God anoints our whole being, giving us the power of the Holy Spirit to bear witness to Him.

The sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated every other year at OLV, and children generally receive it in 7th or 8th grade.

For information about preparing your child for Confirmation, contact Patrice Fitzpatrick to enroll your child in Religious Education.

If you are an adult who has not been confirmed and you would like to prepare to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, contact Patrice Fitzpatrick.

By the Sacrament of Confirmation, God anoints our whole being, giving us the power of the Holy Spirit to bear witness to him. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit empowers us to more fully love God and our neighbor.

On the first Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit emboldened the Apostles to proclaim the Gospel and witness to Christ. 

Confirmation is an unrepeatable gift of the Holy Spirit. Through it, the Holy Spirit “enriches” what was already begun in baptism. The anointing with Sacred Chrism signifies that having been readied by this sacrament, we are prepared to join in Christ’s saving mission.
 

Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

In biblical terms, the number 7 stands for “fullness, completion, perfection.” It is used by the prophet Isaiah (Is 11:2-3) to emphasize the fullness of God’s promise of salvation which is realized in the Messiah and all He brings to the world. It also refers to the fullness of the promise of guidance and support which is fulfilled for us by the Holy Spirit. 

The 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit include:

• Wisdom
• Understanding
• Counsel (right judgment or prudence)
• Strength (courage)
• Knowledge
• Fear of the Lord (think awe, piety, or reverence)

Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit

In addition to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, there are nine fruits that the Holy Spirit uses to help us discern what is right and good. When we respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our lives and make an effort to grow into what God calls us to become, the appearance of these fruits assist us in determining if we are heading in the right direction. The 9 fruits of the Spirit include:

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Patience
• Kindness
• Generosity
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-control