Expanding My Faith: Weekly Column

Send questions to: DRE@saintcolumbachurch.org and place “Q’s Pews” in the subject line. All questions are answered and kept confidential. If your question is used in the column, it will remain anonymous. James Gregory, DRE

“Fide quaerens Intellectum”

“Always be prepared to make a defense … for the hope that is in you … with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15)

“Q’s from the Pews”

What are the Sacraments of Initiation?

(2 of 3: Confirmation) Confirmation permanently imprints us with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Church teaches in confirmation that “the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church and strengthened by the Holy Spirit as true witnesses to Christ” (CCC 1286). The matter of confirmation is twofold: laying on of hands and anointing with the oil of chrism. The form is also twofold: the imposition of hands and the words spoken. We hear: “All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life” and, during anointing: “be sealed with the gift(s) of the Holy Spirit.” Confirmation is separate from baptism, bestowing the gifts of the Holy Spirit that strengthen us. Peter and James were called to Samaria to lay hands on Samarians who were baptized but had not manifested the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17). Thus only a successor of the Apostles can confirm, though anyone can baptize. The Bishop may delegate confirmation on a case-by-case basis to a priest. The Eastern Church calls this sacrament “Chrismation” which means anointing, thereby strengthening baptismal grace just as we see with Peter and James.

“Catholic Challenge for September:

This month ask someone who you know has fallen away to come back to Mass. Jesus is there waiting for his lost sheep.

“Totally Catholic Trivia”

In the Eastern Orthodox Tradition, all three initiation sacraments (mysteries) – Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation – are given at once, even to infants.