the Church is missionary. The word apostle means
"one who is sent out."
Confirmation is the sacrament of mission, a commission that comes
to us through a successor of the apostles; that is a bishop.
Holy Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of
Christian initiation and is the reception of the gift of the Holy
Spirit in order to make Christians strong and perfect soldiers of
Jesus Christ ( Acts 2:2; 8:15; 10:44,47; 19:1 ). It is Gods love
being poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been
given to us ( Rom 5:5; 8:4-16 ) ( Gal 4:4-7 ). This sacrament was
instituted by Jesus when he promised to send another Counsellor (
Jn 14:16 ) who will teach the disciples everything ( Jn 14:26 ),
who will bear witness to Jesus and enable them to bear witness ( Jn
15:26 ) and who will empower the disciples to speak for he will
tell them what to say ( Jn 16:13 ). As the two Apostles Peter and
John communicated the Holy Spirit with a laying on of hands
confirming disciples recently baptized by Philip, so we also mature
in faith and are strengthened to witnesses boldly to Christ's
resurrection and its redemptive powers ( Eph 6:18-20 ) ( Acts 1:8;
8:14-17 ).
Grace, a Supernatural Gift
Strengthens us as Soldiers of Jesus Christ
In a World of Spiritual Warfare
Through the outward sign of Holy Confirmation we
receive the inward gift of grace and in some sense participate in
divine nature ( Acts 19:6 ) ( Col 3:10 ). This grace strengthens us
in service to the Christian faith as we journey in a world in which
there is spiritual warfare ( Eph 6:10-18 ). Confirmation produces
in the soul an indelible spiritual mark or character; sanctifying
us, and unites us to Christ and to his church; the mystical Body of
Christ. Confirmation is the second step on our stairway to Heaven.
It is the normative route God provides for us His creatures for we
are not orphans left desolate. He will come to us ( Jn 14:18 ).
Hopefully, on our last day, we will be able to say
as Saint Paul says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith" ( 2 Tim 4:7 ) ( Mt 10:22; 24:13
).