How Do You Know if You Were Confirmed in the Catholic Church
Mayhap you have recently been dedicating a lot of time preparing and learning about the Sacrament of Confirmation and so that, in the side by side few months, you can count yourself every bit one of the thousands of Catholics that receive it every year. If this is the case, congratulations! Read on for some crucial facts that everyone preparing for Confirmation should know.
1.Confirmation is the Completion of Baptism
Baptism marked the start of your human relationship with Christ. Your soul changed permanently and you were filled with grace from God. Through Confirmation, the Holy Spirit strengthens these graces, gives you more than of them, and seals them all inside you lot – like a carefully wrapped nowadays! This brings you closer to Christ and better prepares you to face the daily challenges of Christian life.
2. Confirmation Increases the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Want to know more than about these graces sealed within of you lot? They are called the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Pope Francis has actually done a homily on each of them: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, fortitude, piety, counsel, and fear of the Lord. You've had these gifts since your Baptism, merely Confirmation deepens and strengthens them since information technology draws you even closer to Christ and the greater Cosmic community. Retrieve near it like a team of basketball players. It'southward possible to get some good results from a team of players that simply met their coach and have only played together a few times, but you'll go great results from a squad of close-knit players that take played under the aforementioned coach for years. Baptism is like being introduced to the squad (the Church) and your coach (Jesus). Confirmation is like the years of practice and team-building that information technology takes to actually bring a team together.
3. A Mission from God: Operation Confirmation
Did y'all know that when y'all receive the sacrament of Confirmation you lot accept a mission from God? In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells His disciples to baptize all nations in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Later on, the Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples at Pentecost and they receive the courage to take on the mission Jesus gave them earlier. Confirmation is your own personal Pentecost. The Holy Spirit descends upon you and you take the same challenge given by Jesus to the disciples.
via GIPHY
4. Chrism is Much More Than a Sweet-Smelling Oil
Chrism, the perfumed oil that the bishops uses to make the sign of the cross on your brow, signifies a lot more than merely a shower in your futurity. It helps show a connection to your Baptism – the first time you were anointed with oil. It shows healing and cleansing as well. Believe information technology or not, it as well signifies preparation to practise spiritual battle with the Devil. Why? Oil is slippery and, in ancient times, warriors would cover themselves in it before battle to make information technology difficult for their enemies to grab them. In other words, