Sacraments-EN-Confirmation

Confirmation (lookandlearn-YLA0188676)

Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation, whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1285

The Sacrament of Confirmation is the second of the three sacraments of initiation. Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts.  It is most often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Sacraments of Initiation

Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, as a group of three Sacraments, are called the “Sacraments of Initiation.” A Sacrament is a visible sign of God’s presence, God’s activity in our lives, in the Church and in our world. But it goes beyond that! Sacraments not only show us what God is like and what God dreams for us; Sacraments also make that happen!

What does Confirmation say to us about the God we believe in?

Confirmation perfects our baptism and brings us the graces of the Holy Spirit that were granted to the Apostles on Pentecost Sunday. If Baptism is the sacrament of rebirth to a new and supernatural life, Confirmation is the sacrament of maturity and coming of age. Confirmation is a sacrament of empowerment. It gives the strength to follow Jesus and to become involved in the mission which Jesus left to the Church.

Confirmation(together with Baptism and Eucharist) tells us that God wants each and every one of us to belong—first of all, to God!

Second of all, God wants us to belong to one another, to care for each other and to form a community of faith with other believers. God is a family—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and God gives us the grace, in these Sacraments of Initiation, to form human families that continue to reveal God’s love to the world.

Confirmation also tells us that our purpose in life is to know, love and serve God in all kinds of ways, but especially through one another. In this Sacrament, as in Baptism, we are anointed for service.

The prayers of Confirmation tell us something really important about how it strengthens us and empowers us for service. In this Sacrament, God gives us the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit to strengthen and sustain us on the journey. These seven gifts are:

    • Wisdom
    • Understanding
    • Right Judgement
    • Courage
    • Knowledge
    • Reverence
    • Wonder and Awe

“I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  – Mark 13:11

In Confirmation, the Bishop seals us, the baptized, with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. This sacrament is intended to:

    • root us more deeply as sons and daughters of God,
    • incorporate us more firmly into Christ,
    • strengthen our bond with the Church,
    • associate us more closely with the mission of the Church, and
    • strengthen us to bear witness to the Christian faith.

Preparing for Confirmation in our Parish

The Sacrament of Confirmation in our parish is celebrated every two years for both Grade 7 and 8 students.  Preparation starts in September.  Please contact the parish office for more information and to register your students (also for confirmation for adults).