Our Lady of Carter Lake Catholic Church at 3501 N. 9th Street, Carter Lake, IA 51510 US - Sacrament of Confirmation

Some experts describe Confirmation as “a sacrament in search of a theology.”  The reason for the confusion lies in the Sacrament’s history.  In the first millennium Baptism and Confirmation were inseparable.  In the eleventh century the Western (Latin) Church separated the two and postponed Confirmation until later in the life of the baptized person.  Against a Protestant Reformation that denied it, the Council of Trent taught that Confirmation is a sacrament, which confers a character (i.e. it cannot be repeated).  The Church left it to the theologians to explain how it differs from baptism.

Here is one such explanation:

Baptism makes us adopted children of God, heirs of His kingdom and temples of His Spirit.  In contrast to the more personally oriented Baptism, the sacrament of Confirmation has a strong social dimension.  The Spirit strengthens us and turns us outward toward the world.  We see this action of the Spirit in the life of Christ.  The Spirit descended on Jesus at his baptism and then coaxed him into healing the sick and proclaiming God’s Kingdom.  Jesus promised to send this Spirit to his disciples.

The Acts of the Apostles tells us that the Spirit came to the disciples on Pentecost, energized them and sent them out to proclaim the Risen Christ.  Prompted and empowered by the Spirit, they baptized and conferred the Spirit on all who believed.

Confirmation is the celebration of the personal, empowering presence of the Spirit in the members of the Church.  Friend, protector and advocate, the Spirit gives us many gifts: courage, understanding, right judgment, knowledge, wisdom and awe at God’s presence in our lives.  With these gifts the Spirit inspires and strengthens us to follow the Risen Christ as he extends his conquest of sin and death.

Enlightened, energized by the Spirit, we gain the confidence to call upon God as “Abba, Father.”