Required fields are marked *. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder. It does not mean that we now become even more of a son or daughter of God. We know that Catholic Tradition (the teachings of the Church which have been handed down to us from our Lord, or from His Apostles inspired by the Holy Spirit) is of equal authority with Sacred Scripture as a source of divine truth. But all of us should see in this Scripture Jesus universal call to continue His very mission by the power of the Holy Spirit. Helps you see the real value of persons, events, things. The Holy Spirit is first introduced to a Catholic the day that she's baptized, because the entire Holy Trinity Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are invoked at the ceremony. Many Latin (Western) Catholics are baptized as infants, receive First Communion as children, and are confirmed as adolescents, but the Sacraments of Initiation are for any age. He foresaw, among other things, the dangers to which our faith would be exposed. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed" (LG 11; cf. The sign of peace in the rite was even replaced by a gentle slap on the face to indicate readiness for life's . This manifestation of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus at His baptism took place so that all of us would witness the manifestation of this unity through the eyes of faith. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. You love all that is good! Free standard shipping (Contiguous U.S. only) will Each Catholic selects his own Confirmation name. As a result, we are called to live out the mission of the Church in the unique way the Holy Spirit enables us. It is thought, at times, that Confirmation is your opportunity to confirm your faith. Confirmation is a formal rite or sacrament found in most branches of Christianity. We actually see the Spirit descending upon humanity and working wonders in the lives of those receiving the Holy Spirit. Once the Holy Spirit descended upon them at Pentecost, they were totally changed. But we have to overcome any difficulties we have with accepting and embracing this relationship in a personal way. It means that Confirmation enables us to realize this gift, given at Baptism, all the more! Confirmation can be confusing at times. Bishop Don Hying shares some great information on this special sacrament. What role does the Holy Spirit play in the Sacrament of Confirmation? What effect does it have on me? The Holy Spirit has great plans for us and will give us all we need to fulfill those plans of God. Chrism is a mixture of oil and fragrance. At that baptism, we read that the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove. John A. We now participate with Him in the task of extending His kingdom, of adding new souls to His Mystical Body. Helps you love the sinner while despising sin. Similarly, the confirmed Christian begins to see more clearly (or ought to) his responsibility to Christ for his neighbor. Thats OK! Confirmation is, therefore, the sacrament most closely identified with the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Scripture pertaining to Confirmation is read. But Confirmation also unites us more firmly to Christ Jesus. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. You will press on when life is hard! Id encourage you to take them and reflect upon them prayerfully. Other restrictions may apply. The Roman Catholic Church traces its history to Jesus Christ and the Apostles. So what is the Sacrament of Confirmation all about? The sacrament of confirmation is represented by a rich array of symbols developed over the centuries, and they help to reveal its meaning and add to its beauty. As the confirmed, we walk with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. It builds on what was begun in Baptism and what was nourished in Holy Eucharist. It is what St. Augustine meant when he prayed, That I may know You, may I know myself. When the Spirit pours fortitude or courage into our hearts, we can trust that we will be prepared to stand up for Christ and the Gospel when challenged. This action is a sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Discovering where you are lacking in the Holy Spirit is the first step in deepening your bond with the Holy Spirit so that these gifts may increase. Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation. Lets conclude with a beautiful prayer to the Holy Spirit. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit., This last effect of Confirmation, spoken of in the, , is seen in all of the above explanations. They were now able to carry out the mission they were given by Jesus. [1] It is also one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being Baptism and Holy Communion. These are human qualities that can be activated by the Holy Spirit. By using our website, you're agreeing to the collection of data as described in our Privacy Policy. This is done when we allow ourselves to be drawn into a deep and personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. But this does not get at the heart of Confirmation. Franciscan Inspirations: Jesus on Fasting and Penance. These are human qualities that can be activated by the Holy Spirit. In my case it was added after my third middle name . The Sacrament of Confirmation is not a rite of passage, nor a graduation from religion class, nor a ratification of a personal faith choice. Its effects are to: A generation ago, we said that confirmed Catholics were "soldiers of Christ." shipping page for more information. Do you want to be part of a family that is exceptionally close and supportive? Is it your graduation ceremony from religious education classes?!? The Gifts are broken up into two sections: Helping me know Gods will: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Knowledge, Helping me do Gods will: Fortitude, Reverence, Fear of the Lord. Its because the Gift of God, the Gift of the Holy Spirit, has not taken hold. Why? Read next Understanding the 7 Sacraments: The Big Picture. It symbolizes the anointing of the Holy Spirit and, in fact, brings about this spiritual anointing. 