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The Sacrament of Confirmation

"When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,

they were all in one place together.

And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind,

and it filled the entire house in which they were.

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,

which parted and came to rest on each one of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit

and began to speak in different tongues,

as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim" 

Acts 2:1-4

     The Sacrament of Confirmation is the third Sacrament of Initiation in which the Holy Spirit confers His gifts through the anointing by the Bishop (or delegated priest) with the Sacred Chrism in order to strengthen the confirmandi (those being confirmed) to be more faithful witnesses to Christ and their faith and to participate more fully in the evangelical mission of the Church. It is in this sacrament in which the confirmandi , after years of being formed in their faith, now make the Profession of Faith, which was made for them at their Baptism, on their own.

     This, by no means, ends the formation of the Christian in their faith, but is a renewal of their commitment to learn and grow in their faith, aided by the gifts given to them by the Holy Spirit. To help them continue in their formation, the confirmandi choose sponsors to help guide them as they continue to grow in faith. When choosing a sponsor, Canon Law requires most of the same qualifications for godparents in Baptism: that they be a practicing, confirmed Catholic of good and moral standing and that they be at least 16 years of age. In the event that a sponsor is unable to attend the actual Confirmation, the confirmandi must find a proxy with the same qualifications previously mentioned. 

The Importance of Confirmation
Fr. Robert Barron - Confirmation
Sacraments 101 - "Why do I need to be Confirmed?
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