To appreciate the meaning of Confirmation, you must look back to its origins in the Early Church. The earliest followers of Jesus were relatively few in number. They lived in communities which were run by the principles taught by Jesus. They not only helped one another but came to the aid of anyone in need. People who wanted to join their community had to go through a period of preparation which involved instruction in the faith and carrying out good deeds in the community.

Only adults were allowed to be initiated into the early Church. The ceremony of initiation, which was performed on Easter Sunday, involved baptism, receiving the Eucharist and anointing. As the Christian community increased in number, and as Christians married and had children, there was an increasing need to have a ceremony for children. Infant mortality was high and Christian parents feared that their child might die before being received into the Church. For this and other reasons there was a gradual move towards splitting the rite of initiation into: baptism, first communion and anointing or Confirmation. Baptism could be conferred on an infant and later, when the child was instructed in the faith and reached an age of reason, he or she could complete the initiation themselves.

An important aspect of being a Christian is to accept, believe and profess that Christ is Lord. Infants, of course, cannot make this profession. So at their baptism, parents and godparents make the profession on their behalf and promise to bring up the child in the faith. Later, the child is given the opportunity to confirm the baptismal promises made on their behalf.