1832; Gal 5:22). Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world. Thus, the newly confirmed is "more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed" (cf. 4 (July/August 1998): 5 . Gives a supernatural courage in matters of faith and morality. We experience even more persecution and humiliations by the world when we boldly profess the truth by our words and actions. Do you want to love and be loved? The essential part of the Confirmation rite is when the bishop or priest places his hand upon the head of each individual. As a result, we are called to live out the mission of the Church in the unique way the Holy Spirit enables us. Through Christ our Lord. Well, yes, you certainly must do this as you receive this sacrament. Copyright 2006, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc., Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. Do you want to know others and to be known? Many will attack these truths and, in so doing, will attack us as their messengers. The Catholic Faith 4, no. We use cookies (and other similar technologies) to collect data to improve your shopping experience. Reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation does not mark the end of formal religious education. The Confirmation name is spoken, and the bishop puts Chrism Oil on the person's forehead, says his name aloud, and then says, \"Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.\" The person responds, \"Amen.\" The bishop then says, \"Peace be with you.\" And the person responds, \"And with your spirit\" or \"And also with you.\"
\r\n\r\n\r\nNormally, only the bishop confirms the Catholics in his diocese. Makes you keenly aware of anything that may harm your relationship with God or others. And this marking becomes a permanent source of grace for you throughout eternity. What effect does it have on me? Roman Catholicism, Christian church that has been the decisive spiritual force in the history of Western civilization. Isaiah 11:2 speaks of the Holy Spirit resting upon the promised Messiah. A part of the theology of the sacrament is that one takes on more adult responsibilities for the faith and becomes a soldier for Christ when confirmed. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. You become detached from everything that is not important! The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and splendid day of the Lord, and it shall be that everyone shall be saved who calls on the name of the Lord. (Acts 2:1721), To understand the way God wants to transform you by the Sacrament of Confirmation, lets look at the effects of Confirmation as outlined in the, it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, Abba! Besides the distinct and special blessing which each holy oil receives, chrism has another difference: balm has been mixed with it. What is this it? It is the Person of the Holy Spirit made fully present in the Sacrament of Confirmation. Amazon.comGoogle PlayiTunesBarnes and Noble. In order that we may have such a concern for Church and neighbor, in deed as well as in feeling, the sacrament of Confirmation gives us a special grace and a special power. In all of these circumstances, the grace of Confirmation comes to our aid (if we will let it) and irresistibly pushes back the urgings of self-will, helps us to preserve our sense of values, and keep us on an even keel so that faith may triumph. This is the name which the Bible uses in the following passage taken from the Acts of the Apostles: It is from this passage, and the attempt of the magician Simon to buy the power to give Confirmation, that we get the word "simony"the name given to the sin of buying and selling sacred things. He became a human in the person of Jesus. Nonetheless, we should not be surprised if the world challenges and even attacks as we act as instruments of the Gospel. The gift of understanding stimulates us to work on knowing ourselves as part of our growth in knowing God. You wouldn't want to pick a name like Cain, Judas, or Herod, for example, and no secular names would be appropriate. We tend to be preoccupied with the needs of our own soul, with the effort to "be good." Its impossible to be more united with the Holy Spirit and not, at the same time, be more deeply united to the Son, who is one with the Holy Spirit. Balm is a fragrant substance procured from the balsam tree. For example, Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures! Begins with loving God because you dread loss of Him and the sadness this causes. Confirmation is not a coming of age celebration. Entering into a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit is the fundamental bottom line of our Christian walk. It completes the process of initiation into the Christian community, and it matures the soul for the work ahead.\r\nThe Byzantine Church confirms (chrismates) at Baptism and gives Holy Eucharist as well, thus initiating the new Christian all at the same time.
