Baptism and Confirmation - Essay Example

Baptism and Confirmation By: Due The sacraments of Christian initiation are made up of Baptism, Eucharist and the sacrament of Confirmation. Christians thus and especially Catholics ought to know that the sacrament of Confirmation is so vital in the completion of baptismal grace. Through the sacrament of Confirmation, those baptized are perfectly tied to the church and enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. These Christians therefore become true witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ and are strictly ready to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.

The rite of Confirmation fits to consider the anointing sign which signifies and imprints the spiritual seal1. Anointing in ancient symbolism is rich in meaning. Oil for instance signifies abundance and joy, it cleanses and limbers. Oil is also a sign of healing, so soothing to bruises and wounds, makes things radiate with beauty, health and strength. Confirmed Christians, those anointed share completely in Christ’s mission and the fullness of the Holy Spirit with which he is filled so that their lives give a good scent about Jesus Christ.

Through anointing, the confirmed individual receives a “mark” which in actual scenario is a seal of the Holy Spirit2. Baptism is the basis of the entire Christian life, an entrance in to the spiritual life and a door that prepares one for inception of the other sacraments. It is indeed interesting to learn that the word ‘Baptism’ actually means to ‘immerse’ or ‘plunge’ one in water3. This is mainly to clear one of the so called original sin, make them so fresh and new as they get into the world.

It is indeed good to know that the immersion totally gets rid of all sin that one comes to the universe with thereby allowing them to take up some new life in the Lord. Bibliography Catholic Church. 2003. Catechism of the Catholic Church: with modifications from the Editio Typica. 2ndEd. New York: Doubleday.