Whether the Sacrament of Confirmation Imprints a Character?
Objection 1: It seems that the sacrament of Confirmation does not
imprint a character. For a character means a distinctive sign. But a
man is not distinguished from unbelievers by the sacrament of
Confirmation, for this is the effect of Baptism; nor from the rest of
the faithful, because this sacrament is ordained to the spiritual
combat, which is enjoined to all the faithful. Therefore a character
is not imprinted in this sacrament.
Obj. 2: Further, it was stated above (Q. 63, A. 2) that a character
is a spiritual power. Now a power must be either active or passive.
But the active power in the sacraments is conferred by the sacrament
of order: while the passive or receptive power is conferred by the
sacrament of Baptism. Therefore no character is imprinted by the
sacrament of Confirmation.
Obj. 3: Further, in circumcision, which is a character of the body,
no spiritual character is imprinted. But in this sacrament a
character is imprinted on the body, when the sign of the cross is
signed with chrism on man's brow. Therefore a spiritual character is
not imprinted by this sacrament.
_On the contrary,_ A character is imprinted in every sacrament that
is not repeated. But this sacrament is not repeated: for Gregory II
says (Ep. iv ad Bonifac.): "As to the man who was confirmed a second
time by a bishop, such a repetition must be forbidden." Therefore a
character is imprinted in Confirmation.
_I answer that,_ As stated above (Q. 63, A. 2), a character is a
spiritual power ordained to certain sacred actions. Now it has been
said above (A. 1; Q. 65, A. 1) that, just as Baptism is a spiritual
regeneration unto Christian life, so also is Confirmation a certain
spiritual growth bringing man to perfect spiritual age. But it is
evident, from a comparison with the life of the body, that the action
which is proper to man immediately after birth, is different from the
action which is proper to him when he has come to perfect age. And
therefore by the sacrament of Confirmation man is given a spiritual
power in respect of sacred actions other than those in respect of
which he receives power in Baptism. For in Baptism he receives power
to do those things which pertain to his own salvation, forasmuch as
he lives to himself: whereas in Confirmation he receives power to do
those things which pertain to the spiritual combat with the enemies
of the Faith. This is evident from the example of the apostles, who,
before they received the fulness of the Holy Ghost, were in the
"upper room . . . persevering . . . in prayer" (Acts 1:13, 14);
whereas afterwards they went out and feared not to confess their
faith in public, even in the face of the enemies of the Christian
Faith. And therefore it is evident that a character is imprinted in
the sacrament of Confirmation.
Reply Obj. 1: All have to wage the spiritual combat with our
invisible enemies. But to fight against visible foes, viz. against
the persecutors of the Faith, by confessing Christ's name, belongs to
the confirmed, who have already come spiritually to the age of
virility, according to 1 John 2:14: "I write unto you, young men,
because you are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and you
have overcome the wicked one." And therefore the character of
Confirmation is a distinctive sign, not between unbelievers and
believers, but between those who are grown up spiritually and those
of whom it is written: "As new-born babes" (1 Pet. 2:2).
Reply Obj. 2: All the sacraments are protestations of faith.
Therefore just as he who is baptized receives the power of testifying
to his faith by receiving the other sacraments; so he who is
confirmed receives the power of publicly confessing his faith by
words, as it were _ex officio._
Reply Obj. 3: The sacraments of the Old Law are called "justice of
the flesh" (Heb. 9:10) because, to wit, they wrought nothing
inwardly. Consequently in circumcision a character was imprinted in
the body only, but not in the soul. But in Confirmation, since it is
a sacrament of the New Law, a spiritual character is imprinted at the
same time, together with the bodily character.
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