However, like his friendly rival St. Thomas, he also modified his view in a later work (Breviloquium, p. vi. From these two passages we learn that in the earliest ages of the Church there was a rite, distinct from baptism, in which the Holy Ghost was conferred by the imposition of hands and that the power to perform this ceremony was not implied in the power to baptize. Bishop Tejada of Guadalajara administered (1759) confirmation at San Fernando, now San Antonio, Texas, and Bishop de Pontbriand at Ft. They defined that confirmation was not “a vain ceremony but a true and proper sacrament”; and that it was not “in olden days nothing but a sort of catechism in which those who were entering upon youth gave an account of their faith in the face of the Church” (can. ccxxvii, Ad Infantesin P.L., XXXVII, col. 1100; De Trin., XV, n. 46 in P.L., XL, col. 1093); “Of Christ it is written in the Acts of the Apostles, how God anointed Him with the Holy Ghost, not indeed with visible oil, but with the gift of grace, which is signified by that visible unction wherewith the Church anoints the baptized”. The third and last canon defined that the “ordinary” minister of the sacrament is a bishop only, and not any simple priest. But, like the Lutheran Churches, it retains “the Confirmation of children, by examining them of their knowledge in their articles of faith and joining thereto the prayers of the Church for them” (Homily on Common Prayer and Sacraments, p. 300). Through Confirmation, our personal relationship with Christ is strengthened. . The age-limit, however, varies considerably. For God first formed him and breathed into his face the breath of life. 1293 In treating the rite of Confirmation, it is fitting … . The Dominican School taught that Christ Himself was the immediate author of confirmation. Finally, the most generally accepted view is that the anointing and the imposition of hands conjointly are the matter. Confirmation. And this because in this sacrament the fullness of the Holy Ghost is given, which was not to be given before Christ’s resurrection and ascension, according to the text (John, vii, 39), `As yet the Spirit was not given, because Jesus was not yet glorified”‘ (Summ. Again, Confirmation was necessary before receiving Communion. Among the decrees issued in Ireland after the Reformation may be cited: no one other than a bishop should administer confirmation; the Holy See had not delegated this episcopal function to any one (Synod of Armagh, 1614); the faithful should be taught that confirmation cannot be reiterated and that its reception should be preceded by sacramental confession (Synod of Tuam, 1632). Theol., III, Q. lxxii, a. The writer of the “De Sacramentis” (Inter Op. Confirmation imparts (I) an increase of sanctifying grace which makes the recipient a “perfect Christian‘; (2) a special sacramental grace consisting in the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost and notably in the strength and courage to confess boldly the name of Christ; (3) an indelible character by reason of which the sacrament cannot be received again by the same person. The Holy Spirit doesn’t come until Peter and John arrive and lay hands on the believers. This has often been granted to missionaries. In 1655, Don Diego de Rebolledo, Governor of Florida, urged the King of Spain to ask the pope to make St. Augustine an episcopal see, or to make Florida a vicariate Apostolic so that there might be a local superior and that the faithful might receive the Sacrament of Confirmation; but nothing came of the petition. (5) The Council of Trent did not decide the questions discussed by the Schoolmen. xlviii, Labbe, I, col. 1497). Nor was it a mere bestowal of charismata; the Holy Ghost sometimes produced extraordinary effects (speaking with divers tongues, etc. Confirmation was also unique in that, while a priest could baptize, Confirmation was usually reserved for the bishop. Because we have to walk during our whole life in the midst of invisible enemies and dangers, we are in baptism regenerated unto life, after baptism we are confirmed for the battle; in baptism we are cleansed, after baptism we are strengthened … confirmation arms and furnishes weapons to those who are reserved for the wrestlings and contests of this world” (Bib. Should Mary Be Venerated? These Malachy restored (de novo instituit). The institution of the sacrament has also been the subject of much discussion as will appear from the following account. Apost.” in P.L., XCII, col. 961; “Vit. Confirmation. and when he saw that they did not speak with tongues, was any of you so perverse of heart as to say `These have not received the Holy Ghost?’ (In Ep. The difference regarding the form of the sacrament, i.e. From both their practice and their teaching we learn that the Church made use of a rite distinct from baptism; that this consisted of imposition of hands, anointing, and accompanying words; that by this rite the Holy Ghost was conferred upon those already baptized, and a mark or seal impressed upon their souls; that, as a rule, in the West the minister was a bishop, whereas in the East he might be a simple priest. Other instances are the visitations of Bishop de Velasco (1735-6) and Bishop Morel (1763). Having first sealed them with the holy ointment upon the forehead, and eyes, and nostrils, and mouth, and ears, and sealing them we say, `The seal of the gift of the Holy Ghost‘ (can. The rite is practically the same as that used at present; the form, however, is: “receive the sign of the holy cross with the chrism of salvation in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting.” Among the rubrics are: modo ligandi sunt, i. e. the head of the person confirmed is to be bound with a fillet; and modo communicandi sunt de sacrificio, i. e. they are to receive Holy Communion (Martene). We can, indeed, detect much more than the mere germs of it in Holy Scripture; but we must not expect to find there an exact description of the ceremony as at present performed, or a complete solution of the various theological questions which have since arisen. (Catholic Catechism), Is Catholic Penance Necessary for Salvation and Forgiveness? The flesh is anointed [ungitur] that the soul may be consecrated. Cf. Do Indulgences Help Us? Min., p. 277).” Alcuin also in his letter to Odwin describes how the neophyte, after the reception of baptism and the Eucharist, prepares to receive the Holy Spirit by the imposition of hands. vii, sect. Several of the above-named synods emphasize the fact that confirmation produces spiritual cognation and that the sacrament cannot be received more than once. ), but these were not necessarily the result of His being given. ... which is salvation itself. Now it is clear that a man cannot advance to a perfect age unless he has first been born; in like