Confirmation is ... The essence of the mystery, features in different directions of Christianity

Confirmation - this concept can be found in various spheres of human activity. Most often this word is used in a religious context, but it can be found in the economy, international and trade law, in military affairs. We will deal with what constitutes confirmation.

Etymology

So, what does "confirmation" mean? This word is translated from Latin as "consolidation", "approval" or "confirmation". In other words, we are talking about the fact that a final decision is made on an important issue.

In the military sphere, confirmation is the final decision on the case. Sometimes so called the verdict itself. In prerevolutionary Russia there was a notion of confirmation of the verdict. In this case, it was a question of the procedure for approval by his higher authorities.

In economics, this word refers to the procedure for accepting a contract when one of the parties fully accepts the conditions offered by the second. International law uses the concept to characterize the process of approving a document by the supreme body to whose competence it relates.

The concept of confirmation in religion

This priesthood in Christianity refers to the sacraments. This means that in this case the person is given divine grace in a special way, secretly, that is, invisibly. The sacrament signifies a meeting of a man with the Lord, which opens the way, allowing to become like the Creator, to approach him spiritually. In Christianity it is believed that the sacred acts have a wonderful transforming power, bringing a person closer to God. The expounder of all the sacraments is the Lord, and the priest acts only as a guide, a kind of instrument for accomplishing God's will.

Sources of Confirmation

The sacrament of confirmation, or chrismation, is the receipt of the seal of the Holy Spirit, this special gift, which is the beginning of a new life that is established after baptism. This gift was given to the first Christians through the laying on of hands from the apostles themselves. With the increase in the number of those who wish to receive the sacred gift, the sacrament was made by the priests.

In Catholicism, only the laying on of hands was originally used, and only in the thirteenth century it was replaced by the anointing of the world. Despite some changes that have taken place in the form of the rite, the right to carry it out to the present day belongs only to the bishops.

Differences in religious understanding

Confirmation (this concept, as already noted, meets with Christians and is a sacrament) is performed by a clergyman. He pronounces certain prayers with laying hands on the head of the initiate and anointing him with the world. Confirmation is the name used by Catholics and Protestants. The Orthodox sacrament is defined by the word "chrismation".

Etymological differences reflect the essence of differences in the rules of rituals. There are several of them. The first is the period of commission. In Orthodoxy, chrismation follows immediately after baptism.

Confirmation in the Catholic church occurs later, when the child reaches a conscious age or, as the Catholics say, the "age of understanding" when a person can already make a conscious choice. As a rule, this age starts from the age of seven, but here there are no rigid framework established by the canon.

Second - confirmation from Catholics requires special training, which takes place in the form of classes. Then there is something like an examination for knowledge of the law of God. And then the bishop performs the very sacrament.

The Orthodox do not have such a preparatory practice, as, as a rule, the chrismation occurs in infancy.

There is also a difference in who performs the sacrament. In the Catholic tradition, this is the bishop. In Orthodoxy, the right to prepare the world for anointing was preserved. As a rule, it is prepared by either the Patriarch or the bishop by his blessing. The procedure of the sacrament can be performed not only by the bishop, but also by the priest (priest, archpriest).

Catholic Confirmation

Outwardly, all the stages of preparation for the sacrament, its behavior and celebration are a procedure for introducing the adolescent to the church. This is a special holiday in the life of Catholics, which is restrainedly celebrated by the whole family. Preceding the sacrament is a long enough preparation, during which the teenager teaches prayers, psalms, fragments of evangelical texts.

The service on which the confirmation takes place is not combined in mass, but takes place at a separate time. On her, as a rule, there are close relatives and friends. Sometimes the ritual is held for several families at once. It is performed by the bishop. Upon the performance of the sacrament, the anointed receives a special document, symbolizing his admission to the church.

Passage of the Sacrament of Confirmation in Catholics is solemnly celebrated. There are no special traditions. Everything is determined by the desire of parents to make this day special in the memory of the child who took the sacrament.

Confirmation in Lutheranism

It is, like in Catholicism, already at a more mature age. The only difference is that here people who have reached the age of 14 are admitted to it. In Protestantism, confirmation does not refer to sacraments, but is defined as a rite demonstrating a person's conscious confession of the faith that he accepts.

The procedure takes place like a Catholic one. It is preceded by careful preparation, which involves studying the Scriptures, memorizing by heart the prayers, hymns, separate fragments, the history of Protestantism. Knowledge teens show on Sunday service, which is the procedure for confirmation. This rite provides an opportunity to make sure that a person professes the teaching of the church to which he joins.

After its passage a special document is handed over, which is nominal. Here is the date of birth, baptism, place and time of confirmation. After the performance of this rite, congratulations and a special celebration follow.