Adoremus Out Loud--Anointed and Sealed: Clarifying the Conferral of Confirmation

The sign of the Sacrament of Confirmation has not, historically, been defined as precisely as that of Baptism. Consequently, theological manuals spoke with less agreement and, overall, less certainty concerning this second sacrament of initiation. Moreover, some points on which past authors strongly concurred have been overturned by modern teaching and praxis. While certain doubts remain, we can describe this matter and form more confidently today than in the past.