Information, Reasoning, Faith Reflection, and
Discussion
A summary based on Puthanangady, Paul. Baptism and Confirmation (Bangalore: TPI, 2006 ).
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| Ceremony of Roman Catholic Confirmation |
Preliminary Note
Every Sacrament
initiates us into the participation of salvation wrought through Jesus Christ.
Hence the context for a theology of the sacrament of confirmation is the
economy of salvation. Confirmation celebrates the special role of the Holy
Spirit in the life of the individual believer and in the church. We intend, in
this discussion, to make sense of this special role of the Holy Spirit.[1] In
the context of ambiguity about the distinction between the sacraments of
baptism and confirmation, the discussion becomes important and relevant.
History
In the early
church, as we learn from Pauline corpus and from patristic tradition, baptism
and confirmation never stood separate. The sacrament of baptism was performed
either by immersion, or by anointing with the holy oil or by imposition of
hands or a combination of them. With the growing distance between the East and
West, different actions gained prominence for the sacrament of baptism. There
arose discussion to justify the different types of ceremonies – immersion or
anointing & imposition of hands - in both the camps as to which of the two
actions really communicated the Holy Spirit.
They came to a consensus that both effectively communicated the holy
spirit but had different functions and purposes. The neophyte receives the Holy
Spirit by the act of immersion – Baptism. The believer receives the Holy Spirit
by the act of anointing and imposition of hands – Confirmation. The term occurs
first in the Council of Reiz in France, 439.
Sacrament of Confirmation
After such
explanation and understanding, in the tradition, henceforth it was agreed upon
that sacrament of confirmation (i.e. post-baptismal anointing and imposition of
hands) completes, finishes and perfects baptism. We understand the function of
the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of confirmation in the light of its
distinction and relatedness to the sacrament of Baptism. While baptism
introduces us into the mystery (immersion/PDR of Christ), confirmation makes us
disciples (imposition of Hands/Pentacost); former is more a treaty, later a
seal and signature; former makes us sons/daughters (free from the sin of Adam)
later prophets to the whole world to proclaim the good news (our experience of
Christ); former is static the latter makes us dynamic.
Action of the Holy Spirit in
Confirmation
Initially, the
presence of the Holy Spirit effected an impressive physical and spiritual
manifestation like glossalalia, charisms etc. The contemporary theology of
confirmation on the other hand focuses on the intrinsic indelible impact of the
sacrament on the believer. Moreover it is not an onetime event but one that is
lived and developed during the whole course of life. Generally confirmation
renders on the individual special and ecclesial impacts: 1) individual receives
Grace & Gifts/Charisms of the Holy spirit, 2) an affinity in the welfare of
the church community (active participation and later prophets/missionaries) and
3) openness to enter into dialogue with other churches if extended even other
religions to create new heavens and new earth.
[1]
To understand the Holy Spirit see Pneumatology.
If I synthesize, I would define him as the force (Power) from God in Christ
that inspires about our being, origin, destination, and the means to achieve it.
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