Confirmation (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A) : Revision Note
Meaning of Confirmation
A sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church
Confirmation is a sacrament of initiation into the Church,
The other two sacraments of initiation are baptism and the Eucharist
This means that through confirmation, a person becomes an adult member of the Church
They promise for themselves the same promises that were made for them by their parents and godparents at their baptism
They take responsibility for their own faith
Confirmation is a sacrament that recalls Biblical events — Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to his followers
‘But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)
As Jesus had promised, the Holy Spirit came to his followers after his ascension, giving them the courage to spread the Gospel
This is recorded in Acts of the Apostles, the book about events in the early Church, which says of Jesus’ followers:
‘They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them’ (Acts 2:3-4)
There are signs, symbols and important words or actions in each sacrament. In confirmation these are:
The presence of a bishop to show that the person is being sent out into the world to spread the Good News of Jesus, just as Jesus sent the apostles
The anointing with chrism oil on the forehead to symbolise the presence of the Holy Spirit
The laying on of hands to symbolise receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit and God’s blessings coming down on the person
The use of the words: ‘Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit’
Effects & Importance of Confirmation
Confirmation is important because:
It ‘confirms’ a persons baptism: it is when a Catholic confirms for themselves the promises made for them by their parents and godparents at their baptism, so that they are vowing for themselves to live according to Jesus’ teachings
It marks the person entering God’s family as an adult Christian, capable of making their own choices about how to live
The Holy Spirit is renewed within the person which will strengthen them to withstand evil in their lives
The person’s faith is strengthened, just as the disciples had their faith strengthened at the first confirmation at Pentecost
The person is called to bring the Good News of Jesus to the world, as the first followers of Jesus did when they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
They can do this through living a good Christian life and setting an example to others by the way they choose to live
The Catechism says that confirmation ‘brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1302)
Worked Example
Explain two ways in which the sacrament of confirmation affects the lives of Catholics
(4 marks)
The sacrament of confirmation marks a person’s entry into the Christian faith as an adult. They promise for themselves that they are going to live a good Christian life, which their parents and godparents promised for them when they were baptised as infants (2 marks)
Catholics believe that the chrism oil used at confirmation represents the presence of the Holy Spirit, which will make a person strong and able to withstand evil and follow Jesus’ teachings throughout their life (2 marks)
Examiner Tips and Tricks
You might be asked to evaluate the significance of confirmation in comparison to the other sacraments of the church. The statement might say:
‘The sacrament of confirmation is the most significant of all sacraments’
As you revise each sacrament, ensure that you can explain why it is important or significant to believers. For confirmation, remember that it can only be received once a person has been baptised: it confirms their baptism and strengthens their faith.
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