Msgr. Peter J. Vaghi
Title of Series: "Sacraments: The Catholic Faith Celebrated"

Part 3: "Confirmation: Be Sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit"

December 6th, 2007
First Thursday

In our meditation in November, our theme was "Baptism: Gateway to the Christian Life." As we continue our journey this year through the sacramental economy of our Faith, today we ponder the mystery and beauty of Confirmation. The title of this reflection is “Confirmation: Be Sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit." The catechism is quite specific at the beginning of this rather brief section when it states that "the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of Baptismal grace." CCC 1285 I have often said that Baptism is the most important day of our lives as Christians. Since we have just heard that Confirmation is “necessary” for the completion of Baptismal grace, then this sacrament must be a part of that most important day of our lives as well even if it takes place on another day.

One of the great joys of being in a parish with a school and vibrant Religious Education program is the
preparation each year for the Sacrament of Confirmation. I have become more and more involved with our young people as they approach this most significant day in their sacramental lives. This year I helped with their retreat, gave a series of meditations for their parents and soon will examine the young people on their understanding of the sacrament, the Confirmation name they have chosen and why and a discussion of their service hours -- how they witness their faith prior to the bishop administering the sacrament. It is always interesting to get to know our young candidates as they grow in faith in preparation for this great sacrament of Confirmation as the bishop seals them with the gift of the Holy Spirit and as they prepare to be stronger witnesses to our precious faith.

Another aspect of the importance of this sacrament, and the young people consistently get this, is that "Baptism, the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the 'sacraments of Christian initiation,’ whose unity must be safeguarded." CCC 1285 In other words, one becomes a full member of the Catholic Church only after reception of all three of these sacraments -- sacraments that initiate a believer fully into the Catholic Church. Christians -- you and I -- are reborn in Baptism, strengthened by the Holy Spirit in Confirmation and sustained each time we receive the Eucharist.

Important as it is to see these three sacraments together -- a kind of sacramental triad -- there exists an even more special relationship between the first sacrament of initiation, Baptism, and Confirmation for, as I said earlier, Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism. "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.'" CCC 1285 “The connection between Confirmation and Baptism is also reflected in the choosing of a name by which the candidate will be confirmed, especially when the chosen name is one of the names by which the candidate was baptized.” USCCA 206

"A special strength of the Holy Spirit" -- those are the operative words of this sacrament. Confirmation is about the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Blessed Trinity, sometimes regrettably referred to as the forgotten person of the Blessed Trinity.

I assure you that I will not let you forget the Holy Spirit. Nor do I let the young candidates under my spiritual care forget “the Lord, the giver of life,” as we profess each Sunday at Mass in the Nicene Creed referring to the Holy Spirit.

Already in the Hebrew scriptures, the Old Testament, the prophets spoke of the Spirit. Referring to the long-awaited Messiah who would come to save the world, (and we contemplate that Messiah in this Advent season in a special way), Isaiah announced: "the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord." (Isaiah ll:2)

Each of us has ingrained in our memory the beautiful image from the gospels of the “dove,” that image of the Holy Spirit, hovering over Jesus as He is baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptizer -- thus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah. Furthermore, "He was conceived of the Holy Spirit; his whole life and his whole mission are carried out in total communion with the Holy Spirit whom the Father gives him 'without measure.'” CCC 1286 In his recent book entitled Jesus of Nazareth, Benedict XVI writes that “the image of the dove may be a reminiscence of what the creation account says about the Spirit brooding over the waters (Gen 1:2); the word like (“like a dove”) suggests that it is “a simile for something that ultimately cannot be described” (Gnilka, Matthaeusevangelium, I, p. 78).

