These three sacraments are called the Sacraments of Initiation. Through Baptism, our new life in Christ is begun; through Confirmation, that life is strengthened; and through Eucharist, the receiving of the body and blood of Christ, our Christian lives are nourished and transformed. 

Any Catholic who has been baptized, has reached the age of reason (around the age of 7), has been properly instructed in the Catholic faith, has never been confirmed, is in a state of grace, and freely desires to receive the sacrament may be confirmed. 

The ordinary minister of Confirmation is the bishop in order to underscore a connection to Pentecost. In certain circumstances, a bishop can delegate the power to confirm to a priest. 

Confirmation brings to perfection the grace received at Baptism. Confirmation is God’s self-giving love through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Confirmation also deepens our bond with the Church, calling us to participate more deeply in the life of the Christian community

Both Baptism and Confirmation may be received only once but in a very real sense we are always being baptized and always being confirmed just as Marriage and Holy Orders are lived realities for those who receive them. 

Yes. The sponsor offers spiritual guidance and support. The sponsor must be a confirmed, practicing Catholic who is at least 16 years of age. In order to strengthen the unity between Baptism and Confirmation, a baptismal godparent is often chosen as a Confirmation sponsor. A parent of a candidate or a fiancée should not be a sponsor. The sponsor stands as a witness to the faith of the candidate and his or her readiness to receive the sacrament and as a representative of the ongoing support offered to the candidate by the wider community of the church. 

In the Acts of the Apostles we read of the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. While baptism is the sacrament of new life, confirmation gives birth to that life. Baptism initiates us into the Church and names us as children of God, whereas confirmation calls us forth as God’s children and unites us more fully to the active messianic mission of Christ in the world.

After receiving the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Apostles went out and confirmed others, showing confirmation to be an individual and separate sacrament: Peter and John at Samaria (Acts 8:5-6, 14-17) and Paul at Ephesus (Acts 19:5-6). Also the Holy Spirit came down on Jews and Gentiles alike in Caesarea, prior to their baptisms. Recognizing this as a confirmation by the Holy Spirit, Peter commanded that they be baptized (cf. Acts 10:47).