Confirmation

The sacraments of the New Law are instituted to produce special effects of grace. Now, there is a special perfection incoming to full strength and maturity. To produce this effect of grace in the spiritual order, there exists a special sacramentcalled confirmation.

The matter of the sacrament of confirmation(that is, the material used in making the sign which is to become a sacrament), is the oil called holy chrism. Oil signifies the grace of the Holy Ghost; holy chrism is oil mingled with balm or balsam,which is a preservative with a pleasing odor. Chrism is therefore suitable matter for a sacrament which brings to the soul the Holy Ghost with gifts and graces, and preserves the soul in right living as “the good odor of Christ” (II Cor.2:15).

The chrism used in confirmation is olive oil mingledwith balsam, blessed or consecrated by a bishop previous to its use in the sacrament of confirmation.

Unless Scripture itself gives the form (thatis, the determinate set of words used in confecting or conferring a sacrament), the Church prescribes that form. The Church alwaysselects words which express precisely the meaning and reality ofthe sacrament. In the Latin rite the form of the sacrament of confirmation, uttered by the confirming prelate as he applies the matter by anointing the forehead of the candidate, is thefollowing: “I sign thee with the sign of the Cross, and I confirm thee with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

Confirmation imprints a character on the soul,as do all those sacraments which permanently fit and constitute aperson for service and action in the worship of God; hence,confirmation can be received only once. As baptism permanentlyequips a man for living by grace, confirmation equips him for successful combat against the enemies of his soul and of the faith. Confirmation gives a man the power of the soldier of Christ. Itimpresses this power upon him as an indelible character.

The character imprinted by confirmation presupposes, of necessity, the baptismal character. For confirmation is to baptism as full growth is to birth; no one can attain maturity unless he first be born.

As we saw in the first part of this work (Ia, q. 43),the Holy Ghost is “sent” by way of sanctifying grace. In confirmation, the Holy Ghost is “sent” or given to those confirmed, and therefore brings them sanctifying grace.

The age of the body does not affect the soul. One can attain to spiritual birth by baptism even in old age. And one can attain to spiritual maturity by confirmation, even in early youth.

The person being confirmed is anointed with chrism onthe forehead, so that he may show to all that he is a Christian,fearless of all the enemies of Christ.

The person confirmed is made a soldier of Christ. Now,a new soldier needs instruction in the warfare he is to wage. Forthis reason, the person confirmed has a sponsor to teach him. Again, since it is confirmation that gives full growth and strength, the person coming to be confirmed is still little and weak, and needs to be upheld by another; hence, he needs a sponsor.

The sacrament of confirmation is regularly administered by a bishop. It is, of course, within the power and jurisdiction of the pope to delegate priests to administerconfirmation. Priests possess the power to confirm because of theirpriestly order, but they have not the right, the jurisdiction touse that power, without the delegation mentioned.

The rite or ceremony with which confirmation is administered is appropriate. Even in such matters, the Churchmanifests the guidance of the Holy Ghost.