mation is necessary for those who have occasion for spiritual increase, and hope to arrive at religious perfection; but to this all should aspire, for as Nature intends that all her children should grow up and reach full maturity, although her wishes are not always realized; so it is the earnest desire of the Catholic Church, the common mother of all, that those whom she has regenerated by Baptism, may be brought to perfect maturity in Christ. This happy consummation can be accomplished only through the mystic unction of Confirmation; and hence it is clear, that this Sacrament is equally intended for all the faithful.
It is to be observed, that the Sacrament of Confirmation may be administered to all, as soon as they have been baptized; but, until children shall have reached the use of reason, its administration is inexpedient. If not postponed to the age of twelve, it should therefore be deferred until at least that of seven. Confirmation has not been instituted as necessary to salvation; but to enable us to be armed and prepared, whenever we may be called upon, to fight for the faith of Christ; and for this conflict no one will consider children, not yet arrived at the use of reason, fit subjects.
From what has been said, it follows, that persons of mature years who are to be confirmed, must, if they hope to receive the grace of this Sacrament, not only bring with them faith and devotion, but also be pierced with heartfelt compunction for the grievous sins into which they may have had the misfortune to fall. The pastor, therefore, will labour to induce them to have previous recourse to the tribunal of penance, will endeavour to excite them to fasting and other exercises of devotion, and will exhort them to the revival of that laudable practice of the ancient Church, of receiving the Sacrament of confirmation fasting. [1] To induce the faithful to enter into these dispositions would appear no difficult task, if they but learn to appreciate the blessings and extraordinary effects which flow from this Sacrament.
The pastor therefore will teach, that in common with the other sacraments, Confirmation, unless some obstacle be opposed by the receiver, imparts new grace. We have already " shown, that it is the property of these sacred and mystic signs, at once to indicate and produce grace; and as we cannot imagine grace and sin to coexist in the soul, it follows, as a necessary consequence, that it also remits sin.
Besides these properties, common alike to this and the other Sacraments, it is the peculiar characteristic of confirmation to perfect the grace of baptism: those who are initiated into the Christian religion, share, as it were, the tenderness and infirmity of new-born infants; but they afterwards gather strength from the Sacrament of chrism, to combat the assaults of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and are confirmed in faith to confess and glorify the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. From this last
- ↑ D. Th. p. 3. q. 72. a. ad. 2 Cone. Aur. c. 2.
