Baptism and Confirmation

You will remember that Baptism and Confirmation are really parts one and two of the same Sacrament.  In the early days of the Church, people were normally confirmed by the bishop within a few minutes of their being baptised.  This was possible because at that time almost every town had its own bishop. But later, when many bishops had a great area to look after, those who had been baptised by their parish priest had to wait for their Confirmation until the bishop was in the neighbourhood, and this might not be very often.

The Bishop of Lincoln had charge of an area stretching from the Thames to the Humber, and the Bishop of Exeter had all Devon and Cornwall to manage.  In the year 1240 the Synod of Worcester laid down that any parents, whose children had not been confirmed by the time they were a year old, should not be allowed in church.  In 1287 the Synod of Exeter ordered that parish priests should arrange for children in the parish to be confirmed as soon as possible after Baptism, and in any case before they were three years old.

As the bishop did not visit every parish as often as every three years, many children were confirmed by him as he travelled on the road from one part of the country to another.  So we read that St Thomas à Becket, while he was on his last journey from London to Canterbury about a week before his martyrdom in the Cathedral, was “attended by a mighty concourse but only of the poor, who came to ask his blessing and who brought their children in hundreds for Confirmation, the Archbishop continually dismounting and administering the Sacrament in fields and on the roads”. (1)

Perhaps we are a little surprised at one and two-year olds being confirmed, but the point is that Confirmation is something which God does to us, not something we do for him.  For in Confirmation he gives us his Holy Spirit to strengthen our souls.

Since then, however, buses, trains and cars have made travelling much easier and there are a large number of Confirmation centres.  So people can now be confirmed without having to wait very long and the age at which girls and boys are confirmed has gone up.  This also means they can answer for themselves during the service.  Many people are confirmed when they are around 11 or 12 years old, but older people (sometimes in their 80s or 90s) are also confirmed.  Whatever people’s age, Confirmation is a joyful day to look forward to.

Preparation for Confirmation

Before you are confirmed, you are first prepared, usually by your parish priest.  But in fact the real preparation is done by yourself.  Your priest just helps you.  The preparation is twofold.  First, you receive instruction in the Christian Faith.  That is the preparation of your mind.  But even more important is the preparation of your soul, so that when you come to be confirmed there is nothing standing between you and God to keep you from him, but your soul is as clean as it can be to receive his Holy Spirit.  God does this for us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance), when we make our Confession and receive his full forgiveness.

Confirmation Services

There are two types of confirmation service in the Church of England:

• the Book of Common Prayer; (2)
• Common Worship. (3)

Most confirmation services today follow the Common Worship pattern.  But in both services it is clear that Confirmation is closely linked with Baptism.  The bishop begins by asking the Confirmation candidates to state that they have already been baptised.  

Decision (Renewal of Promises)

The candidates renew and affirm for themselves the promises made at Baptism.  And so they repeat the renunciation of the Devil and all that is evil and the declaration of turning to Christ from the Baptism service.  Of course, you are bound to keep your Baptismal promises long before your Confirmation.

Profession of Faith

The candidates renew and affirm for themselves the Profession of Faith, based on the Apostles’ Creed, which was made at their Baptism.

The Confirmation

Just before the actual Confirmation, the Bishop says a prayer for the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit.  It is based on Isaiah 11:2 and comes from an old service book (The Gelasian Sacramentary) of the seventh century, and so is about 1,300 years old. 

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Spirit of wisdom and understanding: by understanding we are able to recognise the truths of the Christian Faith; by wisdom we are able to see their importance.

The Spirit of knowledge: by this we know right from wrong.

The Spirit of counsel: by this we can see what we have to do in any particular circumstances in order to do the right and avoid the wrong.

The Spirit of inward strength: by this spiritual strength, we have the strength to do what is right and to persevere.

The Spirit of true godliness: by this we become reverent, and obedient to God.

The Spirit of holy fear: by this gift we have a loving anxiety to please God.

The actual Confirmation

After this prayer comes the actual Confirmation.  In the Common Worship service (4), the Bishop addresses each person by name:

"N (Christian name of candidate), God has called you by name and made you his own".

Then he lays his hands on the head of the candidate, saying:

“Confirm, O Lord, your servant with your Holy Spirit”.

Then everyone prays together for those who have been confirmed:

“Defend, O Lord, these your servants with your heavenly grace,
that they may continue yours for ever,
and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more
until they come to your everlasting kingdom.  Amen”.

The Commission

The candidates make promises in response to a number of questions, including (5):

“Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?”

“Will you persevere in resisting evil,
and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?”

“Will you proclaim by word and example
the good news of God in Christ?”

“Will you seek and serve Christ in all people,
loving your neighbour as yourself?”

The gateway to Holy Communion

In many, if not most, churches people are confirmed before being admitted to Holy Communion.  Nowadays, people usually make their First Communion straight away after they have been confirmed.  So, having received the gift of the Holy Spirit, for the first time they receive our Risen Lord himself in the Blessed Sacrament.  And so begins a lifetime of regular and frequent Communion.

SUMMARY

1. Before anyone is confirmed, he or she is instructed and prepared, usually by the parish priest.

2. The bishop, in order to know that the candidates are in earnest and to link Confirmation with Baptism, asks the candidates to renew their Baptismal Promises and to affirm their Faith, based on the Apostles’ Creed.

3. Usually Confirmation is followed immediately by First Communion when, for the first time, the newly confirmed receive Jesus himself in the Blessed Sacrament.  So begins a lifetime of regular and frequent Communion.

References

1. Dark, S. (1944) Seven Archbishops, London: Eyre and Spottiswoode.

2. Church of England (1662) The Book of Common Prayer. The Order of
Confirmation or Laying on of Hands upon those that are baptized and come to years of discretion.  Available from:
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/bcp/texts/20-orderofconfirmation.html  (Accessed 24 August 2010) (Internet).

3. ©The Archbishops’ Council (2006) Common Worship.  Baptism and Confirmation.  Available from:
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/downloads/pdf/cibaptismandconf.pdf  (Accessed 24 August 2010) (Internet).

4. ©The Archbishops’ Council (2006) Common Worship.  Baptism and Confirmation.  Available from: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/downloads/pdf/cibaptismandconf.pdf  (Accessed 24 August 2010) (Internet).

5. ©The Archbishops’ Council (2006) Common Worship.  Baptism and Confirmation.  Available from: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/downloads/pdf/cibaptismandconf.pdf  (Accessed 24 August 2010) (Internet).