You and I are “Anointed” by the Holy Spirit when we receive the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. With these sacraments we receive an anointing on our forehead with Sacred Chrism. This is a physical sign that we have received the Holy Spirit. By the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, Christians — the anointed ones — share more fully in the mission of Jesus and in the fullness of the Spirit (see the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for more information)
When we are confirmed, we receive a spiritual mark or seal of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was sealed by the Father. St. Paul writes:
“It is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us; he has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
— New American Bible: Revised Edition (NABRE), 2011, 2 Corinthians 1:21–22
The Catechism provides the following:
“This seal of the Holy Spirit marks our total belonging to Christ, our enrollment in his service forever, as well as the promise of divine protection.”
— Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), 2000, para. 1296
