On the Sacrament of Confirmation
In his Catechesis on the Sacrament of Confirmation, Pope Francis speaks on the effects of the sacrament received. Primarily, the Gift of the Holy Spirit “enables us in turn to become a gift for others”.
In this Jubilee of the 500th Year of Christianity in the Philippines when we are exhorted to do Mission as “Gifted to Give”, we remind ourselves of the Gift of the Holy Spirit we received in the Sacrament of Confirmation so that we in turn may give ourselves as a gift to others as we share and participate in the life and mission of the Church.
More than just a requirement for the Sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders, the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation is a necessity for the completion of baptismal grace. The Sacrament, as it were, “confirms” the baptismal anointing.
In the Archdiocese of Caceres where most Catholics receive Infant Baptism then receive First Communion while in Grade III, the Sacrament of Confirmation, usually conferred on those in Grade VI, completes the Sacraments of Christian Initiation.
From the earliest times of the Church, the Apostles imparted the Gift of the Holy Spirit on the newly baptized by the Laying on of Hands. This tradition of Laying on of Hands became the origin of the Sacrament of Confirmation. Later, Anointing with Chrism, a perfumed oil from olive oil and balsam that was blessed by the Bishop during the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, was added to better signify the Gift of the Holy Spirit. These Laying on of Hands and Anointing with Chrism became the Material Sign, or Matter, of the Sacrament. The Form, or the Formal Sign of the Sacrament is, “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit”.
Canon 879 of the Code of Canon Law states that Confirmation strengthens the baptized and obliges them more firmly to be witnesses of Christ by word and deed, and to spread and defend the faith. This is why the Sacrament of Confirmation is conferred only on those who have reached the age of discretion. The Confirmand herself/himself professes the Christian Faith whereas in Infant Baptism, the parents and godparents professed the faith for her/him. When the Sacrament of Confirmation is conferred, Sacramental Grace is infused in the Confirmand that enables her/him to be a firm witness of Christ by word and deed, and in so doing, help in the spread of faith. More importantly, the Confirmand is given the Grace to stand for and defend the Faith she/he just professed.
Pope Francis asked, “How do we see if we have received the gift of the Spirit?” “If we fulfill the works of the Spirit, if we speak with words taught by the Spirit. Christian witness consists of doing only and everything that the Spirit of Christ asks us while granting us the strength to do it,” he said.
Yes, Divine Grace is given us. Yet, given our free will, it is for us to choose whether to cooperate with the Grace given us or not. So much Grace is given us. Let us not put this to waste. Instead, we beseech the Holy Spirit to lead our free will to be conformed to God’s and experience the peace and joy of living a holy life.
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