Significance of the Sacraments in Catholic Life
Sacraments are central for Catholics. The Latin word sacramentum means "a sign of the sacred." The seven sacraments are ceremonies that point to what is sacred, significant and important for Christians. They are special occasions for experiencing God's saving presence. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "Celebrated worthily in faith, the sacraments confer the grace that they signify. They are efficacious because in them Christ himself is at work; it is he who baptises, he who acts in his sacraments in order to communicate the grace that each sacrament signifies".
Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide. (2015)
The sacramental life of the Catholic community is meant to affirm the presence of God in our ordinary everyday situation. The sacraments provide the support that we need to live out our faith commitment. The sacraments, gifts of Christ’s love and forgiveness, are offered to us through the Church. When the Church - the community of believers - celebrates a sacrament, Christ himself is present in the celebration (Archdiocese of Perth Western Australia, 2001).
Confirmation:
Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. Confirmation bring us the graces of the Holy Spirit that were granted to the Apostles on Pentecost Sunday. It is most often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Confirmation is the sacrament of maturity and coming of age. Confirmation is a sacrament of empowerment. It gives the strength to follow Jesus and to become involved in the mission which Jesus left to the Church.
The Church Teaches:
Confirmation is administered by laying-on of hands and anointing with chrism accompanied by prayer. The chrism is blessed by the bishop and the bishop administers the sacrament. All baptized persons can and should be confirmed. The effect of the Sacrament of Confirmation is to give strength in faith and for the confession of faith and to impress an indelible character.
Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide. (2015)
“I have baptised you with water; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.” – Mark 13:11