1. Symbols of Confirmation
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By Carole Ellis, eHow Contributor
Symbols of Confirmation
In many Christian denominations, Confirmation is the ceremony or ritual during which children
publicly announce their personal decision to follow God. Baptism at or shortly after birth is
viewed as the parents' laying claim to salvation for their children, while Confirmation allows
young teens and sometimes preteens to make this assertion of faith for themselves. Symbols of
confirmation vary from denomination to denomination, but the Catholic faith in particular has a
very strict set of rituals and symbols that accompany this milestone in a young person's faith.
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1.
History
o Historically, confirmation has been the time when the Holy Ghost was "given" to
those who were already baptized. This was to make them "soldiers of Christ," and
was a self-aware, conscious decision made by the person being confirmed. As the
Christian religion has changed over time, the ritual has, in some denominations,
become less specific about exactly what is going on while one is being confirmed.
Some churches still view it as an anointing of the Holy Spirit, while others believe it is
a more general declaration of faith.
Function
o Confirmation symbols are the rites that are performed during the confirmation ritual.
These symbols are the "laying on" or "imposition" of hands, which means that a
religious figure--usually a bishop, priest or minister--physically touches those being
confirmed. During this time, all pray for guidance from God or the Holy Spirit. This

2. symbol is followed by anointing with a chrism--a blessed mixture of olive pil and
balsam--which indicates that the Holy Spirit now dwells within the heart of the person
who is being confirmed.
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Features
o Depending on the denomination, the symbols of confirmation are performed with
more or less ceremony. Less conservative churches may eliminate the anointing all
together, and some denominations ask questions to each individual person being
confirmed that require them to promise to serve God and keep the Holy Spirit in their
hearts. In more traditional services, the bishop or other authority figure will do all the
talking and often adhere to a time-honored script.
Benefits
o Confirmation is an ancient tradition and a valued rite of passage. Older children and
teenagers who are confirmed often feel a renewed sense of involvement with their
faith and a new sense of responsibility to their church and God. This can help keep
teens and young adults involved in the church at a time in their lives when leaving
may be very tempting.
Effects
o Once a person has received the symbols of confirmation, they are considered to
have received "additional grace" by the Catholic church. This means that when they
were confirmed, they were already in a state of grace and ready to be more blessed
by the Holy Spirit. In other denominations, these symbols indicate a readiness to
assume greater responsibilities within the bureaucracy of the church or permission to
assume new leadership roles in the community or congregation.
Misconceptions
o Many people think that the symbols of confirmation are laid out in the Bible. However, in
truth, even Biblical scholars who wrote the "Catholic Encyclopedia" admit that the ritual as it
is performed today is not found anywhere in the Bible. However, there are multiple
references to a ceremony performed in addition to baptism that blessed the apostles and
others with the Holy Spirit, so there is some foundation for the symbols of confirmation in
Biblical texts.