Confirmation

Preparation to the sacrament

Confirmation preparation courses they teach for young people from the 12 years and for adults.

• Catechesis for young people (minimum age 12 years) is taught on school Thursdays 19:00 to 20:00 hours. Registration
• Catechesis for adults It is taught during the second week of each month, Monday through Friday 20:30 to 21:30 hours, during every month of the year. Registration

Along with the baptism and the Eucharist, Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of Christian initiation.  The same word “confirmation” It means asserting or consolidate the work of baptism, already that through this sacrament the baptized person is strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit, joining more closely with their father God (Divine filiation) and the Church, and strengthening witness of Jesus Christ, in Word and deed. Thanks to he is able to defend their faith and transmit it.

Confirmation, as baptism, prints in the soul of the Christian a spiritual sign or indelible character, why this sacrament only can be received once in life. The person who comes to receive the confirmation must must profess faith, be in a State of grace, have the intention of receiving the sacrament and be prepared to assume its role of disciple and witness of Christ, in the ecclesial community and in temporal affairs. For this reason It is necessary to make a previous training which means a preparation and support for mature in the faith prior to the reception of the sacrament.

The confirmation in the new testament

There are particularly important moments in writing in which appears this sacrament:

– The day of Pentecost — when the Church - founded the Apostles and disciples met next to the Virgin. They were fearful, they did not understand what had happened - believing that everything had been in vain- and they were sad. Suddenly, It came down the Holy Spirit on them - were processed- and from that moment they understood all that had happened, They stopped being afraid, were launched to preach and to baptize.

– “Upon learning the Apostles who were at Jerusalem that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John. They came down and prayed for them so that they receive the Holy Spirit; because he had not yet descended on none of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and received the Holy Spirit.” (HCH 8,14-17).

In the East, This Sacrament is administered immediately after baptism and is followed by participation in the Eucharist, tradition that emphasizes the unity of the three sacraments of Christian initiation. In the Latin Church this sacrament is administered when reached the use of reason, and its celebration is ordinarily reserved for the Bishop, meaning that this sacrament strengthens the ecclesial bond.

The rite of confirmation

The essential of the confirmation rite is the anointing with the SAnto chrism on the forehead of the baptized - and in the East, also in the other organs of the senses), with the laying on of the hands of the Minister and the words:

– in the Roman Rite: Accipe signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti (This signal receives the gift of the Holy Spirit)

– in the Byzantine rite: Signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti (seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit)

When confirmation is being held separately from baptism, your connection with this sacrament is also expressed by the renewal of the baptismal commitments. The confirmation within the Eucharist celebration contributes to stress the unity of the sacraments of Christian initiation.

Answers to frequently asked questions

• What is the confirmation?
• It is the sacrament that perfects the grace of baptism to strengthen us in faith and making us soldiers and Apostles of Christ.
• When should you receive confirmation?
• The confirmation must be received when it has reached the use of reason, or before, If there is danger of death.
• How should you receive confirmation?
• The confirmation must be received in State of grace and with suitable dressing.
• Who can confirm?
• You can confirm the Bishop, and in some special cases the priests representing Bishop.

More information on confirmation: Catechism of the Catholic Church