After Jesus was baptized his Father sent the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove to show all this second sacrament (mystery), Confirmation. It is in that order that the sacrament is administered at St. Bernadette. First baptism and then Confirmation. Jesus came to give us abundant life and a part of that abundant life is full initiation into the Christian life. As the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus after his baptism, God wants that same Spirit to descend upon all of his children.
On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5
It is at this time Jesus tells us the gift of Confirmation comes from God as part of our Christian life. This gift is part of our Christian initiation and through the Holy Spirit we are empowered us to continue to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ and God our Father.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 1:1-4
By the sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed. – CCC 1285