manner, unless he has first been baptized he cannot receive the Sacrament of Confirmation” (Summ. The writers appeal to the Acts of the Apostles (e.g. Specifically, confirmation is necessary as a completion or perfection of the sacrament of baptism. the gift of the Holy Ghost (In Sent., IV, dist. This guarded language, so different from the definite canons on some of the other sacraments, shows that the council had no intention of deciding the questions at issue among theologians regarding the time and manner of the institution by Christ (direct or indirect institution), the matter (imposition of hands or anointing, or both), the form (“I sign thee”, etc., or “the seal”, etc. Further, just as it is said of Baptism ( John 3:5 ): "Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost , he cannot enter in to the kingdom of God ," so of the Eucharist is it said ( John 6:54 ): "Except you eat of the flesh of the Son of Man , and drink of His blood, you shall not have life in you." i). And when Paul had imposed his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied”. Is it ok to Pray to Angels? Without confirmation are we less entitled to call God our Father? “Moreover, a person is not born by the imposition of hands, when he receives the Holy Ghost, but in baptism; that being already born he may receive the Spirit, as was done in the first man Adam. This they accounted for by the fewness of bishops, and they recognized that the validity of such administration (unlike the case of Holy orders) is a mere matter of ecclesiastical jurisdiction. “Tertullian also tells how the devil, imitating the rites of Christian initiation, sprinkles some and signs them as his soldiers on the forehead (signat illic in frontibus milites suos—De Praescript., xl). How the pas-tors properly ordained can alone be said to “give” confirmation does not appear. (2) In passing from Holy Scripture to the Fathers we naturally expect to find more definite answers to the various questions regarding the sacrament. “Concerning the institution of this sacrament”, says St. Thomas, “there are two opinions: some say that it was instituted neither by Christ nor by His Apostles, but later on in the course of time at a certain council [Meaux, 845; this was the opinion of Alexander of Hales, Summ., iv, q. Again, in the Epistle to the Hebrews (vi, 1-4) the writer reproaches those whom he addresses for falling back into their primitive imperfect knowledge of Christian truth; “whereas for the time you ought to be masters, you have need to be taught again what are the first elements of the words of God” (Heb., v, 12). XXII I) the council declared that “bishops are superior to priests; they administer the Sacrament of Confirmation; they ordain the ministers of the Church; and they can perform many other things over which functions others of an inferior rank have no power”. (Catholic Catechism), Did Peter have Authority Over All the Apostles? The words, however, I cannot name, for fear of seeming to betray rather than to reply to the point on which you have consulted me.” Saint Leo in his fourth sermon on Christ’s Nativity says to the faithful: “Having been regenerated by water and the Holy Ghost, you have received the chrism of salvation and the seal of eternal life” (chrisma salutis et signaculum vitae aeternae.—P.L., LIV, col. 207). St. John tells the faithful: “You have the unction from the Holy One, and know all things”; and again: “Let the unction, which you have received from him, abide in you” (I Ep., ii, 20, 27). On the other hand, its reception is obligatory “for all those who are able to understand and fulfill the Commandments of God and of the Church.” As to the gravity of the obligation, some theologians hold that an unconfirmed person would commit mortal sin if he refused the sacrament. Again (xix, 1-6): St. Paul “came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples; and he said to them: Have you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? Confirmation is not considered to be strictly necessary for salvation according to Catholicism, though it is considered to be necessary for Christian perfection. The Holy Office decreed, June 16, 1884, that no sponsor could stand for more than two candidates except in case of necessity. Trid., I, p. 383 sqq.). [17] Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.” (ESV), Acts 8:18–24 “Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, [19] saying, ‘Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ [20] But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! Notice how in this passage we are walked through the successive stages of the Christian journey—repentance, faith, baptism, confirmation, resurrection, and judgment. No mention is made of any particular words accompanying the imposition of hands on either of the occasions on which the ceremony is described; but as the act of imposing hands was performed for various purposes, some prayer indicating the special purpose may have been used: “Peter and John . Y.) Of course this refers only to the Western Church. Previous to the establishment of the hierarchy, many Catholics in North America died without having received confirmation. Still, nothing was said about the mode of institution—whether immediate or mediate, generic or specific. The Fathers considered that the rites of initiation (baptism, confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist) were instituted by Christ, but they did not enter into any minute discussion as to the time, place, and manner of the institution, at least of the second of these rites. At the Synod of Durham (1217? Do they have less gifts of the Holy Spirit? “The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation.” [CCC 1257] God cannot change His mind. Joan., tr. Confirmation, a sacrament in which the Holy Ghost is given to those already baptized in order to make them strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ. The Eastern Church omits the imposition of hands and the prayer at the beginning, and accompanies the anointing with the words: “the sign or seal] of the gift of the Holy Ghost.” These several actions symbolize the nature and purpose of the sacrament: the anointing signifies the strength given for the spiritual conflict; the balsam contained in the chrism, the fragrance of virtue and the good odor of Christ; the sign of the cross on the forehead, the courage to confess Christ, before all men; the imposition of hands and the blow on the cheek, enrolment in the service of Christ which brings true peace to the soul. Eccl. The sponsor should be at least fourteen years of age, of the same sex as the candidate, should have already received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and be well instructed in the Catholic Faith. 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