Religion and Ethics

Key unit competence:

The learners will be able to explain the importance of the sanctifying graces of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Learning Objectives:

• State the relevance of the Sacrament of confirmation in the Christian`s life and in the Catholic Church.

• Identify the administration of Confirmation.

• Distinguish the gifts from Confirmation to other sacraments studied.

• Explain clearly the importance of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

• Describe the administration and gift of Confirmation.

• To appreciate the role of Sacrament of Confirmation.

• Show respect to the gifts of the Holy Spirit from the Sacrament of Confirmation

Introductory Activity 6:

In families when children reach youth development stage, they have enough strength and mature mind. Their parents assign them different activities to accomplish outside home such as shopping, fetching water, digging, etc.

1. Why do parents prefer to send mature children for some types of work?

2. When does the Church consider its members to be mature for the mission?

6.1 The Meaning and Administration of Sacrament of Confirmation

Learning Activity 6.1

1. What are the main symbols used to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Catholic Church?

2. Who is eligible for the confirmation in the Catholic Church?

Like baptism, the sacrament of confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of Catholic Church (baptism, Eucharist, confirmation, penance and reconciliation, anoint-ing of the sick, holy matrimony and holy orders). The first three sacraments are called “sacraments of initiation”. The confirmation strengthens the graces received through baptism. It enables the faithful members to be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, strengthening them in their Christian life. The Sacrament of confirmation is received once in life and cannot be reiterated.

Institution of the Sacrament of Confirmation

The institution of the Sacrament of Confirmation is found in Acts 8:14-17: “When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them, they had been only baptized into the name of Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit”.

Confirmation as a gift of the Holy Spirit

a) The Holy Spirit in the Church

After confirmation, the person receives the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Soul and the heart of the church. Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit over His Church on the Pentecost. This Holy Spirit is in the hearts of His believers. The following are the roles (missions) of the Holy Spirit in the Church:

• Mission of teaching: The Holy Spirit helps the church to understand the Holy Scriptures and their preservation throughout the church Tradition.

• Mission of sanctification: Jesus renews and sanctifies His church by the Holy Spirit in the Sacraments including Confirmation.

• Mission of government: The Holy Spirit always gives light and strength to the church Hierarchy so that the ministers can honestly lead/organize the Church.

• Mission of heart orientation: From baptism we are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Holy Spirit is acting in our hearts. He transforms the man’s mentality into the one of the Son of God.

• Mission of faithfulness of church vocation: The main mission of the Church is Evangelization. The faithful Church must spread Good News everywhere and every time. The Holy Spirit helps the Church to focus on God’s vision and by its charity. It aspires to perfect coming of God’s reign.

b) The Holy Spirit encourages us to be witnesses of Christ

The Holy Spirit helps us to fulfill/participate in the Christ’s missions:

• Royal mission: To imitate Christ the King and to work for men’s salvation through winning over sin and devil.

• Priesthood mission: by the Holy Spirit we become the spiritual fathers and mothers imitating Mary, Mother of the Church.

• Prophetic mission: we are sent to all nations to make disciples. We are prophets who proclaim Christ, catechize, evangelize etc.

The Rites and Symbols in Sacrament of Confirmation.There are three main elements of confirmation rite. The bishop or priest opens wide his places his hands upon the candidates. With the Chrism (holy oil), he traces the sign of the cross on the person’s forehead and says, “Be sealed with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.” The newly confirmed person responds by saying, “Amen.”.

The holy Chrismis one of the three kinds of holy oil which a bishop blesses each year at the Mass on Holy Thursday. The other two kinds of holy oil are the oil of catechu-mens (used in Baptism) and the oil of the sick (used in Anointing of the Sick).

The oil represents the strengthening effect of God’s grace.The bishop extends his hands over the whole group of the candidates. Since the time of the apostles this gesture has signified the receiving of the gift of Holy Spirit. He then invokes the outpouring of the Spirit in these words in prayer of Epiclesis:

« All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life. Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord.»

