Q. 667.  What should parents chiefly consider in the selection of sponsors for their children?  A. In the selection of sponsors for their children parents should chiefly consider the good character and virtue of the sponsors, selecting model Catholics to whom they would be willing at the hour of death to entrust the care and training of their children.

Q. 668.  What dispositions must adults or grown persons, have that they may worthily receive baptism?  A. That adults may worthily receive baptism:  (1) They must be willing to receive it; (2) they must have faith in Christ; (3) they must have true sorrow for their sins, and (4) they must solemnly renounce the devil and all his works; that is, all sin.

Q. 669.  What is the ceremony of churching?  A. The ceremony of churching is a particular blessing which a mother receives at the Altar, as soon as she is able to present herself in the Church after the birth of her child.  In this ceremony the priest invokes God’s blessing on the mother and child, while she on her part returns thanks to God.

LESSON FIFTEENTH.  ON CONFIRMATION.

Q. 670. {166} What is Confirmation?  A. Confirmation is a Sacrament through which we receive the Holy Ghost to make us strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ.

Q. 671.  When was Confirmation instituted?  A. The exact time at which Confirmation was instituted is not known.  But as this Sacrament was administered by the Apostles and numbered with the other Sacraments instituted by Our Lord, it is certain that He instituted this Sacrament also and instructed His Apostles in its use, at some time before His ascension into heaven.

Q. 672.  Why is Confirmation so called?  A. Confirmation is so called from its chief effect, which is to strengthen or render us more firm in whatever belongs to our faith and religious duties.

Q. 673.  Why are we called soldiers of Jesus Christ?  A. We are called soldiers of Jesus Christ to indicate how we must resist the attacks of our spiritual enemies and secure our victory over them by following and obeying Our Lord.

Q. 674.  May one add a new name to his own at Confirmation?  A. One may and should add a new name to his own at Confirmation, especially when the name of a saint has not been given in Baptism.

Q. 675. {167} Who administers Confirmation? 
A. The bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation.

Q. 676.  Why do we say the bishop is the “ordinary minister” of Confirmation?  A. We say the bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation because in some foreign missions, where bishops have not yet been appointed, the Holy Father permits one of the priests to administer Confirmation with the Holy Oil blessed by the bishop.

Q. 677. {168} How does the bishop give Confirmation?  A. The bishop extends his hands over those who are to be confirmed, prays that they may receive the Holy Ghost, and anoints the forehead of each with holy chrism in the form of a cross.