The sacrament that strengthens and completes the grace received at Baptism, enriching us with a special strength of the Holy Spirit.
Sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit
Confirmation deepens and perfects the grace we received at Baptism, equipping us with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Through the laying on of hands and anointing with chrism, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and empowered to live as mature witnesses of Christ. This sacrament prepares us to actively participate in the Church’s mission, boldly proclaiming the Gospel through our words and actions in the world.
Scripture: “Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:14-17)
Catechism Reference: CCC 1285. Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. 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.