The Rite of Confirmation is the primary focus of this work by Gerard Austin, O.P. For Father Austin, confirmation's connection with the total initiation process is the touchstone for an understanding of the sacrament.

As with the other books in this series on the reformed rites, this book consists of three parts: The Tradition, surveying the historical development of confirmation; The Reforms, dealing with modern reforms; and The Future, analyzing present praxis with an opening to the future.

A secondary focus of this book in on the Rite of the Blessing of Oils and the Rite of Consecrating the Chrism.

Reverend Gerard Austin, O.P., was the chairman of the Department of Theology at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C from 1983-1986.