Confirmation is the sacrament that completes the grace of Baptism, strengthening the faithful with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Through the anointing with sacred chrism and the laying on of hands by the bishop, the Holy Spirit is conferred, empowering the recipient to bear witness to Christ in word and deed (CCC 1285). This sacrament deepens our relationship with God, increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us—wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord (CCC 1831)—and strengthens our bond with the Church. “By Confirmation, the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit” (CCC 1285). This sacrament prepares us for a life of discipleship, equipping us to defend and spread the faith.