The Sacrament of Confirmation

Pentecost and The Sacrament of ConfirmationThe Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press. The English translations of the works of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) also use the RSV-CE or its Second Edition.

Confirmation and the BibleConfirmation is biblically based and its history begins long before the Acts of the Apostles.We first see the Spirit in Gen. 1.2 - The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters.We hear Jesus speak of and explain the function of the Holy Spirit on many occasions.The Spirit strengthens us, as it did with Jesus, in our battle with Satan.

Mark 1:10-11 the Trinity10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately He saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove; 11 and a voice came from heaven, You are my beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.After the Spirit descended upon Jesus He began His public ministry.

Luke 3:15-16 15 As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ, 16 John answered them all, I baptize you with water; but He who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Jesus Overcomes Temptations (Luke 4:1-2)1Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert, 2for forty days being put to the test by the devil. You will recall that fortified by the Spirit Jesus overcame Satans temptations.

Jesus Promised His Disciples that the Holy Spirit Would Come.Lk. 12:11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.

Lk 24:49 The Father Promised the Holy Spirit49 And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high. The promise of my Father refers to the Holy Spirit.Joel 2:29 Even upon the menservants and maidservants in those days, I will pour out my spirit.

The History of PentecostJewish tradition tells us that Pentecost is the time when Moses was given the Law of God on Mount Sinai.The word Pentecost means fiftieth and is only found in the New Testament.I was first spoken of in Exodus 23:16 as the feast of harvest, and again in Ex. 34:22 as the day of the first fruits (Num. 28:26). The date of the feast was calculated from the second day of the Passover and then you begin counting off seven complete weeks or 49 days and the feast day was to be held the next or fiftieth day (Lev. 23:15-19; Num. 28:27-29).

PentecostThe day of Pentecost in the New Testament Christian Church is celebrated as the day on which the Spirit descended upon the apostles.Jesus is quoted as saying in Acts 13 To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, you heard from me, 5 for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost Closes The Easter SeasonAnd it celebrates the out pouring of the Spirit on the first community.Pentecost has been called the feast that celebrates the birth of the Church.Because at that point 12 frightened men unlocked the door to their room and began preaching the Word of God.

The Age of ConfirmationThe age at which confirmation is received is determined by the local Bishop.Confirmation is also referred to as the sacrament of mature Christian commitment.

In The Early ChurchConfirmation wasnt a separate rite or ceremony until the 3rd century.The apostle, the bishop, presiding over the community Baptized, Confirmed and gave the Eucharist at the same time but as the Church grew it was no longer possible for the bishop to physically be present at many different and widespread geographical locations.The Eastern Churches were able to continue this practice by authorizing their priest to administer them so long as the chrism, Holy Oil, blessed by the bishop at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday was used.

UnityThe Latin or Roman church continues to have the Bishop confirm but sometimes allows priest to confirm in special situations.The Catechism of the Catholic Church states 1285:Confirmation is still united with baptism and the Eucharist as the sacraments of initiation.

The unity of the three sacraments must be safeguarded even though they might not be received at the same time.

The Gifts or Graces ReceivedThe prophet Isaiah (Isa. 11:2) names the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, Fear of the Lord.These gifts are sometimes referred to as the

twice given gifts. They are given to the soul with the grace of Baptism and are again given and also strengthened and taken on as your own when you are Confirmed because you speak for yourself instead of having godparents speak on their behalf as they did at your baptism.

The World Is Your Desert ExperienceJesus received and was strengthened by Holy Spirit at His baptism (Luke 3:21-22)Luke 4:1 tells us, And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit 2 for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil.We are in our own desert, the world and are also continually tempted by the devil.When you say, No, to Satan and his temptations we are saying Yes, to God.Are you listening to the Holy Spirit who lives within you?

Inhale, Exhale: The Essential Rhythm of LifeInhaling & exhaling is the first thing a newborn must do to survive. The breath of Christian life is found in the Holy Spirit that

dwells within us. Children need nourishment to survive and spiritual children need the nourishment which is given to them by Mother Church.We became members of Christ body when we were baptized.The Eucharist nourishes our spiritual growth and keeps us a healthy member of the body of Christ.

We were spiritual infants and in time we need to become spiritual adults.In order to be spiritual adults we need to learn how and explain to others what it means to be a Catholic Christian.It is through Catholic education in the home, at religious education classes, and in the Church, that we learn the basics of our faith but it is in our adulthood that we earnthe degree of spiritual maturity by demonstrating our faith to others.

SponsorsIt is important to remember that Christianity is a life long learning process.Like any other career you must continue to learn or you will fail to mature.Now that the candidate for Confirmation is more mature they can stand before the bishop and say with the knowledgethey lacked as infants:This is my Church and I accept the faith of this Church as mine and I will be faithful to it until I go to the place that Jesus has prepared for me (John 14:2-3).No one comes to faith alone.Confirmation like Baptism requires a sponsor, a person who will help the candidates grow faith.

Catholics have traditionally chosen a Confirmation name.It may be the name of a saint or a hero whose life has inspired the candidate.John 7:38 He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, Out of his heart shall flow rivers

of living water. 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

The Christians Responsibility Ezekiel 33:7Son of man I have appointed you as watchman for the House of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, warn them from me. 8If I say to someone wicked, Evildoer, you are to die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked person to renounce such ways, thewicked person will die for this guilt, but I shall hold you responsible for the death. 9If, however, you do warn someone wicked to renounce such ways and repent, and that person does not repent, then the culprit will die for this guilt, but you yourself will have saved your life.

Warning OthersWarning others of the consequences of judgment caused by their sin is never a popular task. We, the Christian, have a responsibility to be the watchmen and warn people of the destructive nature of sin and its final irrevocable resultdeath and hell (33:133). Our responsibility is to warn them but how the message is received is beyond our control.