OCIA Session 7 Supplement - Baptism & Confirmation - New life in Christ and the Spirit’s power

Baptism & Confirmation - New life in Christ and the Spirit’s power

When you were born, you were given physical life  -  breath in your lungs, a heartbeat in your chest, a family to welcome you into the world. Baptism is your second birth, your entry into spiritual life. Through it, you become a child of God, freed from sin, and welcomed into the family of the Church. Jesus Himself made this clear when He told Nicodemus, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit” (John 3:5). Baptism is not just a ritual with water  -  it is the gateway to eternal life.

Think about what happens at Baptism. Water is poured over your head (or you are immersed fully), and the priest or deacon says, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” With those words, something invisible yet powerful takes place. Your original sin is washed away. You are filled with God’s grace. You are adopted as His beloved child. St. Paul writes, “You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). From that moment, you carry a new identity: you belong to Christ.

Baptism also unites you to the Body of Christ, the Church. You’re no longer just an individual believer; you’re part of a worldwide family. Ephesians 4:4-5 says, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Baptism makes you part of something much bigger  -  a family that stretches across the world and throughout history.

Here’s a humor break: babies often cry at Baptism, and people sometimes joke that it’s the devil being cast out. In reality, the baby is probably just startled by cold water on their head. But it’s a good reminder that Baptism is powerful stuff! It marks the beginning of a lifelong journey, not just for infants, but for anyone who comes to Christ. Whether you’re baptized as a baby or an adult, the same miracle happens: you are reborn in God’s Spirit.

Now let’s talk about Confirmation, sometimes called the “sacrament of maturity.” If Baptism is birth, Confirmation is growth. In Baptism, you receive the Holy Spirit. In Confirmation, the Spirit’s presence is strengthened and sealed in you. Acts 8:14-17 describes how the apostles laid hands on new believers so they could receive the Holy Spirit. That same action continues today in Confirmation. The bishop (or sometimes a priest) lays hands on you, anoints your forehead with chrism oil, and says, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This is not just a nice blessing. It is a powerful outpouring of God’s Spirit that equips you for mission.

The Holy Spirit brings gifts that transform your life: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2). These are not abstract virtues  -  they are real strengths that help you face life with courage, make holy choices, and live as a witness of Christ. Think of Confirmation as your personal Pentecost. Just as the apostles went from fearful and hiding to bold and world-changing after the Holy Spirit came upon them, Confirmation empowers you to stand strong in faith. Acts 1:8 promises, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.”

Together, Baptism and Confirmation are part of the sacraments of initiation, along with the Eucharist. Baptism gives you new life. Confirmation strengthens that life with the Spirit’s fire. And the Eucharist feeds and sustains that life daily. These three sacraments together bring you fully into the Catholic faith.

Take a moment to reflect on this: what does it mean to you to be reborn as God’s child in Baptism? What does it mean to have the Holy Spirit sealed within you in Confirmation? Write it down. Maybe you feel awe, maybe gratitude, maybe even nervousness at such a great gift. Whatever it is, bring it to God in prayer. Remember His words at Jesus’ baptism: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). Those words apply to you too.

Here’s your challenge this week: if you have already been baptized, thank God for the grace of your baptism. If you’re preparing for it, pray each day: “Lord, prepare my heart to be washed clean and made new.” If you’re preparing for Confirmation, pray: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill me with your gifts.” Read Acts 2:1-13, the story of Pentecost, and imagine yourself in that upper room, flames of fire resting on your head, courage filling your heart.

In closing, remember this: Baptism and Confirmation are not boxes to check on the way to becoming Catholic. They are life-changing encounters with God. In Baptism, you are reborn into His family. In Confirmation, you are sealed with His Spirit and sent out as His witness. These sacraments are the beginning of a lifelong adventure in faith. Next time, we’ll focus on the Eucharist  -  the source and summit of Christian life, where Jesus feeds us with His very Body and Blood. Until then, keep your heart open to the Spirit who has begun His work in you, and be ready for the fire He will place in your soul.