Confirmation
            

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Confirmation

 A sacrament instituted by Christ in promising to send the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:15-21). We find this fulfilled in the Pentecost event, and after Peter proclaims the basic gospel message, the people moved by it ask, “What shall we do?” Peter responds, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37-38).

This suggests a twofold aspect of Christian Initiation — Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and the Spirit given in Confirmation. In Acts 8 and 19, we have scriptural witness to a rite after Baptism, the laying on of hands, which gives the Holy Spirit. In the early Church, it was difficult to distinguish between the sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist) because they were administered by the bishop as a continuous rite on Holy Saturday to adult catechumens.

Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obligated to spread and defend the faith by word and deed."

Confirmation is normally administered by the bishop, who visits the various churches every few years for this purpose.  Contact the rectory for further information.

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Last modified: 08/07/2005