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Summa Theologiae · III, q. 72

Question 72. Of the Sacrament of Confirmation

Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Third Part. 12 articles.

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Text: Summa Theologiae, Project Gutenberg #19950, Third Part (Tertia Pars), translated by the Fathers of the English Dominican Province. The Third Part of the Summa in the English Dominican translation (first printed 1911 to 1925; second and revised edition from 1920). A sample check on 2026-11-09 against pre-1931 printings at the Internet Archive (first printings of 1915 and 1916 and the second and revised edition of the 1920s) found that the article text matches, with no 1947 introduction, synopsis, or index. The phrase “From the Complete American Edition” in Gutenberg's catalog title is a provenance note only. Question and article numbers were added by the transcriber. The Gutenberg text ends at question 90 of the Third Part, where Aquinas stopped writing; the Supplement is a separate edition here, transcribed from 1917 to 1922 printings of the same translation. Rights: Public domain (US)

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We have now to consider the Sacrament of Confirmation. Concerning this there are twelve points of inquiry:

(1) Whether Confirmation is a sacrament?

(2) Its matter;

(3) Whether it is essential to the sacrament that the chrism should have been previously consecrated by a bishop?

(4) Its form;

(5) Whether it imprints a character?

(6) Whether the character of Confirmation presupposes the character of Baptism?

(7) Whether it bestows grace?

(8) Who is competent to receive this sacrament?

(9) In what part of the body?

(10) Whether someone is required to stand for the person to be confirmed?

(11) Whether this sacrament is given by bishops only?

(12) Of its rite.

Articles

  1. Whether Confirmation Is a Sacrament?
  2. Whether Chrism Is a Fitting Matter for This Sacrament?
  3. Whether It Is Essential to This Sacrament That the Chrism Which Is Its Matter Be Previously Consecrated by a Bishop?
  4. Whether the Proper Form of This Sacrament Is: "I Sign Thee with the Sign of the Cross," Etc.?
  5. Whether the Sacrament of Confirmation Imprints a Character?
  6. Whether the Character of Confirmation Presupposes of Necessity, the Baptismal Character?
  7. Whether Sanctifying Grace Is Bestowed in This Sacrament?
  8. Whether This Sacrament Should Be Given to All?
  9. Whether This Sacrament Should Be Given to Man on the Forehead?
  10. Whether He Who Is Confirmed Needs One to Stand for Him?
  11. Whether Only a Bishop Can Confer This Sacrament?
  12. Whether the Rite of This Sacrament Is Appropriate?

Also online, linked only: the same translation at New Advent and the Latin text at Corpus Thomisticum. Neither is copied here.

Source: Thomas Aquinas. Summa Theologica, Third Part. Project Gutenberg #19950. Project Gutenberg record. Public domain in the USA. Outside the U.S., check local copyright rules. Project Gutenberg notices retained. The full Project Gutenberg license is kept in the hosted text.