Why is Confirmation so mysterious? Dr. Pitre opens this study by considering the various ways that the Sacrament of Confirmation is understood today along with common misconceptions that surround it. He then explores the close connection between Confirmation and the person of the Holy Spirit.

Dr. Pitre looks at both the Old and New Testaments to unpack the Jewish roots of the feast of Pentecost and how the Holy Spirit’s decent upon the disciples at Pentecost came to be associated with the sacrament of Confirmation.

What does it mean to call Confirmation the “sacrament of evangelization”? In this session, Dr. Pitre unpacks how the anointing of Apostles at Pentecost empowered them to proclaim the good news to all nations. In like manner, Confirmation gives us the grace to spread the Gospel.

To understand the rich symbolism of the Church’s celebration of Confirmation, we must turn to the Scriptures. Working through the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Pitre identifies the scriptural roots of the three essential elements of the Rite: anointing with oil, laying on of hands, and being “seale...

Dr. Pitre draws on the Scriptures and writings of the early Church Fathers to reveal the close connection between the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. He shows how Confirmation increases and deepens the graces of Baptism and strengthens us for spiritual warfare.

How do the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit named by the prophet Isaiah relate to the graces of Confirmation? By looking closely at the New Testament’s portrait of Jesus, Dr. Pitre details how the gifts of the Holy Spirit enable Christians to share in Jesus’s Messianic mission.

In the Gospels, we find Jesus warning his disciples that all who follow him will face suffering and opposition. In this session, Dr. Pitre turns his attention to the ways the Confirmation equips disciples to bear witness to Christ in the face of persecution, even to the point of death.

When should a person be confirmed? Dr. Pitre explores the diverse practices within the Church regarding the age of Confirmation. He emphasizes that a clear grasp of what the graces of Confirmation are ordered toward is essential to considering how best to prepare for receiving it.

Dr. Pitre takes time to answer numerous questions about the sacrament of Confirmation and material covered over the course of the study.