My 101 Reasons for Leaving the Catholic Church:
Confirmation
What is it ?
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Together with Baptism and the Eucharist it is a sacrament of Christian initiation. Confirmation is needed to complete the sacramental grace received at Baptism. The sacrament more perfectly binds the participant to the Catholic Church, and imparts a special strength for ministry from the Holy Spirit.
The Rite of Confirmation entails the sign of anointing, which signifies a spiritual sealing of the confirmand, a declaration that the person belongs to Christ. The oil of anointing is also a sign of consecration. Christians thus share more fully the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The oil used is consecrated by the bishop at the Chrism MASS of Holy Thursday, three days before Easter. The liturgy begins with the renewal of BAPTISMAL promises and a profession of faith by the confirmand. The bishop extends his hands over the group being confirmed, invoking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, declaring:
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 bishop then anoints each confirmand with the sacred chrism on the forehead, conferring the actual sacrament, saying the LATIN for "Be sealed with th Gift of the Holy Spirit." The sign of peace given by the bishop concludes the rite; this signifies the "ecclesial communion" between the bishop and the faithful.
The age for a child to receive the sacrament is deemed to be the "age of discretion" which varies by diocese. The typical age would be from 10 to 13. An adult who enters the Catholic Church through Baptism receives Confirmation immediately after being baptized. As preparation for Confirmation, the person is taught (cathechized) regarding their belonging to the Catholic Church, the parish community, and regarding the actions and gifts of the Holy Spirit. In order to receive Confirmation, the person must be in a "state of grace." This entails cleansing through the Sacrament of PENANCE, along with intense prayer to prepare for the reception of the Holy Spirit. As part of the instruction, the confirmand seeks the spiritual help of a sponsor, which often is one of the baptismal godparents.
It is customary for a person to choose and receive another name at Confirmation. The name should be one with a Christian background.
How did it come about ?
Catholics find support in the Bible for the sacrament of Confirmation. In Acts 8:14-17, after the Samaritan converts were baptized by Philip the deacon, John and Peter were sent to Samaria, "who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit." In Acts 19:1-6, Paul came to Ephesus,
and found some disciples. He said to them 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' And they said to him "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.' And he said, 'Into what then were you baptized?' and they said, 'Into John's baptism.' Paul said, 'John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.' When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. There were in all about twelve men.
Heb. 6:1-2 also includes as elementary teaching "of instruction about washings and laying on of hands." And Paul in 1 Cor. 1:21-22 writes: "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge." Therefore, the Catholic Church teaches that there is a rite, distinct from baptism, in which the Holy Spirit was conferred by the laying on of hands.
The early church did not use the term "confirmation" to designate the sacrament. In fact, the early Church Fathers do not make any mention of Confirmation as distinct from Baptism. The two sacraments were conferred together (as is the current practice in the Eastern Catholic Churches). The practice of separating the two appears to occur as the result of too few bishops and the growth of the Catholic Church. In the Middle Ages, the Church's formal decision as to what constitutes a sacrament, and the number of sacraments thereof involved the clear distinction of confirmation from baptism. The question arose as to whether Confirmation was instituted by Christ, or the Holy Spirit, or even the Apostles. At this time, it also became important to distinguish the matter, form, minister and effects of the Sacrament. The COUNCIL OF TRENT declared that all the sacraments were instituted by Christ, thereby settling the question of institution. Since nowhere in Scripture does Jesus directly authorize the rite, the Council declared that Christ instituted the sacrament as to the determination of its spiritual effect, but left the choice of the rite to the Apostles and to the Church.
Why it is wrong:
1) ...because it is part of a systemic error of continuously receiving salvation via "magical" rites (the "new law") of the Catholic Church;
2) ...because it invalidly transfers an ability (the imparting of the Holy Spirit) that belonged solely to the original apostles (to enable them to be the foundation of the church, to confirm their ministry) to the so-called "apostolic successors,";
3) ...because, unlike the rite of Confirmation, each of the Scriptures used in support of imparting the Holy Spirit was accompanied with manifestations of the Spirit being imparted;
4) ...because the Holy Spirit is actually given when Jesus Christ baptizes a believer with the Holy Spirit, not at the hands of priests and bishops with their magical rites of baptism and confirmation; He gives the Spirit to whom the Father wills.
Warnings from Scripture:
This is the only thing I [Paul] want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Gal. 3:2-3
How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. Heb. 2:3-4
Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of hands, he offered them money. Acts 8:17-18
I [John the Baptist] baptized you with water; but He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. Mk. 1:8
Jesus told Nicodemus: "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." Jn. 3:8
? - Point to Ponder
Many televangelists and charismatics believe that they have been given the power to impart the visible manifestations of the Holy Spirit to others, such as the gift of speaking in tongues.
But the fruit of the Spirit is truly manifested in our Christian character: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control.
