Confirmation

Confirmation

From the Catholic Almanac

Last Sunday, Stella Maris Parishioners 70 years and above not confirmed yet, need to be conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation. They were reminded to register by 1st April 2009 at the Parish Office starting at 9.00am.

I am surprised why these elderly catholics have not been confirmed yet and am wondering why they need to be confirmed at this late stage.

I found the neccessity and importance of all Catholics to be confirmed in their catholic faith, and am happy to share with all those concerned. 

Those who have yet to be conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation are urged to read the following, or share with their friends, the importance of this Sacrament that every Catholic should not miss:- 

Confirmation is the sacrament by which a baptized person, through anointing with chrism and the imposition of hands, is endowed with the fullness of baptismal grace; is united more intimately to the Church; is enriched with the special power of the Holy Spirit; is committed to be an authentic witness to Christ in word and action. The sacrament confers a character on the soul and can be received only once.

According to the apostolic constitution Divinae Consortium Naturae, dated Aug. 15, 1971, in conjunction with the Ordo Confirmationis (''Rite of Confirmation''): ''The sacrament of confirmation is conferred through the anointing with chrism on the forehead, which is done by the imposition of the hand (matter of the sacrament), and through the words: 'N., receive the seal of the Holy Spirit, the Gift of the Father''' (form of the sacrament). On May 5, 1975, bishops' conferences in Englishspeaking countries were informed by the Congregation for Divine Worship that Pope Paul VI had approved this English version of the form of the sacrament: ''Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.''

The ordinary minister of confirmation in the Roman rite is a bishop. Priests may be delegated for the purpose. A pastor can confirm a parishioner in danger of death, and a priest can confirm in ceremonies of Christian initiation and at the reception of a baptized Christian into union with the Church.

Ideally, the sacrament is conferred during the Eucharistic Liturgy. Elements of the rite include renewal of the promises of baptism, which confirmation ratifies and completes, and the laying on of hands by the confirming bishop and priests participating in the ceremony.

In the Roman rite, it has been customary for children to receive confirmation within a reasonable time after first Communion and confession. There is a trend, however, to defer confirmation until later when its significance for mature Christian living becomes more evident. In the Eastern rites, confirmation is administered at the same time as baptism.

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