Sacrament of Confirmation
Confirmation is one of the seven Sacraments of the Church.
Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation for Catholics. It is most often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Sacrament of Confirmation confers special graces of the Holy Spirit upon the person being confirmed, just as such graces were granted to the Apostles on Pentecost. Like Baptism, therefore, it can only be performed once, and Confirmation increases and deepens all of the graces granted at Baptism.
Through Confirmation the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are received: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. These gifts can help a person to live as a follower of Christ.
Through receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit it is hoped that the candidate will, through their thoughts, words and actions bear the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control and joy.
It is a means by which the candidate publicly professes their faith and shows their commitment to becoming a full member of the Church.
During their final year in school, the children prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. The children prepare for the Sacrament at home, in class and in the parish.
Children are invited to participate in a Mass of enrolment along with their friends in Year 3 to make a commitment before God that they and their families will take on the responsibilities placed before them.
During Religious Education lessons in school, the children study the Holy Spirit in detail. They look at the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit and think about how these will work in their future lives. The children study the events of Pentecost and think about how they will be like the disciples when the Holy Spirit comes down upon them. As Confirmation is a Sacrament of initiation, the children explore how Baptism and Confirmation are linked, focusing in particular at the signs and symbols used in both.
As part of their work, children prepare a project on the saint of their choice. They are encouraged to select the name of a saint who has inspired them in some way. A sponsor is also chosen and has the role of supporting the child in their spiritual life.
Alongside their lessons in school, the children are expected to attend Mass with their families each week and pray at home as a family. The children are encouraged to read Bible stories together and discuss their Religious Education lessons. The children are given various tasks to complete at home linked to Confirmation.
The evening itself is a great celebration with children, parents, clergy, staff and members of the parish.
Year 6 Sacramental Preparation Meeting Dates:
The content of the short course is outlined as below:
- The Search for Happiness. What is happiness? How can we find it?
- The Power of Prayer. What is prayer? Does prayer make a difference? How to pray.
- The Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. How the gifts of the Holy Spirit can change your life.
- Forgiveness, Healing and Mission. The search for peace and healing.
Session dates:
Wednesday 8th February, Wednesday 15th February, Wednesday 1st March and Wednesday 8th March 5-6pm
Sacrament of Confirmation MASS - Thursday 15th June, 7pm at St Gregory’s Catholic Church, Longton
Prayer for Confirmation
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your faithful,
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit,
and they shall be created,
and you will renew the face of the earth.
O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful
by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant that by the gift of the same Spirit
we may be always truly wise,
and ever rejoice in his consolation,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
