Confirmation is a Sacrament of mature commitment. This Sacrament completes the Sacrament of Baptism. If Baptism is a Sacrament of rebirth, Confirmation is the Sacrament of maturity and coming of age.
Real confession of faith entails that the whole person submits themselves to truth in the judgment of their understanding in the submission of one’s whole power of love. To do this, the poor-spirited person is only able when he/she gets confirmed by God’s grace.
This Confirmation in the power of the Holy Spirit leading to a firm profession of faith has always been a particular effect, which our Catholic tradition has ascribed to the Sacrament. Confirmation is a true Sacrament instituted by Christ and different from Baptism. It is administered by the laying on of hands and the anointing with Chrism Oil accompanied by prayer. Only the Bishop blesses the Chrism oil, and either him or one delegated by him may administer this Sacrament.
Nevertheless, all baptized persons can and should be confirmed. The effect of this Sacrament is to give strength in faith confession and to imprint an indelible character on an individual person.
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