There had been little public pronouncement of the Sacrament of Confirmation until it was most clearly explained in The Catechism of the Catholic Church. Declaring the Sacrament of Confirmation "A True and Proper Sacrament," the Council of Trent was the first to comment on it and place it among the seven sacraments of the law.
The Council of Florence in 1439 described the Sacrament of Confirmation as the giving of the Holy Spirit to the believer so that he may boldly walk forth in faith and proclaim the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Eastern and Western Forms of the Sacrament of Confirmation
In the Eastern Orthodox traditions, the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation are usually celebrated at the same time. As a result, most babies are baptized and then confirmed immediately thereafter. The Baptism would be performed with the sprinkling of water and then the special Chrism oils applied with the laying on of hands.
In the Roman Catholic traditions, infants are usually only baptized. Confirmation comes later between the ages of 12 and 18 depending on the diocese. Again, the Holy Spirit is called down upon the candidate for the Sacrament of Confirmation with the laying on of hands and the oil of Chrism usually performed by the bishop. Priests in the Roman tradition have to have special permission from the bishop to perform a Confirmation.
The Holy Chrism Oils
Chrism oils are consecrated yearly in what is called a Chrism Mass. This Mass is held about a week before the Holy Triduum, the week of Easter. During this Holy Mass, the bishop of each diocese blesses the oils which will be used all year long throughout the parishes for baptism, confirmation and the anointing of the sick.
These oils are then brought into the church in a special celebratory Mass in each parish usually the week before the Holy Triduum.
Scriptural Basis for the Sacrament of Confirmation
The Scriptural basis for the Sacrament of Confirmation is found in Acts: 8:14-17, where it says, “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.”
There are a total of Seven Sacraments in the Catholic Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance and Reconciliation, Matrimony, Holy Orders and the Anointing of the Sick.
Sources:
- Catechism of the Catholic Church
- The Sacraments: Readings in Contemporary Sacramental Theology, Edited By Michael J. Taylor, S.J.
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