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Confirmation 2022
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Dear Holy Cross Confirmation Candidates, Parents, Mentors and Sponsors:As you prepare to receive the fullness of God’s spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation, here are some reminders of what the Church teaches about this special sacrament.
▪ Sacraments are not “things” we get. They are celebrations and actions of the community and, most importantly, the actions of God giving himself to us. They empower us to live our lives in a different way. “Getting confirmed” is a passive act. “Celebrating Confirmation” reminds us that we are active participants and the sacrament is ongoing.
▪ In the sacrament of Confirmation, God’s love for us is renewed. God promises again to always be with us, and God pours out on us the gift of the Holy Spirit.
▪ Confirmation is often called the sacrament of the Holy Spirit. That is true, but it is not the first time we are receiving the gift of the Spirit. Confirmation strengthens and continues the work of the Spirit in our lives; that work began at our baptism.
▪ “Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit … and the door which gives access to the other sacraments.” CCC 1213. It is the beginning of our initiation into the Church – an initiation that is sealed and nourished by two other sacraments: Confirmation and the Eucharist. For this reason, these three sacraments are called the Sacraments of Initiation. In a very real way, baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist can be thought of as “one moment.”
▪ Sacraments do not affect just the candidate; sacraments impact the entire community. That is why candidates, mentors, sponsors, and parents are all invited and encouraged to be involved. That is why so many things happen within the parish community. In effect, the heart of the initiation process is not located in a religious education class or a Catholic school, but in the life of the larger faith community. We grow closer to God together.
There is no penalty for waiting to be confirmed if, at the end of the preparation program, a candidate is not ready. Nobody should or will be forced to celebrate a sacrament. Our faith journey is about our personal, intimate relationship with our God. You should pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to decide if this is the right time to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation. Know that many people are praying for you as well.
Adapted from Janet Schaeffler, O.P.Copyright 2009 Our Sunday Visitor
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