Catholic Dictionary
Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
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CONFIRMATION RITE
The ceremony by which a bishop, or priest delegated by him, confers the sacrament of confirmation on a baptized person. After invoking the Holy Spirit, the bishop extends his hands over the person to be confirmed as a symbol of the coming of the Spirit. Then he traces a cross on the person's forehead with blessed oil called chrism. At the same time, he calls the person by his name (either baptismal or new) and says, "[Name] be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit."
