Confirmation

Confirmation (or Chrismation) is the sacrament of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit whom Christ Jesus sent (John 7:37-39, 16:7). Jesus instructed his Apostles that they "will receive the power of the Holy Spirit" and called upon the Apostles to be his "witnesses to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). At the Pentecost, the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4), and began to spread the Word of God. The Acts of the Apostles is often called the Gospel of the Holy Spirit. St. Cyril of Jerusalem wrote of the Mysteries of Baptism, Eucharist, and Chrism in the mid-fourth century AD.

The rite of Confirmation is anointing the forehead with chrism, together with the laying on of the minister's hands and the words, "Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit." The recipient receives the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2-3). On occasion one may receive one or more of the charismatic gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

The ecclesial effect and sacramental grace of the sacrament give the recipient the strength and character to witness for Jesus Christ. The East continues the tradition of the early Christian Church by administering the sacrament with Baptism. Confirmation in the West is administered by the Bishop to children from age 7 to 18, but generally to adolescents, for example, to a graduating class of grade school children. Key Scriptural sources for Confirmation are the following (See also Acts 1:4-5, 2:1-4, 2:38, 10:44-48):

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I
do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
(Gospel of John 16:7)

"Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they
sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive
the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized
in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit."
(Acts of the Apostles 8:14-17)

"While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus. There
he found some disciples. And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
And they said, "No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." And he said, "Into
what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." And Paul said, "John baptized
with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come
after him, that is, Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they
spoke with tongues and prophesied."
(Acts of the Apostles 19:1-6)