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The flesh is washed that the soul may be made stainless. The flesh is anointed that the soul may be consecrated.
The flesh is sealed that the soul may be fortified. The flesh is overshadowed by the imposition of hands that the soul may be illuminated by the Spirit.
(Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh, 8)
This quote from a Father of the Church gives us a glimpse into the way the early Christians understood baptism and confirmation. While baptism “washes” us clean from original sin, it is in the gift of the Spirit that we are “anointed,” “sealed,” and “illuminated.”
The Holy Spirit does so much, and it is all focused on giving us the power and grace we need to live out the life that we received in baptism.
As with all the other sacraments, if we want to experience the full blessings of confirmation, we have a part to play. We have to believe that the Holy…
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