The sacrament of confirmation completes the Sacrament of Baptism.

If baptism is the sacrament of re-birth to a new and supernatural life, confirmation is the sacrament of maturity and coming of age. The real confession of Christ consist in this that the whole person submits himself / herself to Truth, in the judgment of his / her understanding, in the submission of his / her will and in the consecration of his / her whole power of love . . . To do this, poor-spirited person is only able when he or she has been confirmed by God’s grace. Baptism makes Christians out of us; Confirmation makes soldiers out of us, to wage war on Satan and all his works.

This confirmation in the power of the Holy Spirit leading to a firm profession of faith has always been the particular effect which Catholic tradition has ascribed to the sacrament. It is the effect which complements and completes that of baptism.

Confirmation is a true sacrament instituted by Christ and different from baptism. It is administered by laying-on of hands and anointing with chrism accompanied by prayer. The chrism is blessed by the bishop and the bishop (or his delegate, the pastor) administers the sacrament. All baptized persons can and should be confirmed. The effect of the sacrament of confirmation is to give strength in faith and for the confession of faith and to impress an indelible character.