But the fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the possession of the Messiah. Repeatedly in scripture Jesus promised the sending of the Holy Spirit on those who followed Him and ultimately upon
us. "Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: 'Rivers of living water will flow from within him.'” Jn 7:38 Jesus uses this vital image of water in reference to the Spirit. Using the word “drink” referring to the same Holy Spirit, Benedict XVI, in his new encyclical on “Hope,” (Spe Salvi) writes: “this is how Christians addressed one another. By virtue of their Baptism they had been reborn, they had been given to drink of the same Spirit and they received the Body of the Lord together, alongside one another.”

Of course, this is after the Holy Spirit had been sent, after Jesus was glorified. Jn 7: 39 For at the last supper, Jesus told His disciples: "But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." Jn 16: 7 He was referring to the Holy Spirit or the Advocate.

That promise was ultimately fulfilled after His death and resurrection in the sending of the Holy Spirit.

There are two accounts in scripture for this: first, John’s account which took place in the upper room on Easter Sunday night( referred to as the Johannine Pentecost) ; and the second, the account of Acts which takes place fifty days after Easter, Luke’s account of the Pentecost. The accounts are different. They are addressed to different audiences and at different times. But the mystery of the sending of the Holy Spirit, as promised by Jesus, is the same. That is what happens at Confirmation.

In John 20: 19-23, the scene is the upper room--on the evening of that first day of the week -- where the disciples were locked together for fear of the Jews. Unlike St. Luke (and his account in the Acts of the Apostles) where Pentecost took place 50 days after Easter, for St. John, Pentecost took place on Easter Sunday night -- underscoring that what we are celebrating is one mystery -- the dying, rising of Jesus and His sending of the Holy Spirit as He promised. "Jesus said to them again 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.' And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.'" Jn 20: 21 23

When we think of the Holy Spirit, most of us most likely think of Luke's account, in the Acts 2:1-13, fifty days after Easter. The disciples where all huddled together in fear (with the Blessed Mother) behind locked doors. Then suddenly a wind roared through house filling every room. People from every known country of the world gathered outside for what was the Jewish feast of Pentecost. They heard this roaring wind. Then tongues of fire, representing the Holy Spirit, came down upon the apostles. It filled them with the Holy Spirit and made it possible for them to be understood in every language. Immediately, the apostles went out and began to preach the crucified and risen Jesus. Filled with the Holy Spirit the apostles began to proclaim "the mighty work of God." They were filled with boldness and courage because of the Holy Spirit. Three thousand people were added that very day to their number. This is what can happen when we really yield to the power of the Holy Spirit. It can and does happen in our lives.

The Sacrament of Confirmation is based on these two biblical accounts.

Thereafter, on that same day, Peter said to those gathered outside "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit." Acts 2:38 "Those who believed in the apostolic preaching and were baptized received the gift of the Holy Spirit in turn." CCC 1287 The Acts of the Apostles, that beautiful and inspired diary of the early church, is replete with examples of the "laying on of hands," which came to symbolize the coming of the Holy Spirit -- examples of Peter, Paul, John and others.

Listen to this very instructive account of St. Paul in Ephesus: “While Apollos was in Corinth , Paul traveled through the interior of the country and came to Ephesus where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They answered him, “We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” He said, “How were you baptized?” They replied, “With the baptism of John.” Paul then said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” (Acts 19: 1-6)

What has become the sacrament of Confirmation "in a certain way perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church." CCC 1288 "Very early, the better to signify the gift of the Holy Spirit, an anointing with perfumed oil (chrism) [blessed by the bishop on Holy Thursday] was added to the laying on of hands. This anointing highlights the name 'Christian,' which means 'anointed' and derives from that of Christ himself whom God 'anointed with the Holy Spirit.'" CCC 1289

Pause for just a minute before we look at this specific sacrament in more detail. First, I invite you to remember the general definition of a sacrament! I ask my young candidates this question every year. Often, they know it, but not as well as our generation where we were drilled over and over again. You know it: "A sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace." Underscore “sign. ” But what is the “sign” of Confirmation since every sacrament has an “outward sign”?

