The Sacrament of Confirmation
Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation, whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.
The Sacrament of Confirmation
Confirmation is a sacrament of initation whereby the candidate receives a special outpouring of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism strengthening the candidates and empowering them to be active participants in the worship and apostolic life of the Church.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Wisdom: The ability to see ourselves and others as God sees us.
Understanding: The ability to understand more about God and the larger mysteries of life.
Council: The gift of using our free will to do God's will and to make good moral decisions. (Also sometimes called "right judgment.")
Fortitude: The courage to face our fears and to stand up and defend our faith.
Knowledge: To know God and to see the uniqueness of each other as creations of God.
Piety: Reverence for all God's creations. Approaching life with reverence means we care and have concern for ourselves, others, and the world - including the environment.
Fear of the Lord: A better understanding of awe and wonder in God's presence. It helps us see God in the enormity of the world and in our small presence within it.