SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

ABOUT THE SACRAMENT

Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.”

In treating the rite of Confirmation, it is fitting to consider the sign of anointing and what it signifies and imprints: a spiritual seal. Anointing with oil has all these meanings in the sacramental life. The pre-baptismal anointing with the oil of catechumens signifies cleansing and strengthening; the anointing of the sick expresses healing and comfort. The post-baptismal anointing with sacred chrism in Confirmation and ordination is the sign of consecration. By Confirmation Christians, that is, those who are anointed, share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit with which he is filled, so that their lives may give off “the aroma of Christ.”

By this anointing the confirmand receives the “mark,” the seal of the Holy Spirit. A seal is a symbol of a person, a sign of personal authority, or ownership of an object. Hence soldiers were marked with their leader’s seal and slaves with their master’s. A seal authenticates a juridical act or document and occasionally makes it secret. Like Baptism which it completes, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the “character,” which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness.

This “character” perfects the common priesthood of the faithful, received in Baptism, and “the confirmed person receives the power to profess faith in Christ publicly and as it were officially.

SAINT JOHN’S PROGRAM

St. John’s two-year preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation is open to candidates in ninth through 12th grade. Confirmation preparation begins with the Sacrament of Baptism. It grows through the witness of the family and continues through participation in the sacraments and liturgy. Faith Formation opportunities are designed to support families in passing on the Faith to their children. At St. Johns, our tradition has been to confirm in 10th grade. Annual participation in St. John’s Faith Formation programs is expected in preparation for this sacrament.

There are a number of benefits to a two-year program: requirements are spaced over a two-year time frame, students have additional opportunities to “awaken a sense of belonging”, and Confirmation becomes part of a life-long faith journey and not a graduation.

If you are age 18 and older and have not celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation, we welcome you to journey through preparation with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults(RCIA) ministry.

Contact the Faith Formation Office at 952-492-5827 or tgoetz@sjbjordan.org for RCIA information.