Confirmation

Confirmation is a ceremony in Roman Catholicism, Easter Orthodox Churches and in some Protestant traditions. Within Roman Catholicism, the rite is performed by a bishop, as a one of the seven sacraments of the church that is supposed to strengthen a person and enable him to resist sin. It is usually done at the age of 12 as an affirmation of vows of faith that occured in baptism 1. The Bishop dips his right thumb in holy oil and anoints the person on the forehead by making the sign of the cross and says, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit."

In Protestent traditions, confirmation is something that a person who was baptized as an infant goes through later in life and is generally connected to their becoming a voting member of the church 2.

  • 1. McKim, Donald K, Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, Louisville, KT: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996. pg 58
  • 2. Gonzalez, Justo L, Essential Theological Terms, Louisville, KT: Westminster John Knox Press, 2005. pg 38

 

 

 

 
 
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