreover, his experience in the world extends over all ages and places, while ours is

confined to a few years and to a limited number of places.

A. We receive the gift of Understanding to enable us to know more clearly the mysteries of faith.

A. We receive the gift of Wisdom to give us a relish for the things of God, and to direct our whole life and all our

actions to His honor and glory.

A. The Beatitudes are:

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land.

3.Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

4. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall be filled.

5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

6. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.

7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.

8. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

A. The Beatitudes are a portion of Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, and they are so called because each of them

holds out a promised reward to those who practice the virtues they recommend.

A. Our Lord usually preached wherever an opportunity of doing good by His Words presented itself. He preached

at times in the synagogues or meeting-houses but more frequently in the open air -- by the seashore or on the

mountain, and often by the wayside.

A. 1. In general the Beatitudes embrace whatever pertains to the perfection of Christian life, and they invite us

to the practice of the highest Christian virtues.

2.In different forms they all promise the same reward, namely, sanctifying grace in this life and eternal glory

in the next.

3.They offer us encouragement and consolation for every trial and affliction.

A. The first Beatitude means by the "poor in spirit" all persons, rich or poor, who would not offend God to possess or retain anything that this world can give; and who, when necessity or charity requires it, give willingly for the glory of God. It includes also those who humbly submit to their condition in life when it cannot be improved by lawful means.

A. The mourners who deserve the consolation promised in the third Beatitude are they who, out of love for God,

bewail their own sins and those of the world; and they who patiently endure all trials that come from God or for His sake.

A. The other Beatitudes convey these lessons: The meek suppress all feelings of anger and humbly submit to

whatever befalls them by the Will of God; and they never desire to do evil for evil. The justice after which we

should seek is every Christian virtue included under that name, and we are told that if we earnestly desire and seek it we shall obtain it. The persecuted for justice' sake are they who will not abandon their faith or virtue for any cause.

A. The merciful are they who practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, and who aid by word or deed

those who need their help for soul or body.

A. The clean of heart, that is, the truly virtuous, whose thoughts, desires, words and works are pure and modest,

are promised so great a reward because the chaste and sinless have always been the most intimate friends of God.

A. It is the duty of a peacemaker to avoid and prevent quarrels, reconcile enemies, and to put an end to all evil

reports of others or evil speaking against them. As peacemakers are called the children of God, disturbers of

peace should be called the children of the devil.

A. Our Lord speaks in particular of poverty, meekness, sorrow, desire for virtue, mercy, purity, peace and

suffering because these are the chief features in His own earthly life; poverty in His birth, life and death; meekness in His teaching; sorrow at all times. He eagerly sought to do good, showed mercy to all, recommended chastity, brought peace, and patiently endured suffering.

A. The twelve fruits of the Holy Ghost are Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Benignity, Goodness, Long-suffering,

Mildness, Faith, Modesty, Continency, and Chastity.

A. Charity, joy, peace, etc., are called fruits of the Holy Ghost because they grow in our souls out of the seven

gifts of the Holy Ghost.