Confirmation is a religious ceremony practiced by several faiths. In the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutheran churches, and in the Church of England, it is associated with baptism. Roman Catholics believe that it confers the grace of the Holy Spirit on baptized people. In Protestant churches, the baptized renew or affirm the promises made for them at baptism. In Judaism, children become responsible for their religious duties at about the age of 13 in a ceremony called a bar mitzvah for boys and a bat mitzvah for girls. Many children continue their Jewish education and have a confirmation ceremony when they are between 14 and 18. See also Baptism; Bar mitzvah; Bat mitzvah.
