St. John Vianney Catholic Church

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

A Journey of Faith

RCIA Week 21

The Sacrament of Confirmation

Talk Outline

CCC 1316: “Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds.”

CCC 1317: “Confirmation, like Baptism, imprints a spiritual mark or indelible character on the Christian's soul; for this reason one can receive this sacrament only once in one's life.”

CCC 1319: “A candidate for Confirmation who has attained the age of reason must profess the faith, be in the state of grace, have the intention of receiving the sacrament, and be prepared to assume the role of disciple and witness to Christ, both within the ecclesial community and in temporal affairs.”

CCC 1320: “The essential rite of Confirmation is anointing the forehead of the baptized with sacred chrism (in the East other sense-organs as well), together with the laying on of the minister's hand and the words: "Accipe signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti" (Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.) in the Roman rite, or: Signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti (the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit) in the Byzantine rite.”

MEDITATION: How can I open myself up more to the Holy Spirit?

“He that has received the Sacrament of Confirmation is always ready to give his life for God….His only fear is the fear of committing sin…”

-- St. John Vianney

NEXT WEEK: The Sacrament of Holy Orders