CONFIRMATION

The laying on of hands by the bishop, for the conferring of the grace of the Holy Spirit; a rite by which a person arrived at years of discretion takes upon himself the performance of the baptismal vow made for him by his sponsors. This ceremony is derived from the practice of the Apostles, of whom we read (Acts, viii. 16. xix. 16.) that after certain disciples at Samaria and Ephesus had been baptized, they laid their hands upon them, and the Holy Ghost came upon them. The descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles themselves on the day of Pentecost is considered also as an example of confirmation succeeding baptism. In the early ages this ceremony seems to have been accompanied very generalljr with the unction of the forehead. This ceremony IS retained by the Roman Catholics, who consider confirmation a sacrament. [s. 283]