The sacrament of sealing in the Holy Spirit — completing the grace of baptism through the laying on of hands and anointing with chrism.
The biblical basis for Confirmation is the New Testament pattern of the apostles laying hands on the newly baptized to impart the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:14-17 records that when Peter and John came to Samaria where Philip had been preaching, 'they prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.' Acts 19:5-6 records a similar pattern at Ephesus. The Christian tradition has interpreted these passages as establishing a sacrament distinct from baptism — the formal reception of the Holy Spirit and the strengthening for Christian maturity.
Confirmation is the sacrament by which the baptized are sealed in the Holy Spirit and strengthened for Christian discipleship. The name 'Confirmation' reflects two meanings: the Holy Spirit confirms (strengthens) the believer, and the believer confirms (personally affirms) the faith into which they were baptized. The sacrament has been distinct from baptism in the Western church since at least the 4th century, though the two were originally celebrated together (and still are in Eastern traditions). The matter of Confirmation is anointing with chrism (consecrated oil), with the laying on of hands. The form is the prayer that the Holy Spirit be given. The minister in the Catholic Church is normally a bishop (preserving the connection to the apostles); in extraordinary circumstances a priest can confirm. The effect is the seal of the Holy Spirit — an indelible mark on the soul — and the seven gifts of the Spirit traditionally enumerated from Isaiah 11:2: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. In Catholic teaching, Confirmation makes the believer a 'soldier of Christ' fully equipped to live as an adult Christian. In Eastern Orthodox practice, Chrismation (the Eastern equivalent of Confirmation) is administered immediately after baptism — including to infants — so that the Christian receives baptism, chrismation, and first communion all in one liturgy. Protestant traditions vary: Lutheran and Anglican churches practice Confirmation as a rite (sometimes considered a sacrament, sometimes not) where the baptized publicly affirm their faith. Most evangelical and Baptist churches do not practice Confirmation as a distinct rite — viewing personal profession of faith and baptism as accomplishing the same purpose.
In Catholic teaching, Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments. It is received once and confers an indelible character on the soul. The sacrament is normally administered by a bishop, who lays hands on the candidate, anoints the forehead with chrism in the sign of the cross, and says: 'Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.' In most American dioceses, Confirmation is administered around age 13-16 — after a period of formal preparation. In some dioceses the order has been restored to its ancient pattern: Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion all received around age 7-8. The 'sponsor' (often the candidate's godparent or another Catholic adult) stands with the candidate. After Confirmation, the candidate is considered a full member of the Catholic Church for sacramental purposes.
In Eastern Orthodox practice, Chrismation is administered immediately following baptism — including to infants. The priest anoints multiple parts of the body (forehead, eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, chest, hands, feet) saying: 'The seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit.' The newly chrismated then receives First Communion. The result: an infant is baptized, chrismated, and communed in a single liturgy — fully incorporated into the sacramental life of the church. This preserves the ancient pattern of the undivided Church.
Protestant traditions vary widely. Lutheran, Anglican/Episcopal, Methodist, and Presbyterian traditions practice Confirmation as a rite of public profession by the baptized — typically administered around age 13-16 after a period of formal instruction. Most do not consider it a sacrament in the strict sense (limiting sacraments to baptism and Eucharist) but consider it an important rite of passage. Baptist, Pentecostal, and most evangelical traditions do not practice Confirmation — viewing baptism as the believer's profession of faith (since they baptize believers, not infants). The 'altar call' and conversion experience function similarly to Confirmation in many evangelical contexts.
“They prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost... Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”
Apostolic pattern
“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them.”
“The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding...”
The seven gifts of the Spirit
“In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”
“God... hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”
Confirmation is the Christian sacrament by which the baptized are sealed in the Holy Spirit and strengthened for Christian discipleship. In Catholic and Eastern Orthodox practice, it involves anointing with chrism oil and the laying on of hands by a bishop. The name reflects two meanings: the Holy Spirit confirms (strengthens) the believer, and the believer confirms (personally affirms) the faith into which they were baptized. Protestant traditions practice it as a rite of public profession; Catholic and Orthodox consider it a sacrament.
Practice varies. In most American Catholic dioceses, Confirmation is administered around age 13-16. In Eastern Orthodox practice, Chrismation (Eastern equivalent) is administered immediately after infant baptism. In Lutheran and Anglican traditions, Confirmation is typically around age 13-15. In some Catholic dioceses, the ancient practice has been restored — Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion all received together around age 7-8. There is no biblically required age; the Christian tradition has varied.
The seven gifts traditionally enumerated from Isaiah 11:2 (Latin Vulgate enumeration) are: (1) wisdom — the deepest understanding of God; (2) understanding — insight into divine truths; (3) counsel — right judgment in moral matters; (4) fortitude — courage to do good despite difficulty; (5) knowledge — discernment about creation and Scripture; (6) piety — proper reverence toward God; (7) fear of the Lord — the foundational reverence that recognizes God's majesty. These gifts are traditionally associated with Confirmation in Catholic and Orthodox teaching.
In Catholic teaching, Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments and considered necessary for the complete Christian life — though not necessary for salvation. Catholics are expected to be confirmed; refusing without grave reason would be a serious matter. In Orthodox practice, Chrismation is administered immediately after baptism — there is no choice. In Protestant traditions that practice Confirmation, it is expected but not strictly required. In traditions that do not practice Confirmation, the equivalent is personal profession of faith, often accompanied by baptism.