CONFIRMATION:
THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
• Discuss the nature and effects of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
• Live out the challenges of being true witnesses of Jesus wherever they are.
• Pray to the Holy Spirit to strengthen their faith and commitment as Christians.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(For Catholic students only)
Altogether:
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(For Catholic students only)
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for
me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, completing
their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off.
ACTS 13:2-3
1
The Acts of the Apostles give us an insight on the importance of the Sacrament of Confirmation
among believers. It is bestowed on a person who has received baptism.
LAYING OF HANDS ON THE BAPTIZED
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul travelled through the interior of the country and came (down)
to Ephesus where he found some disciples. He said to them, “did you receive the Holy Spirit
when you became believers? They answered him, “we have never even heard that there is a
Holy Spirit.” He said, “How were you baptized? They replied, “With the baptism of John.” Paul
the said,”John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one
who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus. When they heard this, they were was to come after
him, that is, in Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them,
and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. Altogether there were about twelve men.
We believe that the sacraments are channels through which the grace of Jesus Christ comes to
us. They are part of god’s plan of salvation.
Confirmation in the economy of salvation
“From that time on the apostles, in the fulfilment of christ’s will, confirmation was imparted to the
newly baptized by the laying on of hands gift of the spirit that completes the grace of baptism.
For this reason in the letter to the Hebrews, the doctrine concerning baptism and the laying on
of hands is listened among the first elements of Christian instruction. The imposition of the
hands is rightly recognized by the catholic traditions as the origin of the sacraments of
confirmation, which in a certain way perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the church.’’
Based on the church teaching, it is through the sacraments that:
• We receive the fullness of the holy spirit (cf.CCC1287),specially receiving an
increase of the gifts of the holy spirit (cf.CCC1303);
• The sacraments of baptism is completed (cf.CCC1285,1304),and therefore we are
more firmly united with Christ ,the church, and god as our father (cf.CCC1303);and
• We receive a special strength and character to witness, spread ,and defend the
gospel (cf.CCC1303-1305).`
In the new testament , we saw how the holy spirit was with Christ bring his messianic
mission to fulfilment upon receiving the baptism of john, Jesus saw the spirit descent on him
and remain with him. Relying on the spirit’s presence and assistance, he was led by the
spirit to undertake his public ministry. He repeated the words of Isaiah , “The spirit of the
lord is upon me”( Lk 4:18)-referring to himself a she read the scriptures in the temple.
2
In the gospel of mark ,we read about Jesus resting his hand on the heads of the children
who were brought to him (cf.MK 10:13).On the day before Jesus suffered, He assured His
apostles that he would send the spirit of truth from his father to stay with them ”forever” and
help them to be his witnesses even before persecutors, then He breathed on them the holy
spirit . After His resurrection , Christ promised the descent of the holy spirit on them: “you
will receive power when the holy spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses
…”(Acts 1:8).On the Pentecost ,the apostles were filled with the holy spirit and with divine
inspiration they began to proclaim “the mighty works of God.” Those who believed the
apostles preaching were baptized and they too received the “gift of the holy spirit.”
From the time on ,the apostles imparted to the newly baptized the fulfilment of Christ’s wish
that they receive the gift of the spirit by the spirit by the laying on of hands that completes
the grace of baptism .While it is true that the holy spirit is received for the first time in
baptism ,the acts of the apostles mentions about the outpouring of the holy spirit through the
“laying of hands.”
Paul baptized some disciples in the name of Jesus Christ, when he laid “laid his hands on
them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied”
(Acts 19:6) This laying on of hands is recognized by reason of Catholic tradition as the
beginning of the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is a gesture done when invoking the Holy
Spirit someone or something, such as the epiclesis during the Mass when the priest holds
out his hands over the bread and wine. Confirmation was originally administered with
Baptism. The Letter to the Hebrews mentions the first elements of Christian instruction
including the teaching about baptism and the laying on the hands.
Confirmation, the Sacrament of the Holy Spirit, is the official prayer of the Church for he full
outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the life of a baptized Catholic. The Sacrament of
Confirmation is considered a Sacrament of Initiation like Baptism and Eucharist. The rite
of Confirmation takes place within the mass after the readings form the scriptures are
proclaimed, preceded by the renewal of baptismal promises made from the confirm-and’s
own faith conviction.
MERGING INSIGHTS FOR INTEGRATION
❖ Ignacian Core/Related Value: Faith / Prophetic witness to Gospel Value
✓ Doctrine: We believe that Sacraments are channels through which the grace of Jesus
Christ comes to us. They are part of God’s plan of salvation.
✓ Moral: As we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, we are obliged to continue Jesus’
mission and ministry in the world and help build the kingdom of God here on earth.
3
✓ Worship: Fervently pray the “ prayer of the gifts of the Holy Spirit”
Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler, I adore you as my true God, with God the Father and God
the Son. I adore you and unite myself to the adoration. You receive from the angels
and saints.
UNLOCKING DIFFICULTIES
• Epiclesis- the part of the Eucharistic prayer when the priest invokes the
Holy Spirit.
• Pentecost- fifty days after Easter wherein the Holy Spirit descended on
the apostles in tongues of fire.
▪ Live Your Faith Everyday Series (In the Life and Mission of the Church): RVM Christin
Living Series 1st Edition. Author: Joseph Eusebio B. Ayunon & Maria Josellete S. Uy
▪ Internet
▪ Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
▪ Catechism for Filipino Family (CFC)
▪ New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSVB)
NOTE: Only the worksheets will be returned to me. Please be guided accordingly. Thank you and
God bless you. Keep safe!
4
OUR LADY OF FATIMA ACADEMY OF DAVAO INC.
Fatima St. Brgy. 24-C Davao City
S.Y. 2020 – 2021
WORKSHEET
CHRISTIAN LIVING AND VALUES EDUCATION
GRADE 8
Name: ____________________________________ Score: __________
Teacher: Mr. Arjan T. Guinawatan
Activity I.
Direction: Based from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 19: 1-7) and Church Teaching, read
and answer the following questions below. (2 points each = 10 points)
1. What action did St.Paul do to the people that made them receive the Holy Spirit?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. What happened to the believers after they received the Holy Spirit?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. What completes the grace of Baptism?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. What Sacrament is being implied by the laying of hands?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5. Why is the Sacrament of Confirmation numbered among the first elements of Christian
instructions?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5
Activity II.
Direction: Choose a memory from the Sacrament of Confirmation that connects with a
Catholic belief about the Sacrament that you have learned. Then, write a brief description of
the connection between them. ( 3 points each= 15 points)
My Memory Connections Catholic Belief