Church granted by the bishop or Pope.  With regard to names, parents should never be induced by any motive to give their child some foolish or fancy name taken from books, places, or things.  Above all, they should never select the name of any enemy of the Church or unbeliever, but the name of one of God’s saints who will be a model for the child.  Whatever name is taken, if it be not a saint’s name, the name of some saint should be given as a middle name.  If this has been omitted in Baptism, it should be supplied in Confirmation, at which time a new name can be added.  Again, if a saint’s name has been taken in Baptism it should not be shortened or changed so as to mean nothing; as, for example, Mazie, Miz, etc., for Mary.  When your correct name is mentioned your saint is honored, and I might say invoked, because it should remind you of him.  For that reason you should not have meaningless or foolish pet names, known only to your family or your friends.

Lesson 15 ON CONFIRMATION

166 Q. 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.

In Baptism we are made Christians, but we are not very strong in our faith till the Holy Ghost comes in Confirmation.  You remember how timid the Apostles were before the coming of the Holy Ghost, and how firm and determined in their faith they were afterwards; and how fearlessly they preached even to those who crucified Our Lord.  “Soldiers,” because we must fight for our salvation against our three enemies, the devil, the world, and the flesh.  Our Lord is our great leader in this warfare, and we must follow Him and fight as He directs.  A soldier that fights as he pleases and not as his general commands, will surely be beaten.

167 Q. Who can administer Confirmation?  A. The bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation.

“Ordinary,” because in some very distant countries where on account of the small number of Christians they have as yet no bishops, the Pope allows some priest to give Confirmation; but then he must use the holy oil consecrated by a bishop, and cannot consecrate oil himself.

168 Q. 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.

169 Q. What is holy chrism?  A. Holy chrism is a mixture of olive oil and balm, consecrated by the bishop.

The oil signifies the strength we receive, and the balm that we should be free from the corruption of sin, and give forth the sweetness of virtue.

170 Q. What does the bishop say in anointing the person he confirms?  A. In anointing the person he confirms the bishop says:  I sign thee with the Sign of the Cross, and I confirm thee with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.