Though it normally takes place as a young person is entering his or her early teens, Confirmation is not merely a rite of passage or a celebration of approaching adulthood. In fact, the sacrament is best understood as the completion of Baptism, which may have taken place more than a decade earlier. Along with Baptism and the Eucharist, Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation—the three ritual moments by which a person enters fully into the life of Christ and his Church. Early in Christian history, Baptism and Confirmation became separated from one another, and remain so today in most parts of the western Church. Nevertheless, Confirmation can best be understood as the completion of the grace (and vocation) bestowed at Baptism. Since in our infancy we are not capable of professing the faith of the Church, our parents and godparents speak on our behalf. But at Confirmation, a young person has the opportunity to publicly “confirm,” or ratify, what he or she believes.
Confirmation is inextricably linked to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As on the day of Pentecost, when the apostles and the Virgin Mary were filled with the Spirit’s power as they gathered in prayer, those who are confirmed receive the full outpouring of the Spirit’s seven-fold gifts, and the grace first poured out on them at Baptism is brought to completion. Those being confirmed are anointed on the forehead with sacred Chrism (perfumed oil), a visible sign that they belong to Christ, the Anointed One. From that moment they are fully incorporated into the Church, enjoy a deeper intimacy with the Lord, and are challenged to take up the mission of living the Gospel in the midst of the world.
At St. Lawrence our young people normally participate in a two-year period of preparation, beginning at the end of 6th grade and culminating with the celebration of the sacrament in the spring of 8th grade. For more information about Confirmation for our young parishioners, please click below.
Adult Confirmation
Many adult Catholics have, for any number of reasons, never had the opportunity to be confirmed, and we welcome anyone who would like to complete their Christian initiation by celebrating this sacrament. Ordinarily this is accomplished by participating in a preparation series offered in the spring, with Confirmation being celebrated on the great feast of Pentecost. For more information, call Jeanmarie Smith (631) 589-0042 x 117.
