The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-10-16
Confirmation OF Children In the Catholic
Chnrch OF Et. AndrcV,s

The Sacrament OF Confirmation was pcrfo,med ia the
Catholic church OF g. Andrews yesterday by Arch.
bishop Hughes Between two and three hundred chill
dren received the sacrament besides abou, hy sixty
grown persons. The little girls, Of whom there wcrc
over two hundred were neatly dressed In white and
long flowing wells which extended below the waist The
occasion was Of solemn interest to those who parti
cpated In the sacrament. Al present sccmed to be
deeply impressed aud the ceremonies wer through
out with the mos, earnest attcatlou The Archbishop
entered the church about half past nine ascending
the steps OF the altar, after brief prayer made few
appropriate remarks to the children explaining the na.
ture and obligations OF the sacrament which they we're
about to receive.
Ny dear children snid he need hardly remind You
that the sacraments instituted By blessed Re-
dsener as the means OF conveying grsc" TO our souls
are impaired but once. These the saeFaments OF
baptism and confirmation The may be said of
Holy Orders but that Il not under confederation
by baptism raised from death 10 spiritual life; II
Is sacrament in which, ande outward Fi,es divine
Redeeiner applies TO our souls the merits of
his death and prcconl blood Though raised u life
by H. there degrees Of life, and confirmation il inst
tued to make that life complete by the perfection ani
filling up OF the whole Christian character Both blp
sm and confirmation impress seal upon the soul aud
on that account are not TO be repeated other
mcnts can lie repeated as ponance aad the reception of
the Holy Eucharist, but baptism and confirmation
impaired are impaired forever On this lunt II Is
Important, and it Is necessary for your understand
ing OF 1t that you should come 10 the use
Of reason before you receive II II Il
qai.i'e that you should arrive at that degree or
which our. blessed Saviour has thus provided divine
strength and heavenly eh aud grace 70 enable To dis
charge the duties o Christian profession. II Is q
great consolation TO know hat persons who have been
confirmed have hardly ever been known 10 fall away from
their religion while those who have not been In
dueed to give Up their faith and the practice Of Their
gi0n. let hope then my dear children iha having
pedged yourselves to-day 10 be faithful 10 your religion
ard to your church. w persevere in your resolution
to the end OF your life iou know that dne Saviour
has said that whoever coufcases lin before men lie
viii confess before his Father aud whoever denies him
before he will deny them before his Father" Tn
derstand, IL ien, the obligation this sacrament imposes
and putting trust In thu power and goodness ~ Cod
form your resolution 10 day 20 offer yourseye TO hi
vice and to he faithful from this time 10 the day II your
death God himself will mpart you the gifts q his holy
Ii and viii giant those graces that you may have
the knowledge TO distinguish between good and
evil that you shoud be enabled 10 TO the deter
mnaion o your accord TO he the children and
wants II God and soldiers of Christ n limpoftant tina.
you should receive this with proper dspos
toD, and understanding Of the nature OF the obla
uons imposed There Is doubt that the grace OF God,
which gives supernatural strength and which Ia impart
ed In the sacramens IL necessary 10 enable you 10 dis
charge yorf duties towards God; for although pcrsecu
tion to death IL not known In ths part IL the Catholic
world stu there ia persecution going on always, and
the object 81 all these sacrnments l. 10 make yon stead
fast In your aith to make loyal to the caue Of
divine saviour, 80 that calamity IN this life should
be esteemed great denying your God by word
don II is therefore 10 strengthen yen against such dan
gers that God has Instituted this sacrament by you
enlist under the banner Of your divine Master and you
must be true 10 II through life. II Is great consos
uop to know IN agreeable to him the duties of
aC istian.
the conclusion of his brief address the chdFen
all who 10 be confirmed up 10 the railing of
the sanctuary and kneelng before the altar prepared
themselves 10 receive the sacrament In accordance with
the forms prescribed by the Catholic churcb Zach child
had a card which her his written, aud
which taken by IL the ofiiciating clergymrn
who in each read II aloud to The Archbishop beorc
the child confirmed
Confirmation according 10 the Catholic explanation d.
sacrament by which those who have bsen baptized re
csvc the Holy Ghost by the prayer and imposition Of tho
hands Of the Bishop in order TO their being nad~ strong
and perfect Christians and valiant soldiers ~ jesus
Christ. II IL called confirmation from u elect which Il
10 confirm strengthen those that receive II In the pro-
ieson 81 the true iaith 10 give them such aud
resolution TO be willing rather 10 die than turn from a.
and 10 them la general against all their spiritual
enemies" The forehead of the person being eonarmed
IL snObted With sacred ointment composed VI oil ~
oil and balm of Gead which Ia blessed by the Arch
bishop on Maundy Thursday. The anoDtnont ~ made
In the a. cross 10 show that the virtue ~ tins
craroent through the merits Of the sscrnee o the
death Of the Saviour. At the clos. ~ the sacrament the
Archbishop gave each child gentle blow the cheek
'to teach him that he AUST fight maunlly against all
bs enemies suffer patiently all kinds Of aGrcns and In
jurie for his aith and bear with meekDess all tn
and trials for the sake II hs Lord and Master
About two hours consumed In the ceremony, al
the conclusion Of which the children retired 10 reuf
order from the church.