Confirmation: The Laying on of Hands

Confirmation is the perfection of the graces given in Baptism. The sacrament gets it roots from the story of Pentecost where Christ sent the Holy Spirit to the Apostles giving them the courage to preach the Gospel. The Early Church called this sacrament the Laying of Hands because an Apostle would lay his hands on the newly baptized and confirm his baptism. Confirmation completes Baptism by bringing the the confirmand- the person receiving the Sacrament- fully into the Mystical Body of Christ and perfecting the graces that had been given in Baptism. The confirmand receives the same rush of the Holy Spirit that the Apostles experienced at Pentecost. Confirmation reaffirms the person's identity as an adopted child of God and strengthens the person's ability to proclaim the Gospel through words and deeds. Confirmation confirms one's baptism through the laying on of hands and anointing with Chrism.