Principal Catholic Practices - Chapter 2 - Confirmation

Chapter 2 - Soldiers of the King

Confirmation - Preparation

When the patient Job declared that "life is a battle," his words were not merely applicable to the struggle of human beings for their daily sustenance. He who had suffered as no other from the cunning of the evil spirit knew that he spoke of a great warfare that is being carried on between the powers of darkness and the children of Light.

Ever since that saddest day in the history of the world when the first man and woman turned away from the sweet joy of God's friendship to hearken to the crafty appeal of the serpent ever since God Himself declared enmity between the Mother of the Redeemer and Satan, a bitter war has been waged between God's elect and Satan's minions. It may be called a war of revenge. But from the standpoint of hell it is also a war of conquest. Christ, the Son of God, died in order to save human beings from eternal perdition. Satan has marshaled all his forces to frustrate the fruits of Redemption. Foremost in his battle array are the countless angels who with him plunged down from the celestial heights to the newly created hell. But vast numbers of human beings also march behind his banner and are allied with him in his foul determination to vanquish the hosts of Christ.

It might be interesting to note the weapons that are used by these enemies of the human race. There is first of all the lie. It was a lie that brought about the sin of Eve, a lie so cunningly insinuated that this woman of keen intellect and wondrous wisdom failed to see its sophistry. Now what is the chief weapon of Satan's army to-day? Is it not the lie? Is it not by crafty deception that men and women by the thousands are led to believe that the Church of God is a hideous Beast? Is it not through Satanic suggestion that human beings consider that they serve God and are even god-like if they persecute Catholics? It is the old story over again: "You will be like unto God if you eat of this fruit."

The lie is the most powerful means of offense in the black leader's hand. But he securely hides his weapon behind treachery, cunning, hate, and bigotry.

Truly, the army of Christ faces a terrible and ruthless foe. There is no quarter to be expected from him. Victory, peace, and happiness can come only by completely crushing our adversary. But what are our weapons? The truth is our first and greatest weapon. It is not an instrument that we must hide. Rather its blade should be brandished aloft so that the sun's rays may be reflected in the brightness of its sheen.

But even as the foe's chief weapon, the lie, must be hidden by hatred, bigotry, and hypocrisy, so our main hope of victory, the truth, must be raised aloft by prudence, wisdom, fortitude, and knowledge.

The soldier of Christ must, therefore, be well accoutered for the battle before he enters the ranks of Christian soldiers. In Baptism he receives his uniform, the garb of grace; but in Confirmation he is fully equipped for battle. Those priceless gifts of the Holy Ghost which gave to Peter and the other apostles a wondrous courage, which made strong giants of cringing cowards, and intellectual marvels of ignorant fishermen - those same gifts are bestowed upon the young soldier of Christ in Confirmation. The Holy Ghost, the all-powerful Comforter, is the divine power behind the sacrament of Confirmation.

If, then, this sacrament plays so important a role in the life of a Christian, it is of paramount importance that a worthy preparation precede its reception.

As was said before. Baptism gives the soldier his uniform. But no one would think of giving weapons to the soldier who lies dead in the tomb of mortal sin. Therefore it is necessary that the candidates for Confirmation be in the state of sanctifying grace. The most reasonable preparation is confession and holy communion. His uniform renovated, and nourished with the Food that will sustain him in the hardest battle, he is prepared to be invested with the gifts of the Holy Ghost, with Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. It goes without saying that the proper preparation for the sacrament of the Holy Ghost demands earnest prayer and meditation.

Thus, when the bishop proceeds to the administration of the sacrament, his first act is one of prayer. He extends his hands over the persons to be confirmed, and begs the Holy Ghost to bestow upon them His seven-fold gifts.

You will now observe that the bishop goes to each candidate separately and, laying the four fingers of the right hand upon his head, uses the thumb to anoint him on the forehead with chrism. The sign of the cross on the forehead is the badge of the Christian soldier. Whilst anointing, the bishop pronounces the words: "I sign thee with the sign of the cross and I confirm thee with the chrism of salvation. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

Then the bishop gives the candidate a slight blow on the cheek, saying: "Peace be with thee." In the early Christian ages the kiss of peace was given. The slight tap takes the place of the kiss; but it also reminds the soldier that he must be prepared to undergo hardships for the sake of his Lord and Leader.

Do you remember reading in the Acts of the Apostles (8:11-17) that Saint Peter and Saint John went to Samaria to lay their hands upon the converted Christians? They as bishops administered the sacrament of Confirmation to those who had been baptized. In those days the recipients of this sacrament at once gave evidence of the graces of the Holy Ghost. For they spoke strange languages and performed many miracles. That was to be expected. The Church was soon to spread the doctrine of the Redeemer throughout the world. Preaching alone would not have accomplished this. It was, therefore, necessary for the first teachers to be able to give substantial proof of their divine mission. Just as you carefully water a plant when it is first set out, but when it is firmly rooted allow nature to provide, so also God gave the gift of tongues and the power to perform miracles to the first Christians until the tree of Faith had taken strong root in the soil of the earth. As our mind turns back to the early Christian ages, we are not only amazed at the powers granted to the faithful through Confirmation, but we also marvel at their courage and fortitude in upholding the Faith. Delicate maidens and little boys defy cruel tyrants. Even though they see the instruments of torture before them, even though they hear the crackling of the burning coals that are being prepared to roast their tender flesh, even though they hear the ominous snarls of the beasts that are waiting to devour them - they refuse to save their lives by denying their Faith.

If in those days, when the army of Satan was so numerous and the soldiers of Christ so few, the defenders of the truth manifested such dauntless courage and such unshaken loyalty to the cross, then we to-day, with our vast array of millions, with the truth as our greatest weapon, and strengthened by the gifts of the Holy Ghost, should move forward against Satan and his minions as a power that knows no obstacle, an army marching on to assured victory, to glory and eternal triumph.

- from The Principal Catholic Practices: A Popular Explanation of the Sacraments and Catholic Devotions by Father George Thomas Schmidt, 1920



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Chapter 1 - The first and most necessary Sacrament