~ THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION ~

It’s that time of year again! School’s back in session, sports are firing up, band is practicing two times a week as well as every other extra-curricular activity we all delve into. Well….Church is no exception to the rule! We too are hurried starting new programs, signing people up for religious education, RCIA and other various activities. In fact, that’s why you’re reading this letter right now. You have entered the realm of high school and it is now time to be Confirmed into the faith of your Baptism. It sounds very regal and noble – to receive your Confirmation. But what is it really all about? Why should you take the time away from “fun stuff” to go to religious education? Why should you be confirmed?!?!

          Well.…there are many answers to these questions. Some are much more complicated than others and involve theological and doctrinal citations. Others are simple truths that hit the very heart of what we have known since we first learned the sign of the cross or The Lord’s Prayer.

For our sake, I am going to try to stick to the ‘simple truth’ answers. (trust me.…you’ll thank me later) In fact, I can sum it up in one short phrase, (which just so happens to be our theme for this coming year) “Feel The Fire!”

Through our Confirmation we are being called to live the life of our Baptism. We are being called to keep the fire of faith alive within ourselves and to help it burn within others. The Sacrament of Confirmation is the last of the 3 Sacraments of Initiation into our Church that BEGINS – not ends our journey in faith! It is a pouring out of the gifts (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitide, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.) and fruits (charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity) of the Holy Spirit which enable us to “Go out and Spread the Good News” both by our words and our actions. Just like the Apostles at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41) Jesus is sending us out to live the life to which we have been called. (Acts 1:8) “…You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  We are sent out to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. We are called to “Live out Loud!” We are the chosen People of God and it is our time to step up to the plate and “Feel The Fire!” in our Church and in our world!

Most simply put, The Sacrament of Confirmation is our Pentecost! It is our time to draw upon the faith of our childhood and to keep that fire of faith burning brightly for ourselves and for others. God is calling! Are you ready and willing to answer?!?!