The “sign” of Confirmation is the imposition of hands and the anointing with chrism on the forehead. The
bishop, who is the ordinary minister of this sacrament, then says: "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" as he anoints the forehead of each individual with oil. It signifies and imprints a "spiritual seal."

Now oil is a sign of healing and strength. "Anointing, in biblical and other ancient symbolism, is rich in meaning: oil is a sign of abundance and joy; it cleanses (anointing before and after a bath) and limbers (the anointing of athletes and wrestlers); oil is a sign of healing, since it is soothing to bruises and wounds; and it makes radiant with beauty, health and strength." CCC 1294

The catechism continues: "Anointing with oil has all these meanings in the sacramental life. The pre-baptismal anointing with the oil of catechumens signifies cleansing and strengthening; the anointing
of the sick expresses healing and comfort. The post-baptismal anointing with sacred chrism in Confirmation and ordination is the sign of consecration. " CCC 1294

By this anointing, the confirmand receives the 'mark', the seal of the Holy Spirit. That imparts an indelible mark just like Baptism. And just as one can only be validly baptized once, so too can one only be validly confirmed once. This seal, or mark, "is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him/her with power from on high so that he/she may be his witness." CCC 1304 "This seal of the Holy Spirit marks our total belonging to Christ, our enrollment in his service forever, as well as the promise of divine protection in the great eschatological trial." CCC 1296

In the Roman Rite, the bishop extends his hands over those about to be confirmed invoking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This gesture, since the time of the apostles, has signified the gift of the Holy Spirit. He invokes the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, fortitude, counsel, piety and fear of the Lord. When we are responsive to the grace of Confirmation and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, we begin to bear the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity. USCCA 209

In the Archdiocese of Washington, the age for confirmation is between the 7th and 8th grade. For adults, there is no age limit. If any of you have not received the sacrament or know someone who has not, please speak to me or one of your own parish priests. Preparation for this sacrament includes a deepening study of the gift of faith itself. It should "aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit--his actions, his gifts and his biddings -- in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life." CCC 1309

"In the East,[the Eastern Rite of our Church] this sacrament is administered immediately after Baptism
and is followed by participation in the Eucharist; this tradition highlights the unity of the three sacraments of initiation. In the Latin Church this sacrament is administered when the age of reason has been reached, and its celebration is ordinarily reserved to the bishop thus signifying that this sacrament strengthens the ecclesial bond." CCC 1318 Bishops are, after all, the successors of the apostles and they have received the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders. "The administration of this sacrament by them demonstrates clearly that its effect is to unite those who receive it more closely to the Church, to her apostolic origins, and to her mission of bearing witness to Christ." CCC 1313

Now we have said that Confirmation completes or ratifies the graces given in Baptism. The effect of the sacrament is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit at once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. At our Confirmation, the Holy Spirit comes with the special sacramental graces to enlighten our minds and strengthen our wills to enable us to live up to our Christian commitments, to be a courageous witness to Christ. But what kind of grace does one receive from this sacrament? What are the effects of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit increase and deepen the baptismal grace at Confirmation?

There are 4 concrete effects that I would like to mention today:

l.) The catechism says that the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Confirmation "roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry 'Abba! Father!'" How does this happen? Concretely, it happens in our lives of prayer. It is, after all, the Holy Spirit who
prays within us. Prayer is most essentially the work of the Holy Spirit. John Paul writes: “It is a beautiful and salutary thought that, wherever people are praying in the world, there the Holy Spirit is, the living breath of prayer.” Dominum et Vivificantem 65

It is important for us to recognize this truth. In addition, it is the Holy Spirit, the dynamis of God, who pulls us into divine life, that unique relationship between the Father and the Son. In fact, St. Augustine calls the Holy Spirit the love between the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is the energy of God, the grace of God moving and pulling us into relationship with Him. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals Jesus to us anew in our prayer time. It is the Spirit who gives vitality to the words we read in sacred scripture, unleashes the power of God pregnant in each and every word of God -- originally inspired by the same Holy Spirit to the sacred authors.

