Confirmation is is one of the three Sacraments of Christian Initiation. The other two sacraments of Christian Initiation are Baptism and the Eucharist. Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism through the outpouring of the gifts of Holy Spirit. Confirmation is a rite of initiation of not only Catholicism, but other Christian denominations too. Confirmation 's roots can be found in the New Testament, it is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and its practice has not derived much from the Early Church practice. The origin of the Sacrament of Confirmation is found in the New Testament. There are many different books and chapters in the New Testament that talk about Confirmation. For example, in the Gospel of John 14:15-26, Jesus talks to …show more content…
The Catechism states that Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace. Confirmation roots us more deeply in the divine feeling which makes us call, "Abba" or "Father." Confirmation also unites us more firmly to Jesus, it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in people, and it renders a person 's bond with the Church more perfect. Furthermore, the sacrament of Confirmation gives a person special strength of the Holy Spirit that allows a person to preach about the Good News and to defend his faith. A person with the power of the Holy Spirit can confess to the name of Jesus and the person will never be ashamed of the Cross. Confirmation can only be received once, just like Baptism because it leaves a mark that can never be erased (Catholic Church 1302-1305). In the Latin Church only the bishop can perform the Sacrament of Confirmation. Having bishops be the only ones able to perform the sacrament highlights the connection of Confirmation with its apostolic origins. The bishop is a sign that the Church is unified, universal, and apostolic. Every bishop has been ordained by another bishop who was also ordained by a bishop. The line of the bishops can be traced back to the Apostles which is called Apostolic Succession. It is handed down through the laying of the hands in Holy Orders. Confirmation deepens a person 's grace from the outpouring of …show more content…
Many people do not understand the meaning of Confirmation and the reason why a person might want to receive it. Baptism and Eucharist are more important than Confirmation and if a person had a choice whether to receive those two sacraments or Confirmation, many people would choose to be baptized and to receive the Eucharist. Baptism grants a person membership into the Church and the Eucharist nourishes a person with the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Confirmation is just a last step that not every person necessarily needs to receive in his life. Furthermore, many high schoolers do not want to receive Confirmation because they do not want to attend the classes. The requirements to receive Confirmation are ridiculous. Students are only allowed to miss about two to three meetings a year and they are never allowed to miss a retreat. Students have to go to classes once a week for two years, even if they go to a Catholic school. If a person misses just one retreat and he is a month away from being confirmed, the people who run the classes can say that the student will have to repeat the year of classes. This is baffling because why does it matter if he misses one thing if he went to all the others. There are multiple people that are not able to attend these classes because most students have busy schedules. So even if a person with a busy schedule wants to receive Confirmation, they have to
To me, confirmation is about continuing my faith journey, not completing it. I believe that St. Perpetua’s illustration of love, friendship, loyalty, faith, and bravery can assist me in this important sacrament. By following her example, I may become a more faithful, a more loving, and a fairer catholic. She lived out the last days of her life braver than most can hope to live out in a lifetime, and it was all in the name of God. St. Perpetua was, and continues to be, a prime example of how every Christian should strive to love and serve God.
The Roman Rite has many traditions that developed over time have been kept fundamentally the same, though they differ a lot from the Eastern Rite. In the Roman Rite, the liturgy is referred to as the Mass or The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In the Roman Rite, instead of using leavened bread, it is typical that unleavened bread is used when celebrating the Eucharist during Mass. Also, instead of bowing, like done in the Eastern Rite, genuflecting is what is done when venerating the Blessed Sacrament. In the Eastern Catholic Church all three Sacraments of Initiation are done at the same moment, but in the Roman Catholic Church each sacrament takes place at a different time in a persons life. The events are separated and given to the individual as they grow in their
Lutherans today belief in Consubstantiation as was taught by Martin Luther-in which the substances remain the same, and somehow the presence of Christ is included. Majority of Protestant sees the Eucharist only as a symbol or a remembrance and a pledge of salvation as was taught by Zwingli and Calvin respectively. Aquinas’ approach on the Doctrine of real presence is a sign-centred in which the whole Christ is present sacramentally in the species of bread and wine “in the manner of a substance,” both physically in Heaven, and substantially in the sacrament whenever Mass is celebrated. So, the risen Lord is truly present in ‘His body and blood, soul and divinity after the priest pronounced the consecration formula over the host, signifying that the gifts have become the gift of Christ’s body and blood, because the words have an instrumental power to change the gifts insofar as they
The Roman Catholic Church is the largest body of Christians in the world. Catholics are concentrated more heavily in North America, Europe and South America than any other place. The traces of the beginning of the Catholic Church began about A.D. 30; this is the time when Jesus Christ was mandating his apostles to spread the teachings about the Kingdom of God. (Gills Web). Catholics have the belief that Christ inaugurated the church to carry to his people the salvation that he had brought to the world. They also believe that with the aid of God they have managed to preserve his teachings. Belief in God’s revelation is religious faith. Some beliefs that the Roman Catholic’s acquire are the Trinity and creation, Sin, the Incarnation, and salvation, Life after death, Worship and Baptism, Confirmation, and Mass. (Gills Web). Trinity and creation is where Catholics presume there is only one God. This one God exists of a unit of three persons – The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three persons form the Holy Trinity. (Gills Web) Although this is true there is still only one God.
