GRECO, El
The Pentecost
1596-1600
Oil on canvas, 275 x 127 cm
Museo del Prado, Madrid
In the sacrament of
Confirmation we
receive the Holy Spirit
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Compendium of the Catechism
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265. What place does
Confirmation have in the divine
plan of salvation?
1285-1288
1315
In the Old Testament the prophets
announced that the Spirit of the
Lord would rest on the awaited
Messiah and on the entire
messianic people. The whole life
and mission of Jesus were carried
out in total communion with the
Holy Spirit. The apostles received
the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and
proclaimed “the great works of
God” (Acts 2:11). They gave the
gift of the same Spirit to the newly
baptized by the laying on of hands.
Down through the centuries, the
Church has continued to live by the
Spirit and to impart him to her
children.
Introduction
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The Apostles underwent a
great change after the descent
of the Holy Spirit. Before that
event, they were afraid;
afterwards, they preached the
Word of God fearlessly and
spoke in foreign languages.
In a similar way, the faithful
receive the Holy Spirit in the
sacrament of confirmation.
This lesson could help you to
understand better the nature
and the effects of this
sacrament. And it can also be
useful for those who are not
baptized, as it will serve as a
preparation to receive the
sacrament with joy as soon as
possible.
POUSSIN, Nicolas
The Seven Sacraments: Confirmation
1645
Oil on canvas, 117 x 178 cm
National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh
Main ideas
1. The Apostles received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost; we
likewise receive that same Spirit in the sacrament of confirmation
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Jesus appeared to His apostles in the
upper room the evening of His
resurrection. He breathed on them and
said: Receive the Holy Spirit (John
20:22). But on the day of Pentecost
they were filled with the Holy Spirit and
His exceptional gifts (Cf. Acts 2:1-4).
We also receive the Holy Spirit in the
sacrament of baptism along with
supernatural grace. But Our Lord
instituted the sacrament of
confirmation as necessary to receive
the fullness of baptismal grace.
Thus, we commit ourselves more fully
as authentic witnesses of Christ, to
expand and defend the Christian faith
with our words and deeds, and to
show ourselves to others as true
disciples of Christ.
VAN DER WEYDEN, Rogier
The Seven Sacraments Altarpiece (detail)
Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp
2. Effects of the sacrament of Confirmation
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In a similar way to what
happened on the day of
Pentecost, this sacrament
produces in our souls the
following gifts :
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An increase in grace.
 Imprints character.
 Strengthens the faith.
 Makes us witnesses of Christ.
JUAN DE FLANDES
Pentecost
Panel, 110 x 84 cm
Museo del Prado, Madrid
3. Minister, subject, matter and form of the sacrament
of confirmation
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The ordinary minister is the bishop; the
extraordinary minister is the priest who has
this faculty by common law or by special
delegation from the proper authority.
The subject of this sacrament is any
baptized person who has not received it. He
who receives this sacrament should be in
the state of grace, should know the main
mysteries of faith and should approach this
sacrament with due reverence and devotion.
The matter of this sacrament is the
anointing with chrism (a mixture of oil and
balsam, consecrated by the bishop) which is
done during the imposition of the hands.
The anointing signifies one of the effects of
this sacrament: the strengthening of faith.
The form is the words pronounced by the
minister: " Be sealed with the gift of the Holy
Spirit
CRESPI, Giuseppe Maria
Confirmation
1712
Oil on canvas, 125 x 93 cm
Gemäldegalerie, Dresden
4. Valuing confirmation highly
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It is necessary to struggle in
order to preserve the graces of
this sacrament. Only by doing
so, will we be strong enough to
profess our Christian faith firmly.
We can do it by frequently
receiving the Sacraments of
Penance and the Eucharist.
Only in the case of extraordinary
circumstances would Our Lord
ask us to be heroes by shedding
our blood to confess our faith in
Christ. But He asks us to make
an effort in the little battles of
daily life :
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in our relations with our parents
and brothers, in fulfilling our
work and duties, in helping our
fellow men generously, in being
faithful to the doctrine of the
faith and in spreading it with our
example, friendship and good
advice.
RESTOUT, Jean II
Pentecost
1732
Oil on canvas, 465 x 778 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris
Resolutions for
Christian life
Resolutions to move forward
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Be willing to receive the
sacrament of confirmation, if
you have not yet received it. If
you have received it, thank God
for this great gift of the Holy
Spirit.
Strive to live as a real Christian,
with courage and without
worrying about what others
might say, knowing that
confirmation makes us Christ’s
witnesses.