Confirmation IS NOT:

• Uniquely a sacrament of the Holy Spirit.  It shares this honor with baptism.  Indeed, the two sacraments are not really separate.  Confirmation continues what baptism started.  Confirmation is never independent of baptism; rather it is a completion of baptism.  With the reception of the sacraments of baptism, first Eucharist, and confirmation, one’s baptism is complete and one is a full member of the Catholic Church.

• A rite of passage into adulthood, nor merely a renewal of Christian commitment.  When confirmation is administered to those who are older, these confirmation candidates must be given a choice in the matter.  This choice, though, while perhaps quite significant, is not the main point of the sacrament.  In fact, some legitimate and ancient Catholic liturgical traditions prescribe the confirmation of infants immediately after their baptism and immediately before their first Eucharist.
  
  
• Required for marriage in the Catholic Church.  The Church encourages confirmation before marriage but does not require the sacrament. If confirmation is not possible before marriage, then the Church encourages one to seek confirmaton soon after the wedding.
   
• A way to keep teens in religious education classes, nor is it a graduation from religious education.  Religious education is a life long process.  Parishes do well to have religious education classes for all four grades of high school, as well as adult education programs

More Information on Confirmation:

A Brief History of Confirmation

Adult Confirmation

Teen Confirmation

The Three Ways to be Confirmed at Holy Family Parish

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