confirmation becoming a mature christian
TRANSCRIPT
Confirmation
Becoming a Mature Christian
Confirmation is…
• A Sacrament of Initiation–It is linked with Baptism and the
Eucharist–“Those who have been baptized
continue on the path of Christian initiation through the sacrament of confirmation”
(RC, #1).
•Confirmation means…–Completion–To establish more firmly
–To make definite
Meaning…
• What was received in baptism is strengthened or completed.
• It is an opportune time to deepen their awareness of their baptismal identity and what this means for their lives today.
Thus…
• We are called to a more mature life of witnessing to the life of Christ and of fuller participation in the life and mission of the Church.
Therefore…
• It is the sacrament in which, through the power of the Holy Spirit, a baptized person is drawn into closer union with the Church and endowed with strength to actively spread the Gospel (CFC 1658).
• Confirmation provides a special opportunity to enable candidates to grow in their commitment made at baptism.
• It is not a time to choose or decide but, rather, it is a time to grow more fully into our baptismal identity.
Revised Rite of Confirmation
• “This giving of the Holy Spirit confirms believers more perfectly to Christ and strengthen them so that they may bear witness to Christ for the building up of his body in faith and in love.”
Symbols/actions
Consecration of the Holy Oil or Chrism
• even if this ritual is performed on the Chrism Mass of Holy Thursday, it is nevertheless an essential part of the rite of confirmation. The consecration of chrism is a function that belongs solely to the bishops, and thus the Holy Oil becomes a visible sign of communion between the bishop and its recipient, and of the grace that is conferred to the members of the Church through the exclusive mediation n of the bishop.
Renewal of Baptismal Promises and Profession of Faith by the Confirmands
• shows the link between baptism and confirmation. The confirmands are the ones professing their faith not their sponsors.
Laying of Hands
• The laying of hands has , since the time of the apostles, been the sacred gesture by which the invocation of the Holy Spirit is done.
Anointing with chrism
• It signifies healing, purification, strengthening, and empowerment.
• It signifies and imprints a spiritual seal.
• Anointing with chrism signifies the confirmands’ consecration to Christ and empowering by the Holy Spirit thus enabling the Christian to courageously live out his faith.
Anointing with chrism• The Bishop says the form of
confirmation while crossing the forehead with holy oil in the form of cross, The confirmand responds “Amen”.
• The anointing of the forehead with chrism in the form of a cross signifies that the Catholic who is confirmed must always be ready to profess his faith openly and to practice it fearlessly.
Slight blow on the cheek
• though not a necessary part of the rite, the slight blow on the cheek that could be given by the bishop served as a reminder that a Christian should be ready to suffer and even to die for the sake of Christ.
• Today, this is more associated with the “kiss of peace”, for after the confirmand is anointed with chrism, the bishop greets him with “peace be with you”, to which he responds: “And also with you”.
The following are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. They help the confirmed live Christian life effectively and
fruitfully:1. Wisdom – enables us to see things with the eyes of
God2. Knowledge – opens our minds to appreciate more
deeply the loving providence of God3. Understanding – enables us to gain deeper insight into
what we believe by faith4. Counsel – frees us from the agony of making difficult
decisions by ourselves5. Fortitude – gives us the freedom to live firmly by faith,
rather than by fear, enables us to consistently choose the right thing to do in spite of difficulties.
6. Piety – enables us to love and cherish the things of God, and encourage us to worship God in prayer.
7. Fear of the Lord – Leads us to avoid anything that could separate us from the love of God or from our brothers and sisters in Christ.
1. It completes and confirms the grace of Baptism in the life of the Christian
• The Holy Spirit is given in a special way to complete our Baptism and to make us sharers in Jesus’ prophetic mission.– A Christian witness
• who is more obliged to spread the faith by word and deed.
• Who will stand as a witness to the resurrection and life of Jesus and as a symbol of the living God.
2. It is a celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit and the gifts bestowed on us and on the Church.
• It makes present and renew the Pentecost-event that happened during the time of the apostles.
• It celebrates and further effects the gifts of the Holy Spirit on those confirmed and on the Church as a whole.
3. It initiates the baptized into a more mature witnessing to God’s saving love for all people.
• It signifies and effects a movement toward further incorporation into the Christian community.
• It makes us enthusiastic and committed in involving ourselves in the mission of Jesus.– Bringing Jesus to those who feel unloved and
uncared for in an unreceptive or hostile company, or who are faced with uncomfortable situations.
4. Confirmation, as a sacrament of initiation, is intimately bound to the Eucharist.
• “It is so closely linked with the holy Eucharist that the faithful, after being signed by holy baptism and confirmation, are incorporated fully into the body of Christ by participation in the Eucharist.”
• Confirmation leads to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist completes initiation.
• Baptism incorporates us into Christ and forms us into God’s people.
• Confirmation makes us more completely the image of the Lord and fills us with the Holy Spirit, so that we may bear witness to him before all the world and work to bring the Body of Christ to its fullness as soon as possible.
• coming to the table of the Eucharist, we eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man so that we may have eternal life and show forth the unity of God’s people
Thus…
• the three sacraments of Christian initiation closely combine to bring us, the faithful of Christ, to his full stature and to enable us to carry out the mission of the entire people of God in the Church and in the world. (RCIA#2)
A call to an active discipleship in the world
Oscar G. Romero
• Archbishop of El Salvador
• “As a shepherd, I am obliged by divine mandate to give my life for those I love – for all Salvadorians even for those who may be going to kill me.”
• Died 24 March 1980. While celebrating the Eucharist was assassinated.
Tom Dooley
• A Vietnam era naval doctor , who risked his life during the Vietnam war years to set up medical clinics throughout Southeast Asia.
• “I am a doctor. All my duties are entwined with that, and that they are clear and lucid. Everything else is secondary.”
• After celebrating his 34th birth day(17 Jan) the next day, Tom closed his eyes forever.
Jun Lozada
• Lozada said he finally broke his silence not only ''to answer questions from the people'' about NBN but ''so that others would no longer be forced to lie and continue committing sins before God and country because of me.''
• "Recall then that you have received the spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear in God's presence. Guard what you have received. God the Father has marked you with his sign; Christ the Lord has confirmed you and has placed his pledge, the Spirit, in your hearts." (St. Ambrose)
• Lord, You give your Son as food to those you anoint with your Spirit. Help them to fulfill your law by living in freedom as your children. May they live in holiness and be your witnesses to the world.
• (Sacramentary 836).