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1318 In the East this sacrament is
administered immediately after Baptism and is followed by
participation in the Eucharist; this tradition highlights
the unit y of the three sacraments of Christian initiation.
In the Latin Church this sacrament is administered when the
age of reason has been reached, and its celebration is
ordinarily reserved to the bishop, thus signifying that this
sacrament strengthens the ecciesial bond. 1319 A candidate for Confirmation who has attained
the age of reason must profess the faith, be in the
state of grace, have the intention of receiving the
sacrament, and be prepared to assume the role of disciple
and witness to Christ, both within the ecclesial community
and in temporal affairs. 1320 The essential rite of Confirmation is
anointing the forehead of the baptized with sacred chrism
(in the East other senseorgans as well), together with
the laying on of the ministers hand and the words:
Accipe signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti [Be sealed with
the Gift of the Holy Spirit] in the Roman rite, or:
Signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti [the seal of the
gift of the Holy Spirit] in the Byzantine rite. 1321 When Confirmation is celebrated separately
from Baptism, its connection with Baptism is expressed,
among other ways, by the renewal of baptismal promises. The
celebration of Confirmation during the Eucharist helps
underline the unity of the sacraments of Christian
initiation. THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST 1322 The holy Eucharist completes Christian
initiation. Those 1212 who have been raised to the
dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism, and configured
more deeply to Christ by Confirmation, participate with the
whole community in the Lords own sacrifice by means of
the Eucharist. 1323 At the
Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Saviour
instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood.
This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the
cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so
to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of
his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of
unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet in which
Christ is consumed, the mind is filled 1402 with grace,
and a pledge of future glory is given to us.33
1324 The Eucharist is the source
and summit of the Christian |
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