Recently, we’ve learned a little about the Sacrament of Baptism, the Anointing of The Sick and Holy Matrimony (Marriage). Today, our focus is on the Sacrament of Confirmation. In the Roman Catholic tradition there are three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation.

Most of us remember receiving Confirmation at the age of 9 or 10. There were big Confirmation classes in those days. We were taught by the “Baltimore Catechism”, which was a question and answer catechism that was mostly memorized and given back to the teacher(usually nuns or priests) upon request or question. In those days the Bishop would confirm us and then give us a tap on the cheek, indicating that the Holy Spirit would give us strength through the ups and downs of life. Also, there were no individual sponsors. The pastor would choose the sponsor or sponsors for the entire class; usually one or two outstanding parishioners. Also recall, that the Bishop came every four years.

Incidentally, I was confirmed at the age of 9½ with almost 55 children from a very small parish. I remember learning the Baltimore Catechism, quite well, as we were told that the Bishop would ask us questions, I was confirmed by the late Bishop Joseph Donnelly who was an auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford, at the time. He was very tall with a loud Irish voice. Later on I learned that he was very, very involved with United States social justice and was a friend of Cesar Chavez and Bobby Kennedy. As the song goes: “those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end; for we were young and sure to have our way.”

The use of Chrism Oil is predominant in the sacrament of Confirmation. This Chrism Oil is used in two other sacraments: Baptism and Holy Orders (Ordination). The Chrism Oil is traced as a cross on the head of the Confirmed by the Bishop as he says: “be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”.

Confirmation makes us full members of the Christian Church. It is, for Roman Catholics, the last sacrament of initiation into the church. We will learn more about confirmation next week, but we will end with the seven gifts of The Holy Spirit given in Confirmation. They are: Wisdom; Understanding; Counsel; Fortitude; Knowledge; Piety and Fear of The Lord.