Why Do We Need to Be Confirmed?

Have you ever wondered why, after we are baptized, we still receive another special sacrament called Confirmation? Many people ask: “I am already a child of God, why do I need this?” That is a great question! Think of it this way: Baptism is our spiritual birth — it makes us Christians and members of God’s family. Confirmation is our spiritual growth and graduation — it gives us the strength and power to live out our faith and share it with others.

Today, let us explore clearly, simply, and engagingly why we need Confirmation. We will look at what the Bible says, what the Church has always taught, and what the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) explains. You will see that Confirmation is not just a ceremony or a tradition — it is a powerful gift from God that changes our life forever.

Biblical Truth:

Jesus Promised and Gave the Holy Spirit

Everything we believe starts with the Bible. Jesus knew that after He returned to heaven, His followers would need help, strength, and courage to keep believing and teaching the truth. That is why He promised to send us the Holy Spirit, the Helper and Advocate.

John 14:16–17, 26

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever… the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He told His Apostles:

Acts 1:8

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

And this promise came true on Pentecost Sunday (Acts 2). The Holy Spirit descended like wind and fire, and suddenly, the Apostles — who were once afraid and hiding — became bold, brave, and ready to preach the Gospel to everyone!

In the early Church, this was a clear step: people were baptized, and then the Apostles laid hands on them to give them the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:14–17

“Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit… Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.”

This is exactly what happens in Confirmation! We receive that same Holy Spirit, the same power the Apostles received.

Catholic Tradition:

It Has Always Been Done This Way

Tradition means what was handed down from the Apostles to us, without change. From the very beginning, the Church taught that Baptism and Confirmation go together, like birth and growth.

St. Irenaeus, who lived around 180 AD (just a short time after the Apostles), wrote: “He has given us the Holy Spirit… and by the laying on of hands, we receive the Spirit of adoption.”

Even in the early centuries, if someone was baptized as a baby, the Bishop would come later to lay hands and anoint them with oil to complete the grace they received. If someone was baptized as an adult, they received Baptism and Confirmation right after each other.

Why? Because you cannot be a strong Christian without the Holy Spirit. Just as a soldier is enlisted and then given his armor and training, we are baptized into God’s army, and Confirmation gives us the armor and power to fight for our faith and serve God.

It is a mark or seal on our soul. St. Paul says:

Ephesians 1:13

“In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”

That seal means: You belong to God, you are marked by God, and you have His power.

What the Catechism (CCC) Teaches Us

Now let us look at the official teaching of the Church to understand why we need this so much.

CCC 1285

“Baptism is the sacrament of new life in Christ. But since we are still weak and still in this world, we need to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Confirmation is the sacrament that completes Baptism.”

Here are the three main reasons we need it:

1. To Receive the Fullness of the Holy Spirit

In Baptism, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. In Confirmation, we receive His fullness, His power, and His seven gifts: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude (Courage), Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.

CCC 1303: “Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace.”

It is like filling a cup that was already there, until it overflows!

2. To Be Strong and Brave (Witness)

We need Confirmation because living as a Christian is not always easy. We face challenges, temptations, and people who do not believe. We need courage!

CCC 1305: “It gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.”

Before Confirmation, you are like a student learning the faith. After Confirmation, you become a missionary and a soldier of Christ. You are ready to share your faith with others.

3. To Be Fully United with the Church

CCC 1285: “By the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith.”

You are no longer just a member sitting in the pew. You become an active, responsible part of God’s family, with a job to do!

To summarize everything simply:

We need Confirmation because:

1. From the Bible: Jesus promised the Holy Spirit, the Apostles gave this gift by laying on hands, and we need that same power to be His witnesses.

2. From Tradition: From the very start, the Church has always taught that Baptism is followed by the sealing of the Holy Spirit to make us strong.

3. From the Catechism: Confirmation completes our Baptism, gives us the fullness of God’s grace, marks us forever as His own, and gives us the courage and gifts to live and share our faith.

Think of it like this:

– Baptism = You are born into God’s family.

– Confirmation = You grow up, receive the Holy Spirit, and are given the power to live as a true son or daughter of the King.

Confirmation is not the end of your journey — it is the beginning of your mission. God wants you to be strong, brave, and full of His love. That is why He gave us this beautiful sacrament.

Spiritual and Practical reasons to be confirmed:

Spiritual Benefits

– Receive the gifts of the Holy Ghost

– Strengthen your baptismal graces

– Become more perfect in your faith

– Receive grace to live as a Christian

– Deepen your relationship with God

Practical Benefits

– Be a stronger witness to your faith

– Have courage to defend your beliefs

– Lead a more committed Catholic life

– Fulfill your role in the Church

– Live with greater spiritual strength

Source: Catechists of St. Francis Xavier