Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds (cf. CCC 1316).
We defined Sacrament as “an outward/visible sign instituted by Christ to give grace.” Here, we made mentioned that there are three distinct ideas contained in this definition, namely, outward sign, instituted by Christ and to give grace.
Furthermore, we explained that a sacrament is an outward/visible sign of an invisible reality. The outward signs are God’s way of treating us like the human beings we are. He conveys His unseen grace into our spiritual souls through material symbols which our physical bodies can perceive—things and words and gestures.
The outward signs of the sacraments have two parts: 1) Matter – the visible object used in performing the sacrament (water, oil, etc.); 2) Form – the formula used by the minister to celebrate the sacrament.
It is from this above mentioned idea of the sacrament that we will present Confirmation: What are the Outward signs of the Sacrament of Confirmation that show or speak of an Invisible reality?
- Matter – The matter of Confirmation is the LAYING OF HANDS and the SACRED CHRISM. As the Scriptures narrate: “Peter and John laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15-17).
The post-baptismal anointing with sacred chrism in Confirmation and ordination is the sign of consecration. By Confirmation Christians, that is, those who are anointed, share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit with which he is filled, so that their lives may give off “the aroma of Christ” (cf. CCC 1294).
- Form – The form of Confirmation are these words: “BE SEALED WITH THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.” By this anointing the confirmand receives the “mark,” the seal of the Holy Spirit.
A seal is a symbol of a person, a sign of personal authority, or ownership of an object. Hence soldiers were marked with their leader’s seal and slaves with their master’s. A seal authenticates a juridical act or document and occasionally makes it secret. This seal of the Holy Spirit marks our total belonging to Christ, our enrollment in his service for ever, as well as the promise of divine protection in the great eschatological trial (cf. CCC 1295-1296).
Through the outward or visible signs of the Sacrament of Confirmation which show the invisible reality, our eyes and minds can now grasp the riches this sacrament signifies.
