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Mercy_Archuleta
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how to explain confermation to a 16 yr old?
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
I’m not sure what you are looking for, but you might start with the Catechism. This section is titled the Sacrament of Confirmation: usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt1art2.shtml
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jmcrae
Guest
Chrismation, also known as the Sacrament of Confirmation, is the Sacrament of Initiation in which we receive the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit - Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Right Judgement, Courage, Piety, and Awe of the Lord.
This Sacrament is conferred once only, by a Bishop. The Bishop anoints the forehead of the Candidate with the Oil of Chrism, and (using the Candidate’s Confirmation name if a Confirmation name has been chosen), says, “[Name], be sealed with the Holy Spirit.” The Candidate responds “Amen.” The Bishop then extends his hand, saying “Peace be with you.” The Candidate shakes the Bishop’s hand while responding, “And also with you.”
The subject of classes for preparation for Confirmation will include an overview of the Sacraments of Initiation, and a study of the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.
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jpjd
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Confirmation and Baptism are related. Confirmation completes Baptism. In the Sacrament of Baptism, your parents and godparents made a baptismal vow on your behalf, to turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel. Baptism is about your salvation. In the Sacrament of Confirmation you are making a confirmation of the faith for yourself. By going through the sacrament, you are saying, everything I have learned about the faith at home and in religion class from birth to the present, everything that I have been learning – I believe, I accept as True. I take these beliefs that have been taught to me, and I turn outward with them and bring them to the world. I live them. Confirmation is about bringing salvation to the world.
That’s really what Confirmation is about. Confirmation isn’t a graduation from CCD. It isn’t the end of your life in the Church, it’s the beginning! You are becoming adults in the Church; you have a responsibility to carry the faith on; to live it out and spread it to others. What we believe is reflected in how we live our lives.
That’s really what Confirmation is about. Confirmation isn’t a graduation from CCD. It isn’t the end of your life in the Church, it’s the beginning! You are becoming adults in the Church; you have a responsibility to carry the faith on; to live it out and spread it to others. What we believe is reflected in how we live our lives.
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jmcrae
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Yes. Both of them are Sacraments of Initiation.
You gave a good explanation of the Lutheran understanding of this Sacrament.
However, in the Catholic Church, we see them as separate Sacraments. Baptism is a complete Sacrament unto itself, and so is Confirmation. A better name for Confirmation is “Chrismation” since it avoids the confusion of people thinking that they are “confirming” something (kind of like confirming your order from Sears to make sure they got it right - are we confirming our order of Baptism from God? What happens if we don’t get Confirmed? Will God then cancel our Baptism? No.)
There are three Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation (aka Chrismation), and First Holy Communion. In Baptism, our sins are washed away. In Confirmation, we receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. In Holy Communion, we are united with Christ in His Body.
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Phemie
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They are separate sacraments but even the Catechism says that Confirmation completes Baptism.You gave a good explanation of the Lutheran understanding of this Sacrament.
However, in the Catholic Church, we see them as separate Sacraments. Baptism is a complete Sacrament unto itself, and so is Confirmation.
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Luke65
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You should show them Acts ch. 8. You will see that the Sacrament of Confirmation - the “laying on of hands” by an apostolic authority (bishop) - completes the process of Baptism, and is where we “receive the Holy Spirit”. And also that Simon the Sorcerer was wiling to pay money for this gift of the Holy Spirit, but that Peter rebuked him because it is a free gift from God that we can only receive in faith from His Church. And then have them read the Catechism for a more complete explanation. God bless.
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jpjd
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Good gravy, jmcrae, that was a pretty condescending post. Just for your information, I am not only a cradle Catholic but a PSR teacher of 5 years, for the Confirmation class. I have a firm understanding of what Confirmation is, and I teach it well.Yes. Both of them are Sacraments of Initiation.
You gave a good explanation of the Lutheran understanding of this Sacrament.
However, in the Catholic Church, we see them as separate Sacraments. Baptism is a complete Sacrament unto itself, and so is Confirmation. A better name for Confirmation is “Chrismation” since it avoids the confusion of people thinking that they are “confirming” something (kind of like confirming your order from Sears to make sure they got it right - are we confirming our order of Baptism from God? What happens if we don’t get Confirmed? Will God then cancel our Baptism? No.)
There are three Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation (aka Chrismation), and First Holy Communion. In Baptism, our sins are washed away. In Confirmation, we receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. In Holy Communion, we are united with Christ in His Body.
If I gave a Lutheran understanding of this sacrament, then the CCC is in trouble, because that is my source. May I suggest that you read up on the Sacrament of Confirmation.
