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Confirmation
At confirmation we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and confirm our baptismal promises. Greater awareness of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conferred through the anointing of chrism oil and the laying on of hands by the Bishop.
Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds. (CCC 1316)
Through the Sacrament of Confirmation we renew our baptismal promises and commit to living a life of maturity in the Christian faith. As we read in the Lumen Gentium (the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church) from the Second Vatican Council:
Bound more intimately to the Church by the sacrament of confirmation, [the baptized] are endowed by the Holy Spirit with special strength; hence they are more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith both by word and by deed as true witnesses of Christ. (no. 11)
Why Confirmation?
Confirmation, along with Baptism and the Eucharist, is a Sacrament of Initiation in the Catholic Church. It is an outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and completes the grace received in Baptism. The first Confirmation was at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and they were given the grace and strength to spread the Gospel throughout the world. When we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, we receive that same outpouring of the Holy Spirit so we, too, may be able to share the Gospel and bring the love of Christ to others.
You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be My witnesses.” ~Acts 1:8
Preparation Process
The Confirmation preparation process at Ascension is designed to help teens come to a greater understanding of their Catholic faith, grow in their relationship with Christ, and practice living the Christian life. With this foundation, they will be able to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit received at Confirmation to the fullest. It is a two year process, usually during a teen’s freshman and sophomore years in high school. Confirmation sessions take place on Sundays and include prayer, catechesis, small group discussions, faith sharing, and sometimes reading or other assignments. Our high school youth group takes place on alternating Sundays in place of Confirmation sessions. If you are an adult and would like to receive Confirmation, please contact Deacon Jim Scull at deaconjim@ascension-sd.org for information.
Registration is open for the 2023-24 school year. Confirmation Registration 2023-24
2023-24 Youth Calendar. For more information, please contact: John Sperrazzo, Youth Minister (858) 361-4495 john@ascension-sd.org
Scriptural Foundation for Confirmation
In the Acts of the Apostles we read of the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. While baptism is the sacrament of new life, confirmation gives birth to that life. Baptism initiates us into the Church and names us as children of God, whereas confirmation calls us forth as God’s children and unites us more fully to the active messianic mission of Christ in the world.
After receiving the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Apostles went out and confirmed others, showing confirmation to be an individual and separate sacrament: Peter and John at Samaria (Acts 8:5-6, 14-17) and Paul at Ephesus (Acts 19:5-6). Also the Holy Spirit came down on Jews and Gentiles alike in Caesarea, prior to their baptisms. Recognizing this as a confirmation by the Holy Spirit, Peter commanded that they be baptized (cf. Acts 10:47).
