Impositio Manuum in the Liturgy of the Sacrament of Confirmation: Historical-Liturgical Outline

Abstract

Already from the Apostolic times, the important postbaptismal rituals include, above all, the imposition of hands (impositio manuum). This is confirmed by the liturgical testimonies of the first centuries, combining this gesture with the tradition of the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the early Middle Ages, when Confirmation became a rite independent of baptism, the impositio manuum was less and less important, and oil anointing, which was accompanied by the appropriate formula, took over its important role. After the Council of Trent, Apostolic practice in this regard is recalled and restored to some extent, but the actual gesture itself is still anticipated by anointing with formula. The renewal of the Confirmation liturgy after Vatican II revaluated the laying on of hands (in the sense of extensio manuum), which is associated with prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit.