Because of their interrelation, Baptism and Confirmation are presented together, though in the Christian life this may not be the order in which these sacraments are received. With Eucharist and Baptism, Confirmation completes the Sacraments of Initiation.

The Sacrament of Confirmation is associated with the giving of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is sent by the Father and the Son to give life and power to the Church; it is through the reception of the Spirit that we are empowered to live the graces imparted at baptism. The plentitude of the Spirit was poured out on Christ, and through Him to the Church.

“From that time on the apostles, in fulfillment of Christ’s will, imparted to the newly baptized by the laying on of hands the gift of the Spirit that completes the grace of Baptism. For this reason in the Letter to the Hebrews the doctrine concerning Baptism and the laying on of hands is listed among the first elements of Christian instruction. The imposition of hands is rightly recognized by the Catholic tradition as the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation, which in a certain way perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church.” -CCC 1288

In addition to the laying on of hands, sacred oil (chrism) was very early on added to the rite in order to better highlight the name “Christian,” which means “anointed.” In the East this sacrament is called Chrismation, while in the West Confirmation, to demonstrate that it both confirms and strengthens baptismal grace.

Confirmation grants to us an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a special way. From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:

• It roots us more deeply in the Divine Sonship.
• It unites us more firmly to Christ.
• It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us.
• It renders our bond with the Church more perfect.
• It gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the Faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the cross.
• Like Baptism, it confers an indelible spiritual mark, the “character,” or sign that a person is marked with the Holy Spirit by Jesus Christ.
• It perfects the common priesthood of the faithful.

Any baptized person who has not already been confirmed can receive Confirmation. Though Baptism and Eucharist are still certainly valid without Confirmation, Christian initiation would remain incomplete. For centuries, the Latin custom has indicated an “age of discretion” at which children ought to receive Confirmation; but in danger of death, children should be confirmed even if they have not attained the age of reason.

St. Thomas Aquinas, following Tradition, draws a parallel between Confirmation completing spiritual birth and the completion of natural development: “Confirmation is to baptism what growth is to generation. Now it is clear that a man cannot advance to a perfect age unless he has first been born; in like manner, unless he has first been baptized he cannot receive the Sacrament of Confirmation” (Summa Theologica III:72:6).

One must be in a state of grace to receive Confirmation and should have first made a sacramental confession. Intense prayer should prepare one to receive the strength and graces of the Holy Spirit with docility and readiness to act.