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Jan Paul S. Lugtu

Talk on Confirmation

I. Meaning of Confirmation

Christian parents help their children to grow in their faith. When theirchildren become adolescents, they also want to celebrate with them their

growth in their faith and their change in self understanding within their

Christian life. It is also a change from first initiation into the Church to apublic declaration of full discipleship in the Church community in the

sacrament of confirmation

a. As a Sacrament of Christian Initiation

Confirmation is one of the three celebrations towards Christianinitiation. The two other sacraments are Baptism and the Eucharist.

tican The rite of Confirmation includes our renewal of our baptismal

promises prior to our being anointed with oil and our reception of the

laying on of hands. The anointing and the laying on of handssymbolized the initiation into Christian adulthood and the becoming

of active members in the community.

b. Qualities of a Christian Witness

Confirmation can be described in terms of two characteristics:

closer union with the Church, and strengthening and empowermentby the Holy Spirit to actively spread the Faith. To spread the Faith,

we need to be witnesses of it. The Catechism for Filipino Catholics

(CFC) lists the following as qualities of a Christian witness:

Personal knowledge, awareness, and experience of

Christ in their daily lives;

Strong and enthusiastic Christian convictions and activecommitment to Christ and the Church;

A basic grounding in Scripture, Church teaching and

fundamental human experience;

The human leadership qualities of honesty and integrity

that inspire confidence and a following;

The communication skills needed to present Christs

challenge to the Filipinos of today in an attractive and

persuasive manner; and

The courage to suffer and risk for the Kingdom of God.

c. The Role of the Christian Community

Our presence as a church community that can truly celebrateConfirmation is essential. We need to ask ourselves if we can gladly

welcome and joyfully initiate young people into our Christian

community, thus encouraging them to become active Christians. Arewe then a community of disciples who experience the Holy Spirit in

our community life and live the missionary dimension of our Baptism?

Then, we can celebrate Confirmation meaningfully.

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II. Symbols in Confirmation

The symbolic actions of Confirmation are anointing with oil and laying on

of hands.

a. Laying on of hands

This is the biblical gesture through which the bishop and the

concelebrating priests invoke the Holy Spirit. It signifies the descentof the Holy Spirit empowering the recipient to promote the prophetic

mission of the Church in the world.

b. Anointing with oil

In the Hebrew Scriptures, anointing signified healing, purification,

and strengthening. Through anointing, one is called to share in the

priestly, prophetic and kingly roles of Christ.

III. The Rite of Confirmation

a. Presentation of Candidates

b. Homily or Instruction

c. Renewal of Baptismal Promises

d. Laying on of Handse. Anointing with Chrism/Consecrated Oil

f. General Intercessions

Reference:

Catechism for Filipino Catholics. Manila: ECCCE, 1997.

2nd Plenary Council of the Philippines: Acts and Decrees. Manila: CBCP, 1992.