The sign of peace that concludes the rite of the sacrament signifies and demon-strates ecclesial communion with the bishop and with all the faithful.

Notice: The Renewal of Baptismal Promises, Laying on of Hands, Anointing with Chrism and the Holy Spirit are symbols and rituals that are central to the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The Minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation

• - Ordinary Ministers: The ordinary ministers of Confirmation are bishops. They are successors of Apostles and they have full holy orders.

• - Extra Ordinary Ministers: These are the priests who are granted the right by a bishop for a tangible reason. If the need arises, the bishop may grant the faculty of administering Confirmation to priests. The administration of this sacrament by the priests demonstrates clearly that its effect is to unite those who receive it.

The candidate for the Sacrament of Confirmation

Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation is usually administered to young people who are ten years and above. Candidates are ready at this time to take a more adult role in the Church. This indicates that they are ready to assume a new position in the community. Most confirmands participate in one or two years of preparation classes before receiving the sacrament.

Application Activity 6.1:

1. Give the meaning of Sacrament of Confirmation.

2. What are the Sacraments of initiation?

3. What are the roles of the Holy Spirit in the Church?

6.2 Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Effects of Confirmation

Learning activity 6.2:

1. Suppose you are in front of a judge in court but you are supported with a knowledgeable advocate. How would you feel?2. Since the Pentecost, the Holy Spirit became the helper of the church. What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the confirmed Christian?

a) The Gift from the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The confirmed Christian receives the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit such as wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, science, piety, and fear of the Lord. Every baptized Christian receives gifts of the Holy Spirit during baptism. These gifts are renewed and confirmed by confirmation. Their importance is stated below:

1. Wisdom: For the wise person, the wonders of nature, historical events, and the ups and downs of our lives take on deeper meaning. This gift helps discern the truth, fully understand the image of God and treat our fellow with dignity.

2. Understanding: We comprehend the way to live as followers of Christ. The understanding takes away any confusion between the right and wrong way of life.

3. Counsel (right judgment): A person with right judgment avoids sin and lives according to the teachings of Jesus.

4. Fortitude (Courage): With the gift of fortitude/courage, we overcome fear and we are willing to take risks as a follower of Jesus Christ. A person with courage is willing to stand up for what is right in the sight of God.

5. Knowledge: With the gift of knowledge, we understand the meaning of God. The gift of knowledge is more than an accumulation of facts.

6. Piety (Reverence): With the gift of reverence, sometimes called piety, we have a deep sense of respect for God and the church. A person with reverence recognizes our total reliance on God and comes before God with humility, trust, and love.

7. Fear of the Lord (Wonder): With the gift of fear of the Lord we are aware of the glory and majesty of God. A person with this gift knows that God is the perfection of all we desire (perfect knowledge, perfect goodness, perfect power, and perfect love).

To each gift of the Holy Spirit above corresponds a virtue:

The gift of wisdom: the virtue of charity.

The gift of understanding: the virtue of faith.

The gift of counsel (right judgment) : the virtue of prudence.

The gift of courage: the virtue of fortitude.

The gift of knowledge: the virtue of hope.

The gift of piety: the virtue of justice.

The gift of fear of Lord: the virtue of temperance.

b) The effects of the Sacrament of Confirmation

1. The indelible (ineffaceable) character: the one who receives this Sacrament is entirely marked the stamp of the Holy Spirit.

2. It makes one to be a child of God, being adopted as son or daughter of God the Father.

3. Confirmation unites us more firmly to Jesus Christ.

4. It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

5. It solidifies our bond with the Church (the mystical body of Christ)

6. It gives us the special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the Church.

Application Activity 6.2:

Discuss the effect of Confirmation for the church and the Confirmed Christian?How does the Holy Spirit manifest within our lives (gifts of the Holy Spirit)?

6.3 End Unit Assessment 6

End unit Assessment 6

1. Define the Sacrament of Confirmation

2. How is the Holy Spirit considered in the Church?

3. Mention gifts of the Holy Spirit?

4. As confirmed Christian mention twelve virtues you live among your neighbours.