The Mass starts out as it normally would, but then immediately after the Gospel, someone from the congregation will present you each by name to the Bishop. You are called by name because as a faith community we recognize how important it is to be called out as an individual. In fact, one of the first things that happens when you were baptized is the priest asks by what name do we call this child? When God gave dominion over the Garden of Eden to Adam, the first thing that Adam was tasked to do was to name all the animals and birds. When he called the prophets, God called them individually by name. Think about when you get a new puppy or kitten, and how important it is to name it! I want you to think about your own names and in your small groups, you will be asked to spend some time reflecting on the importance of your own names.

The next thing that will happen is the Bishop will give a hopefully brief homily. At the end of the homily, he will invite you to renew your baptismal promises, the same promises that were made in your name by your parents at baptism. I am going to invite you in your small groups to spend some time talking about what is a promise and the kinds of promises we make. Right now, I would like to briefly review what the baptismal promises are - but they should sound familiar to you:
Do you reject Satan and all his works and all his empty promises?
Do you believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

Hands are a symbol of power. Specifically the laying on of hands refers to an ancient practice of conferring power onto a person by placing both hands on that person’s head. In Genesis old Isaac lays his hands on his son Jacob to give him authority over the tribe. Kings and knights traditionally received their official power through a laying on of hands. The practice was also common in the early church to symbolize passing on the power of the Holy Spirit, which the Apostles had received at Pentecost.
Hands are a particularly apt symbol for the Holy Spirit working in people. We bless with our hands. The priest at Mass gives the sign of the cross with his hand over the assembly. Friends pat each other on the back to offer encouragement or congratulations. Artists often depict God creating the world or giving life.

Similarly, we work with our hands, create things with our hands, and “give each other a hand.” Hands greet, comfort, and console. Hands touch other people, and can help heal simply by their touch. Hands can support and lift up others. They can help to guide. They can be used to reach out and make connections with people.

In the Rite of Confirmation, the bishop initially “lays hands on” all the candidates together by extending his hands over the whole group. Meanwhile, he prays for the Spirit to help and guide the candidates with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. A few moments later, when the candidates individually come up to the bishop to be anointed with chrism, he places a hand on each person’s head, which is symbolically the place of wisdom. The feeing of a hand on the head also gives a person the feeling of being strengthened by another’s touch. A bond is made; the spirit of one touches the spirit of the other.

Have you ever watched public officials take oaths of office? They raise their hand and vow to carry out their duties and responsibilities of their offices. In ancient times anointing with oil served that function. Kings and priests were anointed to symbolize their commission to those roles. Jesus himself is called Christ, which means “the Anointed One.” In the Rite of Confirmation, Christians are anointed by the bishop with chrism and thus are commissioned to be Christ for others. This action also recalls their anointing with chrism at Baptism.

The anointing at Confirmation is an act of consecrating the person, to share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the Church. In the Roman Catholic Church, the bishop usually does the anointing, as well as the laying on of hands, to link the person symbolically to the universal church, the church of the apostles.

To be anointed the candidates come forward one by one. As each one approaches the bishop, that candidate’s sponsor places her or his right hand on the candidate’s shoulder and gives the bishop the candidate’s name. In the essential words and actions of the sacrament, the bishop dips his right thumb in the chrism, puts his hand on the person’s head, and makes the sign of the cross on the forehead, saying, “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.” The bishop then gives the person the sign of peace.