2.) With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Confirmation, each one of us benefits from the promise of the Lord Jesus who said "And when he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world in regard to sin..." Jn 16:8 Any spirituality worth its salt has to deal with sin. Otherwise it is merely an illusion. We can and should not be afraid to identify and deal with the sin in our lives, the concrete patterns of sin in our life and indeed the structure of sin in our lives. Sin separates us from God, from Love who is God. It is precisely the Holy Spirit who reveals our sinfulness to us, in the words of St. John "convicts us of our sinfulness." The surest sign of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is that active struggle within each of us between the flesh, that drive toward selfishness and self-centeredness, and the Spirit. Listen to Galatians 5: “I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ (Jesus) have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another.”(Galatians 5: 16-26) In his book on the Holy Spirit entitled: "The
Life-Changer," Fr. Francis Martin wrote: “Do you ever feel like your life is a record, playing he same old songs over and over again? Sin has cut its own grooves in every one of us. We all have these patterns or structures of sin in our lives. They enslave us and those around us because, as we have seen, structures of sin involve our relationships with others. The plain fact is, however, that the Lord does want to change our lives and the lives of those with whom we live and have to do. Our acknowledgment and confession of sin need not be an embarrassing repetition in which we acknowledge, over and over, the same disordered habits and tendencies. No, the power of the cross of Jesus Christ, uniting us with his body through baptism, by a faith enlivened in the Holy Spirit, can actually change our lives. The power of the cross can give us an inner, living experience of the presence and power of Christ within us. This becomes the source of our confidence, joy, freedom, and assurance in the Holy Spirit. Having that precious pledge of eternal salvation, we can know already in this life what it means to be free from those things which hold us in bondage. The Holy Spirit will show us the ways in which we habitually fall short of his glory. (Martin, pp. 75-76)

Often it is during the Sacrament of Penance itself that the Holy Spirit reveals our sinfulness, makes us see them so clearly and makes it possible for the burden of sin to be lifted and the mercy of God to be experienced anew or for the first time. I invite you to receive this sacrament before Christmas, to Come Home for Christmas, to invite others to do them same. You will see anew or maybe for the first time experience the concrete effect of the Holy Spirit.

3.) Confirmation increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit within us. The catechism teaches that "the moral life of Christians is sustained by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are permanent dispositions which make us docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit." CCC 1830 The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. CCC 1831

4.) Confirmation importantly "gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross." CCC 1303 An essential fruit of the sacrament and the working of the Holy Spirit is to equip us for mission, the mission of evangelization in a countercultural way in this our world. The task may seem daunting at times, but this is exactly why Christ himself strengthens us in the power of the Holy Spirit so that we can truly say and understand from he core of our being that "I can do all things in Christ, who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13) And it means not only to say it. It means to do it by our very actions. There are many examples that confirm that Pentecost is not just an event that happened in our Church centuries ago. You can list them in your own lives. There are many personal examples at home and work which daily testify that the fruits of confirmation continue to happen each time a person is confirmed, each time one of us yields and calls upon the power of the Holy Spirit abiding within us. For a Christian, Confirmation is his/her personal Pentecost. Like the grace of Baptism, this sacrament is not "magic." God gives us the grace. God gives us His Holy Spirit. It is up to us to respond. Come Holy Spirit!

In summary, “the effects of Confirmation include a permanent character, a perfection of baptismal grace, an increase in the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, a deepening of our identity as adopted sons and daughters of God, a closer bond to the Church and her mission, and helps for bearing witness.” USCCA 210


To conclude, let us pray:

God, complete the work you have begun and keep the gifts of your Holy Spirit active in the hearts of your people. Make us ready to live the Gospel and eager to do your will. May we never be ashamed to proclaim to all the world Jesus who lives and reigns forever.

AMEN