The Seal of the Spirit
Catechesis by Pope Francis on Confirmation
General Audience, Wednesday 30 May 2018 - in Arabic, Croatian, English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese & Spanish
"Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Continuing with the theme of Confirmation, or Chrismation, today I would like to highlight “the intimate connection which this sacrament has with the whole of Christian initiation” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 71).
Before receiving the spiritual anointing that confirms and strengthens the grace of Baptism, the confirmands are called to renew the promises made one day by their parents and godparents. Now they themselves profess the faith of the Church, ready to respond “I believe” to the questions asked by the Bishop; ready, in particular, to believe “in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who came upon the apostles at Pentecost and today is given to [them] sacramentally in confirmation” (Rite of Confirmation [rc], n. 23).
As the coming of the Holy Spirit requires hearts gathered in prayer (cf. Acts 1:14), after the silent prayer of the community, the Bishop, extending his hands over the confirmands, asks God to instil in them his Holy Spirit Paraclete. There is only one Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 12:4), but in coming to us he brings with him an abundance of gifts: wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, reverence, and awe in the presence of God (cf. rc, n. 25). We have heard the Bible passage with these gifts which the Holy Spirit brings. According to the Prophet Isaiah (11:2), these are the seven virtues the Spirit poured out on the Messiah for the fulfilment of his mission. Saint Paul also describes the abundant fruits of the Spirit which are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22). The one Spirit distributes the multiple gifts which enrich the one Church: he is the Author of diversity, but at the same time the Creator of unity. Thus the Spirit gives all these riches which, although different, create harmony, that is, the unity of all these spiritual riches that we Christians have.
Through the tradition established by the Apostles, the Spirit, who completes the grace of Baptism, is communicated through the laying on of hands (cf. Acts 8:15-17, 19:5-6; Heb 6:2). To this biblical gesture, to better express the outpouring of the Spirit which permeates those who receive it, early on an anointing with perfumed oil called chrism[1] was added, which is still in use today, in both the East and West (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1289).
The oil — chrism — is a therapeutic and cosmetic substance which by entering the bodily tissues medicates wounds and perfumes the limbs; because of these qualities it is used in biblical and liturgical symbolism to express the action of the Holy Spirit who consecrates and permeates the baptized, adorning them with charisms. The Sacrament is conferred through the anointing with chrism on the forehead, administered by the Bishop by the imposition of his hand and with the words: “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit”.[2] The Holy Spirit is the invisible gift that is bestowed and the chrism is its visible seal.
In receiving on the forehead the sign of the cross with fragrant oil, confirmands thus receive an indelible spiritual imprint, the ‘character’, which confirms them more perfectly to Christ and gives them the grace to spread the ‘good aroma’ among men (cf. 2 Cor 2:15).
Let us listen again to Saint Ambrose’s invitation to the newly confirmed. He said: “recollect that thou hast received the spiritual seal ... and preserve what thou hast received. God the Father hath sealed thee, Christ the Lord hath confirmed thee, and hath given the earnest of the Spirit in thy heart” (On the Mysteries, 7:42; csel 73:106; cf. ccc n. 1303). The Holy Spirit is an unmerited gift, to be received with gratitude, making room for his boundless creativity. It is a gift to be safeguarded with care, yielded to with docility, allowing oneself to be moulded, like wax, by the warmth of his charity, so as to “reflect Jesus Christ in today’s world” (Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate, n. 23)."
Saluti:
"Je salue cordialement les pèlerins de langue française, provenant de France et d’autres pays francophones. Je salue en particulier les étudiants de Strasbourg et les jeunes de Nice, Avignon et Seix. Chers frères et sœurs, je vous invite à accueillir en vous avec gratitude les dons du Saint Esprit, « pour refléter Jésus Christ dans le monde d’aujourd’hui » ! Que Dieu vous bénisse !
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from England, Scotland, Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia and the United States of America. I thank the Korean athletes for their presentation: this has been a display of the commitment to peace, representing the two Koreas together! A message of peace for all of humanity! Thank you! I also offer a prayerful greeting to the Felician Sisters presently celebrating their General Chapter. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!
Mit Freude heiße ich die Pilger deutscher Sprache willkommen. Der Heilige Geist ist das große Geschenk, das der Herr uns gibt. So ist es wichtig, dass alle Gläubigen das Sakrament der Firmung empfangen, um die Taufgnade in Fülle zu leben und authentische Zeugen Christi in der Welt zu sein. Der Heilige Geist erfülle uns mit seinen reichen Gaben.
