Confirmation

Together with the Sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist, Confirmation is one of the sacraments of initiation, completing the action and reception of grace that began with Baptism. Confirmation more perfectly binds the faithful to the Church, and it enriches them with special strength in the Holy Spirit so as to enable all of God's children to more boldly proclaim and defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This Sacrament, sadly, is understood by so many as a "graduation" from their formation in the Faith. In reality, when the Holy Spirit descends on the confirmands, He empowers them with His seven-fold gift to increase in them the life of virtue and holiness. This is the beginning of a new chapter in their life in the Church, so much so that, after being sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, Mother Church expects the newly confirmed to be bold witnesses to the proclamation of salvation through Christ, and to live lives worthy of the call they have received.