\r\nSo what occurs during a Catholic Confirmation? The bishop was the original minister of Confirmation. Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. And to the extent that we open our hearts to this grace, this Sacrament can change our lives! He was already one with the Spirit and the Father. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1285). Similarly, with Confirmation, we are given the grace to share the Gospel with others and, in a sense, nurture others in the faith as a parent nurtures a child. Confirmation makes us full members of the Church, since we receive all we need to act as members of Christs Body. Now imagine that this same teen grows up, gets married and has a child of his own. And what is God doing? Helps you love the sinner while despising sin. (Jn 7:3839), But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Knowledge. It must be a Christian name, though, such as one of the canonized saints of the Church or a hero from the Bible. He feels a restless discontent unless he is doing something worthwhile for otherssomething to ease their burdens in this life, and something to make more secure their promise of life eternal. This is clearly seen in their actions. Its purpose is for young members of the church to publicly declare (confirm) that they freely choose to adhere to the beliefs and practices of the church. It gives a new strength and zeal to claim God as our Father. Take, for example, the fact that so many are embarrassed to make the sign of the Cross and say grace before their meal in a restaurant or in any other public setting. Canon law states that, except when there is a danger of death, anyone who is baptized and has the use of reason, is properly instructed and disposed, and is able to renew their baptismal commitment, is able to be confirmed. The Feast of Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit from heaven to earth upon the 12 apostles and the Virgin Mary, occurring 50 days after Easter and 10 days after Jesus' Ascension (Acts 2:14). When about 120 of Jesus' disciples were gathered the Holy Spirit came in the form of wind and fire. . Confirmation is the wondrous Gift that was promised in the Old Testament, reaffirmed by Jesus, and fulfilled after Jesus Resurrection. By becoming more like Christ, we become a fuller member of His Body, the Church. Helps you know what God wants you to do in particular situations. Dont skip this section! Do you want to be loved, accepted, cared for and cherished? Proper disposition refers to the recipients willingness to cooperate with the gifts of the sacrament, which can happen at almost any age. Fear must be cast out and confidence must take its place. hbspt.cta.load(465210, '622c0229-5082-4188-a36b-6a795f84a3c9', {}); Your email address will not be published. Yes, lets not forget that the Holy Spirit is a Person! And even though there were some who were deeply confused and even angered at Peter for speaking these truths, he did not back down, because he was now empowered by the Holy Spirit. A close reading of this Scripture reveals that the Apostles were heard in at least fifteen different languages. Two of the Apostles, Peter and John, had to travel from Jerusalem to Samaria in order to give the sacrament of Confirmation to these new Christians. Helps you see life from Gods point of view. In the case of baptism, the faithful become part of the church, of the people of God. Specifically, it points out that our witnessing to the faith is done by word and action and that we are enabled to do this boldly and to never be ashamed of the Cross.. It grants us the long-range view of history, examining the present in the light of the past and the mystery of the future. But this does not get at the heart of Confirmation. This is done when we allow ourselves to be drawn into a deep and. Its much more something that God does to you and your eternal soul than something you do for God or even yourself. Just as the "mark" or character of Baptism made us sharers with Christ in His role of priest, giving us the power to participate with Him in divine worship, so also the character of Confirmation makes us sharers with Christ in His role of prophet or teacher. The focus is on the Holy Spirit, who confirmed the apostles on Pentecost (Acts 2:14) and gave them courage to practice their faith. Perhaps the name itself can be misleading. Fr. We cannot be wholly self-centered, of coursenot if we understand what it means to be a member of Christ's Mystical Body, and not if we understand the significance of the Mass. Its Gods way of making a permanent commitment to you by deepening His covenant commitment made to you at Baptism. Matthew 3:16 and John 1:3233, both speak of the baptism of Jesus. This statement of faith may go right over your head at first, but lets look at it this way. Helps you seek advice and offer correct advice to others. The Eucharist, as we will see in the next chapter, unites us profoundly with Christ. This is the KEY to understanding the actual Sacrament of Confirmation. Do you want to be part of a family that is exceptionally close and supportive? Fr. CIC, can. But for our purposes in reflecting upon the Sacrament of Confirmation, we should see these gifts and effects of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Messiah as invitations to each of us to also receive these same gifts and these same effects. Many countries leave it up to the local bishop to decide the exact age of Confirmation in his diocese. Childhood is a time when you're told what to do, and you react positively to reward and negatively to punishment. Gives a new depth of patience, peace and joy through difficult situations. S.J., Rev. The holy oils, all of them, are composed of pure olive oil. Catholics believe that the same Holy Spirit confirms Catholics during the Sacrament of Confirmation and gives them the same gifts and fruits.\r\nTraditionally, the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit are charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, long-suffering, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, and chastity. There are seven of these gifts, which together offer us all we need to fully live the life of Christ. St. Cyril of Jerusalem, a Doctor of the Church, describes the refocusing of our lives in this way in his Catechetical Lectures: " [The sacred chrism of Confirmation] is the gracious gift of Christ, and it is made fit for the imparting of his Godhead by the coming of the Holy Spirit. