The Order of Confirmation

The Order of Confirmation

Or Laying on of Hands upon Those that are Baptized, and come to Years of Discretion.

¶ Upon the day appointed, all that are to be confirmed shall stand in order before the Bishop, sitting in his chair near to the Holy Table, the People all standing until the Lord's Prayer; and the Minister shall say,

REVEREND Father in God, I present unto you these persons to receive the Laying on of Hands.

¶ Then the Bishop, or some Minister appointed by him, may say,

Hear the words of the Evangelist Saint Luke, in the eighth Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.

WHEN the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

¶ Then shall the Bishop say,

DO ye here, in the presence of God, and of this congregation, renew the solemn promise and vow that ye made, or that was made in your name, at your Baptism; ratifying and confirming the same; and acknowledging yourselves bound to believe and to do all those things which ye then undertook, or your Sponsors then undertook for you?

¶ And every one shall audibly answer,

I do.

¶ Then shall the Bishop say,

DO ye promise to follow Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour?

¶ And every one shall answer,

I do.

Bishop.            Our help is in the Name of the Lord;
Answer.           Who hath made heaven and earth.
Bishop.            Blessed be the Name of the Lord;
Answer.           Henceforth, world without end.
Bishop.            Lord, hear our prayer.
Answer.           And let our cry come unto thee.

Bishop.            Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who hast vouchsafed to regenerate these thy servants by Water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given unto them forgiveness of all their sins; Strengthen them, we beseech thee, O Lord, with the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace: the spirit of wisdom and under-standing, the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength, the spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and fill them, O Lord, with the spirit of thy holy fear, now and for ever. Amen.

¶ Then all of them in order kneeling before the Bishop, he shall lay his hand upon the head of every one severally, saying,

DEFEND, O Lord, this thy Child with thy heavenly grace; that he may continue thine for ever; and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until he come unto thy everlasting kingdom. Amen.

¶ Then shall the Bishop say,

          The Lord be with you.

Answer: And with thy spirit.

Bishop: Let us pray.

¶ Then shall the Bishop say the Lord's Prayer, the People kneeling and repeating it with him.

OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

¶ Then shall the Bishop say,

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who makest us both to will and to do those things which are good, and accept-able unto thy Divine Majesty; We make our humble suppli-cations unto thee for these thy servants, upon whom, after the example of thy holy Apostles, we have now laid our hands, to certify them, by this sign, of thy favour and gra-cious goodness towards them. Let thy fatherly hand, we beseech thee, ever be over them; let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy Word, that in the end they may obtain everlasting life; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with thee and the same Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

O ALMIGHTY Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern, both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that, through thy most mighty pro-tection, both here and ever, we may be pre served in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

¶ Then the Bishop shall bless them, saying thus,

 

THE Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be upon you, and remain with you for ever. Amen.

 

¶ The Minister shall not omit earnestly to move the Persons confirmed to come, without delay, to the Lord’s Supper.

¶ And there shall none be admitted to the Holy Communion, until such time as he be confirmed, or be ready and desirous to be confirmed.