Through the close study of two of the aspects shown in the diagram, their contributions allow Christianity to be considered a living religious tradition. The significant contributions of Pope John XXIII, during both his papal and Pre-papal life have had everlasting effects on not only Catholicism, but Christianity as a whole and lead to the sense of Christianity being a living religious tradition. His works include two Papal encyclicals, Mater et Magistra and Pacem in Terris, along with his work being Apostolic Delegate of Greece and Turkey. Moreover, The significant practice of Baptism has further contributed to Christian being considered a living religious tradition as it accounts for the premise of most Christian beliefs to be initiated, especially in terms of salvation and affirming the beliefs in the trinity and following the teachings of Jesus Christ.
There are seven sacraments but the Mass is the most important one of them all. The sacrament of Mass gives priest strength to spiritual growth in their vocation, not only for priest but for all people. The Mass was instituted at the last super by Jesus; He looked at the cross and tells what was going to happen to Him the following day, in the Mass we look back to it too. The Eucharist in
Like discussed earlier Catholics and Christians believe that the Conformation, and Baptism matures the soul and helps people reach adulthood. Baptism usually occurs at a very young age but is not bound by a person’s age. In Baptism, water is used to purify and symbolizes the washing away of sins. It is also described a person being born again because the cleansing of a person with water symbolizes the death and rebirth of that person. Also, when a person becomes baptized they accept God and have faith in God and all his teachings. Confirmation is like a continuation of Baptism because the faith in God of that person is confirmed. Along with confirming one’s faith confirmation gives a person more responsibilities. A large part of bei...
One of the most controversial topics in Christianity is sacraments. Scholars define the word “sacrament” many ways. A common definition is that a sacrament is an outward, visible sign of an inward, spiritual reality. It would be inaccurate to say that a sacrament is just a sign. It should be viewed as an encounter or something that brings something else about. In other words, a sacrament is something that points beyond itself and has meaning in a spiritual sense. Sacraments compile a range of imagery which all have deeper meanings than meet the eye. It is not just a ritual enactment of something else going on; it has objective order.
The second sacrament is the Holy Eucharist. Catholics also call this Communion. This Sacrament, just like baptism, was seen several times in the bible and was given to Catholics directly from Jesus. The ritual practice of the Eucharist comes from Christ at the last supper. According to the book of Matthew,
The doctrine of the church is ecclesiology, which comes from the greek word church - human beings who are like Christ. This doctrine is a doctrine for the universal church. We sometimes enter a singular way of talking about our culture when the bible speaks in plurality. Ecclesiology gives us the basis of our belief and marks of the church which gives us clarity of what it means to be “one holy catholic and apostolic.” The church bears four marks: Unity, Holiness, Catholicity, and Apostolicity. These four marks are the truth about the church. We must act in Unity because the church is one, 1 Corinthians 12:12 say “Just as the body is one and as many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” The Holiness is a inheritance given to us by Christ. However we can not achieve that alone. As we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, He actualizes that for us. Catholicity is the universality and wholeness the church, making room for people to enter the body of Christ. Lastly is apostolicity which is about the authority and truth, and the authority of the apostles is in their eyewitness testimony of Jesus (2 Peter 1:16). The church teaches about the apostles truth that is true to the gospel of Jesus
The seven formal sacraments play a major role in religion, each have their own divine meaning that was set forth by the Lord. Confirmation is the sacrament in which one seals Baptism, where one is given the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. This is when you make a choice as a follower of God to live your life as a Christian, and to wholeheartedly accept Jesus Christ into your heart.
In the Christian faith there are many beliefs and acts for the baptized Catholic to follow,
Christians must come to understand that in order to serve God and His people well, we need to know and live better my Catholic Faith. We must study and read about the Church’s teachings and traditions to appreciate them better, but we must also allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our Christian lives. He will do it! God’s Spirit desires to form a close relationship with each and every one of us. Indeed, He is the Great Unknown Companion within us that we already received in our baptism to form us perfectly into God’s image and likeness. However, if in Baptism we receive the Spirit to bear Christ 's image, it 's equally true that in Confirmation we are sent by God in that same Spirit to bear true witness to Christ. With the Holy Spirit we are sent to share with others the wonders that God has done, and to share that God is alive and that God is love. Therefore, open your heart to the Holy Spirit’s presence and action in your life; always invite Him with desire, faith, and fervor to fill you completely; and pray to Him constantly for wisdom, strength, guidance, and courage. God will do it – yes, He will! God bless you
It is followed by years of catechesis before being completed late by Confirmation and the Eucharist, the summit of Christian initiation. Baptism is the Church 's way of celebrating and enacting the embrace of God and the promise of salvation. 'Peter replied, "Repent and be baptised..." ' (Acts 2: 38-39) Baptism happens not only to the individual, but also the wider Church. At the time of Christ it signified that the person being baptised became a follower of Christ and acquired a relationship with him. '... I (Paul) also baptised the household of Stephanas... ' (1 Corinthians 1:16) The rite is celebrated with the community present and actively participating. It is the community, who will journey with them throughout their
Only through the words of consecration, “This is my Body… and this is my Blood”, can we truly experience the fruits of the Eucharist. This is only possible through God’s accordance with the Scriptures, Sacraments(the Eucharist in this case), minister(priest or bishop), and the people of the Church(The Body of Christ). Just like Jesus and his disciples during the Last Supper, all of the members of the Mass join in intercession in order to properly bestow power upon the Sacrament of the Eucharist. As the priest serves as a representation of Jesus, we serve as his disciples.