Confirmation
welcomes us and deepens our belonging to the faith
community;
deepens our relationship to God, as Creator, Redeemer and
Spirit;
strengthens us as disciples.
A Sacrament is part of the way that God loves us and calls us.
A sacrament is God’s love expressed as a free, undeserved
gift. The gift within Confirmation is that of strengthening us for discipleship
and deepening our belonging to the faith community through the Trinity.
God uses visible signs to communicate invisible love.
To communicate God’s love, God uses our senses: eyes, ears,
touch, smell, and taste, and elements of our world. In Confirmation, the signs
we will celebrate include being anointed with oil and the laying on of hands as
we remember the waters of Baptism and the nourishment of Eucharist.
God calls and invites; we respond.
An attitude of openness communicates a "yes" to God’s
invitation to a deeper relationship. This "yes" does not mean we know that we
will always be faithful or that we are worthy of the gift. "Yes" means we are
open to be strengthened by God who calls and loves us. In Confirmation, we have
the opportunity to say "yes" through the various responses in the prayer.
The Community witnesses to and celebrates the sacraments.
A sacrament is a powerful sign that God is alive and
present in the world. As Church, we are called to be sacrament, that is to be
God’s hand and healing touch in the world. At the same time, we celebrate the
sacraments as our most important prayer. This community that celebrates
sacraments is global, reaching to other Catholic communities throughout the
world and joined in a common bond. The community is also local as a diocese or
archdiocese, as a parish and as a community of faith in families. In
Confirmation, the community witnesses our celebration and provides a sponsor who
represents the love of the community for us.
How do I know if I’m ready?
None of us are ever ready, worthy or deserving of a
sacrament. You need to be ready to be open to how God will strengthen you and
continue to be present in your life. We can make an effort to be prepared to
celebrate Confirmation in a way that shows our sincerity, we can participate all
the way, making our responses come alive and keeping our eyes and ears ready to
see what God is doing. The community is here to help you to feel prepared.
What is the Rite of Confirmation?
A ritual is a patterned way of doing something. The Rite of
Confirmation is a prayer ritual of the Church that witnesses to the sacrament.
The Rite takes place within Mass. Most of it will feel familiar to you. Some
special parts of the rite include:
Renewal of Baptismal Promises: You have the opportunity to
promise again that we you will be open to the Holy Spirit and will strive to be
faithful.
Laying on of Hands and Anointing with Oil: Like a friend
putting their hand on your shoulder or a parent’s loving embrace, gestures can
make love and support feel real and connected. God’s love and support is made
visible through these sign which call upon the Holy Spirit.
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