What Does it Mean to Be Confirmed?
Confirmation is a rite or sacrament that is part of several denominations of Christianity, including Lutheran and Methodist, but is best known as a central right of passage in the Catholic Church. During the confirmation ceremony, recipients publicly reaffirm their baptismal vows and devotion to Christianity.
Other People Are Reading
-
Meaning
-
According to the Catholic News Agency, confirmation is a sacrament in which participants receive the Holy Ghost to make them "strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ." Confirmation is sometimes referred to as a second baptism, a sacrament usually administered to Catholic infants. Those who receive confirmation usually are adolescents old enough to freely assume the responsibility of full Christian living and be active members of the Church.
Ceremony
-
The Confirmation ceremony is presided over by a bishop who extends his hands over those being confirmed and leads them in a renewal of their baptismal vows. The bishop extends his hands as a sign of the Holy Ghost descending upon the newly confirmed, and applies a holy chrism (mixture of olive oil and balm) to their foreheads. The holy chrism is applied in the form of a cross, signifying that those who are confirmed must always openly profess and practice their faith.
-
Sponsors
-
Confirmation participants must be sponsored by a member of the church. According to Bishop Gerald Kicanas, the sponsor's role is to be a mentor who will encourage a life of faith.
-
References
- Photo Credit catholic school image by Craig Hanson from Fotolia.com