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us: The Gifts of the Holy Spirit enable us to fully live the Christian life. 2 Presentation of the Candidates. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Holy Spirit completes the grace of baptism and offers the newly confirmed strength as a true witness of Christ. Why is this? In that sacrament, we receive His very Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity! To understand this precious and life-changing gift from God, lets begin with an understanding of the promise of the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures as well as the institution of this Sacrament in those same Scriptures. The cross which is traced upon the forehead of the person being confirmed is a powerful symbol if it is really understood and acted upon. The same canonical requirements for being a godparent in Baptism apply for sponsors at Confirmation. We receive the message of faith in a deeper and more intensive manner with great emphasis given to the person of Jesus Christ, who asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to the Church . After it is given, the grace is always there. The real significance of this passage lies in what it tells us about the sacrament of Confirmation. The world can be tough on Christians. And that is the bishop. Moves deeper when your fear turns into a fear of offending God or others. Adult converts who've never been baptized are baptized when they become Catholic; they're confirmed and receive their First Communion at the same Mass when they're baptized, or if they were baptized in a Protestant Church, they make a Profession of Faith, are confirmed, and receive Holy Eucharist at the Easter Vigil Mass the night before Easter. Through the Sacraments, God shares his holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make the world holier. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. Catholics believe the Sacrament of Confirmation is the supernatural equivalent of the growth process on the natural level. As you ponder these Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, you are most certainly going to find that you have not perfected them. Amen. A confirmand is, in some basic sense, an "adult" member of the church, and so responsible in a measure that a baby or young child is not. Jesus, therefore, is the perfection of human nature and is therefore the one who we are called to imitate as Christians. You can read more from theUnited States Catholic Catechism for Adults, order your own copy, or read questions about itat theUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops website. For those soon to be Confirmed, these five things are points of reflection to better prepare for the receiving of such a marvelous gift of the Holy Spirit. Do you want to understand others and to be understood? It is a distinctive kind of oil sacred chrism, olive oil lightly perfumed with balsam to give it a sweet-smelling aroma. The impact of these gifts accompanies us in the various stages of our spiritual development. Because it symbolically emphasizes the bond that is established with the Church. This isn't a military designation but a spiritual duty to fight the war between good and evil, light and darkness a war between the human race and all the powers of hell.\r\n\r\nConfirmation means accepting responsibility for your faith and destiny. It saves us from the illusion that the spirit of the times is our only guide. Adult converts who've never been baptized are baptized when they become Catholic; they're confirmed and receive their First Communion at the same Mass when they're baptized, or if they were baptized in a Protestant Church, they make a Profession of Faith, are confirmed, and receive Holy Eucharist at the Easter Vigil Mass the night before Easter. The Holy Spirit is first introduced to a Catholic the day that she's baptized, because the entire Holy Trinity Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are invoked at the ceremony. During this Sacrament, the Holy Spirit strengthens our ability to love Him and others more deeply. SIGN UP AND GET 10% OFF YOUR NEXT PURCHASE. We learn reverence for God and people from our parents and others who train us in virtue. This article has been updated and was originally published in April 2015. (Lk 24:45) Helps you not only know what God says but also deeply understand its meaning. Gives well-founded hope of persevering through difficulties. They didnt see it coming. 4. The fragrance symbolizes the sweetness of Christ, which must always permeate our lives. We are strengthened to be instruments of the divine love of the Father for others. ", "By my attitude towards others, by my treatment of those around me, by my actions in general do I proclaim: 'This is what it means to be a Christian; this is what it means to live by the Gospel'? We need the grace, courage, boldness and love God gives so as to be able to carry out this mission to the world that so desperately needs the truth.
Rev. ", "In my daily life, do I really bear witness to Christ? But in general our religious life does revolve around self. Table of Contents Catholic. The notion of the sacrament making a person a soldier of Christ prevailed. They were now bold, insightful, filled with wisdom and knowledge, charismatic, and focused upon fulfilling the mission given them by the Father. It is about strengthening what God has given, and continues to give, to his sons and daughters (cf. Indeed, upon my servants and my handmaids I will pour out a portion of my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy. Some of the dangers would be from within, as when passion or self-will wars with belief. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Holy Spirit completes the grace of baptism and offers the newly confirmed strength as a true witness of Christ. Oil. . His love and admiration for his own parents grow as his love for his own children increases. It is considered to be the birthday of the Church because it was on this day that the Holy Spirit descended upon the Church and empowered the Apostles and the other disciples of Jesus to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world. Any good soldier must be willing to suffer the bruises and scars of battle. However, priests can be delegated to confirm adult converts from other religions when they're brought into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil and they've attended the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program in the parish.
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