Chrismation

Chrismation is the name given in Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches to the sacrament known as confirmation in the Latin Rite Catholic churches. It is so called because of the holy oil, or chrism, with which the recipient of the sacrament is anointed, as the priest speaks the words, "the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit."

In the East, the sacrament may be performed by a priest, and is usually conferred immediately after baptism; therefore, it is usually received by infants. In the West the sacrament must be performed by a bishop. Since a bishop cannot be present at every infant baptism, this led to the custom of confirming larger groups of older children and young adults, so that confirmation took on something of the nature of a rite of passage, and an opportunity to affirm a personal committment to the faith.

In both traditions, the sacrament is considered to bind the recipients more perfectly to the Church, and to enrich them with a special strength of the Holy Spirit (see Lumen Gentium).