BTW, chrismation is an Eastern Catholic and Orthodox term. Being Roman Catholic, we don’t call our Mass the Divine Liturgy, and neither do we call Confirmation chrismation.
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jmcrae
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It perfects in us the common priesthood - and it is one of three Sacraments of Initiation (not two) - it does not “complete” the Sacrament of Baptism. The Sacrament of Baptism is not deficient.
It is a profound error to think of the Sacrament of Confirmation as “Catholic Mitzvah” - it has nothing to do with becoming an adult in the faith. It gives us the power to become witnesses for the faith - but it does this even for children who receive it. It should not be treated as a “coming of age ritual.”
Indeed, one of the reasons that the age of Confirmation is being moved to six years of age in so many places, is precisely to get away from this mistaken idea.
It is also a profound error to think of it as Catholic-style “testimony of personal faith” - while it can provide opportunities for young people to do this as well, that’s not the purpose of it. The child became fully Catholic when he was baptized. He is not “making a personal choice for Jesus” when he is getting Confirmed. Rather, he is receiving the graces of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, to be able to live out the irrevocable commitment that was already made for him, at Baptism. His choice at Confirmation is not whether or not to become a Catholic - rather, it is whether or not to receive the graces he needs to live as a good Catholic, or not. He cannot revoke his Baptism by rejecting Confirmation.
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jpjd
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No one here is saying that Baptism is incomplete as a sacrament without Confirmation. We all know that there are seven separate, complete sacraments; three of them are the Sacraments of Initiation. However, the CCC itself says Confirmation is the completion of Baptism, and it is the completion of Baptism in the sense that when you become part of the mystical body of Christ at Baptism, you participate in the mission of Christ as priest, prophet, and king; and in Confirmation you now carry that mission to the world.
Again, nobody here but you has said this. I certainly never said that; in fact if you read my post, I specifically said that Confirmation is not graduation - which needs to be emphatically stated and explained to the kids in Confirmation class because graduation is how so many of them view it.
Again, if you are directing this at me, read my post again. Nowhere did I say Confirmation is a time of deciding to become Catholic or not, nor did I say or imply that Baptism can be revoked by rejecting Confirmation. However, at Confirmation, the child does make his own profession faith:
1298 When Confirmation is celebrated separately from Baptism, as is the case in the Roman Rite, the Liturgy of Confirmation begins with the renewal of baptismal promises and the profession of faith by the confirmands. This clearly shows that Confirmation follows Baptism.
My emphasis to the children in my classes is their responsibilities as confirmed Catholics - continuing the mission of Christ as priest - sanctification, becoming a holy person of God; prophet - living and spreading the Gospel message in word and deed; and king - serving and caring for others…which is why so many Confirmation programs have service projects as part of their program. (Reference CCC 783-786.) Yes, the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit are poured out to them at Confirmation, but that’s not all they need to be taught. Just teaching them about the gifts and fruits doesn’t put it into perspective for them. They need to be taught that they are to live their faith and bring it to the world.
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Like
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What happens to a person who dies without having received Confirmation? Does s/he go to hell?
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
It’s not a question of what happens to them when they die, it’s more about what happens to them when they’re alive.What happens to a person who dies without having received Confirmation? Does s/he go to hell?
For one thing, someone who is not confirmed is not allowed to be a godparent or sponsor for a baby’s baptism, someone’s confirmation, or someone in RCIA. Confirmation is also strongly urged before someone is married. And, of course, the person would be living without the grace of the sacrament.
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dconklin
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No they do not go to Hell, but almost as bad - they cannot get married in the Catholic Church.What happens to a person who dies without having received Confirmation? Does s/he go to hell?
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Like
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Not so, as a Catholic can & did marry a protestant in the Church.
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Phemie
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You’re right. Canon Law says:Not so, as a Catholic can & did marry a protestant in the Church.
It depends on how ‘grave inconvenience’ is defined and whose inconvenience it is.
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jmcrae
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Certainly not.What happens to a person who dies without having received Confirmation? Does s/he go to hell?
The Sacrament of Confirmation is neither more nor less than the strengthening of the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. We should not add what the Church does not add.
I agree that it is also a catechetical opportunity where you can remind the young people of their baptismal obligations to go to Mass, to evangelize the world, etc., but they had these duties before they were Confirmed, too - they received them at Baptism.
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rwoehmke
Guest
Finally someone who does not understand Confirmation as those non-Catholics who confirm define it. Actually we receive the seven Isaiah (Chapter 11) gifts at Baptism and they are reinforced in Confirmation. Good answer!
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