Saludo cordialmente a los peregrinos de lengua española, en modo particular a los grupos provenientes de España y América Latina. Los animo a acoger y custodiar con gratitud y docilidad este hermoso regalo que nos da Dios, que es su Espíritu, de modo que el fuego de su amor plasme en nosotros la imagen de Jesús para poder ser discípulos misioneros en el mundo de hoy. Que el Señor los bendiga. Muchas gracias.
Com grande estima, saúdo os peregrinos de língua portuguesa, em particular os grupos brasileiros de Criciúma, Imbuí e Trindade e também o Colégio Horizonte de Vila Nova de Gaia. A todos vos desejo uma maior consciência e uma escuta fiel do Espírito Santo, o doce Hóspede das vossas almas, que vos faça fortes na fé e corajosos no testemunho cristão. Sobre vós e vossas famílias desça a Bênção do Senhor.
أُرحّبُ بالحجّاجِ الناطقينَ باللّغةِ العربيّة، وخاصةً بالقادمينَ من الشرق الأوسط. أيّها الإخوةُ والأخواتُ الأعزّاء، في سرّ التثبيتطبَعَنا الله الآب وثبَّتنا المسيح ووضع في قلوبنا ضمانة الروح القدس. لنحافظ على هذه العطيّة بعناية ولنسمح لها بأن تطبعنا كالشمع بمحبّتها المُتَّقِدة، لكي نعكس صورة المسيح في العالم. ليبارككم الرب!
Witam serdecznie pielgrzymów polskich. Niech pobyt w Rzymie umocni was w wierze, nadziei i miłości. Szczególne pozdrowienie kieruję do tych wszystkich, którzy w sobotę będą uczestniczyli w Spotkaniu Młodych na Lednicy, by rozważyć słowa Pana Jezusa: „Ja jestem z wami przez wszystkie dni”. Cieszę się waszą inicjatywą i obecnością. Drodzy młodzi, bądźcie pewni, że On zawsze postrzega was jako cenny dla świata skarb. W każdej chwili także wy wpatrujcie się w oblicze Bożego Syna, gdziekolwiek jesteście, cokolwiek przychodzi wam czynić. Tylko wówczas będziecie mogli zobaczyć, jacy naprawdę jesteście. Oddajcie Mu swój umysł, swoje dłonie, ciało, by dzięki wam mógł dotrzeć do tych, którzy potrzebują pomocy. Świętując na Lednicy stulecie odzyskania niepodległości waszej Ojczyny, gestem, jaki zwykł czynić św. Jan Paweł II, ucałujcie polską ziemię także w moim imieniu. Zawierzam was opiece Maryi Królowej Polski i z serca błogosławię.
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Rivolgo un cordiale benvenuto ai fedeli di lingua italiana.
Sono lieto di accogliere i Partecipanti al Capitolo Generale delle Suore di San Felice da Cantalice; i Sacerdoti e i Seminaristi dei Collegi e Convitti Romani, i Diaconi del Pontificio Collegio Urbano in Roma; le Religiose del Collegio Missionario Mater Ecclesiae in Castel Gandolfo e il Gruppo dell’Ordo Viduarum.
Saluto le Parrocchie di Oppido Lucano e di Furci; l’Associazione Roller House di Osimo, accompagnata dal Vescovo, Monsignor Claudio Giuliodori; la Scuola Marescialli e Brigadieri dei Carabinieri di Velletri; l’Associazione Lo spirito del pianeta e la Fondazione Istituto Castelli di Brescia.
I offer a special thought to young people, to the elderly, to the sick, and to newlyweds. Tomorrow we will conclude the Marian month. May the Mother of God be your refuge in happy moments and in more difficult times, and may she be your families’ guide, so they may become a domestic hearth of prayer, of mutual understanding and of giving."
[1] Here is a passage of the prayer of Consecration of the Chrism: “And so, Father, we ask you to bless † this oil you have created. Fill it with the power of your Holy Spirit through Christ your Son. It is from him that chrism takes its name and with chrism you have anointed for yourself priests and kings, prophets and martyrs”.... For those “anointed with this chrism” may it “wash away the evil they have inherited” and “make them temples of your glory, radiant with” the fragrance of a holy life (cf. Blessing of Oils and Chrism, n. 25).
[2] The phrases “Receive the Holy Spirit” and “the gift of the Holy Spirit” are found in Jn 20:22, and Acts 2:38, 10:45-47.