Sacrament of Confirmation

In the Archdiocese of Washington, Confirmation is always celebrated within Mass to express more clearly the fundamental connection of this sacrament with the entirety of Christian initiation, which reaches its culmination in the Eucharist. Students in the Archdiocese of Washington are to be confirmed in the 7th or 8th grade. Adults who have not been confirmed should contact their parish priest in order to receive instruction.

Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation constitute the "Sacraments of Christian Initiation." Confirmation is necessary for the completion of Baptismal grace. By the Sacrament of Confirmation we are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence, we are called to be true witnesses of Jesus Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.

It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:

• it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!"
• 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.