Symbols of Confirmation

The Rite of Confirmation ritual book explains well the two key symbols in this second of the Sacraments of Initiation:

“The sacrament of confirmation is conferred through the anointing with chrism on the forehead, which is done by the laying on of the hand, and through the words: Be sealed with the Holy Spirit, the Gift of the Father. “

After the candidates have renewed their baptismal promises, or those that were made on their behalf as infants, the Bishop or the presiding priest lays hands over all those to be confirmed and asks God to send the Holy Spirit on them: “Send upon them, O Lord, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete; give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and piety; fill them with the spirit of the fear of the Lord”.

The candidates are then anointed with Chrism, which is consecrated by the bishop at the Chrism Mass shortly before Easter each year and is one of the two oils used in the celebration of baptism. The bishop or the presiding priest dips his right thumb in the chrism and makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the one to be confirmed and says: “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit”.