Confirmation
Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence, they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1285
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In the Rite of Confirmation, the Bishop (or a Priest who represents the Bishop) extends his hands over you and asks the Holy Spirit to come to you with seven special graces, or gifts: wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, reverence, and wonder & awe.
“Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For he had not yet fallen upon any of them; They had had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 8:14-17
In Baptism, parents and godparents promised that the child would be raised in the faith. They professed their faith on behalf of the child. In Confirmation the candidates will renew their Baptismal promises themselves. Candidates will choose a sponsor who will stand with them as they are presented to the Bishop for Confirmation.
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The Church encourages that one of the Baptismal Godparents serve as a sponsor for Confirmation because this expresses the link between the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. A good sponsor is someone who has been close to the candidate (someone other than a parent) and supportive throughout life. The sponsor must have been Baptized Catholic, receive Holy Communion regularly, and have been confirmed. They must be at least 16 years old, and a good role model of the Catholic faith. If they are married, they must have received the Sacrament of Matrimony in the Catholic faith.
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Confirmation is the sacrament whereby God completes the graces of a person’s baptism and deepens His seal within them, marking them as belonging to Him (2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13-14). When received within a life of faith, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit through confirmation empowers us to live the Christian life. It is not a person’s “adult choice to be Catholic”, rather it is God who chooses us, and we can then choose Him day by day.