Why Catholic: Confirmation

“A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship…”

We continue our series Why Catholic this week as we look at the Sacrament of Confirmation. This Sacrament is often one of the least understood and appreciated of all the Sacraments. On the day of your Confirmation, you received the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit that first came upon you at your Baptism.

Experience of Confirmation

You were given gifts and charisms for the building up of the Kingdom of God and the sanctification of the world. You were filled with the Holy Spirit so that you could be a bold, prophetic witness to the truth of the Gospel in the midst of the confusion of this world. But unfortunately for most of us, this is not what we experienced at Confirmation.

For most of us, Confirmation was “graduation” from religious education classes; it was a “coming of age” ceremony, or it was “choosing your faith for yourself.” None of these have anything to do with the Sacrament of Confirmation. We need to re-learn, both individually and as a parish, the truth of this world-shaking power that has been entrusted to us.

Going forward

We need to make sure that our children aren’t coming to Confirmation classes merely because they happen to be in the 9th grade, but because they want to be equipped for the mission of the Church.