Confirmation

Through the sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is sealed with the same Holy Spirit that came to the Apostles on the day of Pentecost. It is by the strength of the Holy Spirit that the apostles went out, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel to the entire world.

The effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is this special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. The sacrament of Confirmation confers on the baptized person the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, namely, Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord. These gifts belong in their fullness to Christ, the Son of David. They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. These gifts are meant to bear fruit for the sanctification of each Christian and for the good of all. The twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit are: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-control and Chastity.

Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should receive the sacrament of Confirmation.Confirmation, therefore, completes baptismal grace. Through the sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized faithful is more closely united to Christ and the Church and more prompted to share and defend the faith by his actions and deeds.

Since Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist form a unity, it follows that Confirmation is to be received at an appropriate time and age. Confirmation enables the baptized person to reach spiritual maturity for without Confirmation and the Eucharist, Baptism is certainly valid and efficacious, but Christian initiation remains incomplete.

The ordinary minister of the sacrament of Confirmation is the Bishop. Under normal circumstances he would be the one to administer the sacrament to a baptized person. The priest is the extraordinary minister. He celebrates the sacrament of Confirmation with proper delegation from the bishop and in extraordinary circumstances such as in case of danger of death or imminent death.

Catholics who were baptized as infants generally receive the sacrament of Confirmation around the age of 12. Those who are baptized as adults receive all three sacraments of initiation together, typically during the celebration of the Easter Vigil in Easter Week.

Receiving the sacrament of Confirmation at St. Patrick Catholic Church

If you are an adult Catholic and you were baptized as a child but have not received the sacrament of Confirmation or if you were baptized in another Christian denomination and would like to become Catholic, we encourage you to sign up for the RCIA class (Rite of Christian initiation of Adults) in order to prepare for the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation. Classes start every year in early September and end during the Easter season. They meet weekly for about nine months to provide catechetical formation prior to the reception of the sacrament.

If you are an unbaptized adult who is preparing for Baptism, you will receive the sacrament of Confirmation together with all the sacraments of initiation at the time of your Baptism. You would ordinarily go through a period of discernment and preparation of about one year called the Catechumenate that includes attending class once a week. We encourage you to sign up for our RCIA classes too in order to be instructed about the meaning of the sacraments and our beautiful Catholic faith.

Children are typically prepared to receive the sacrament of Confirmation through our CCD (Catechetical) program, also known as Sunday school. Those who are enrolled in St. Patrick Catholic School are prepared and receive Confirmation as part of the religious formation program in the School curriculum.

If you have any questions, please contact our parish office at 305-531-1124.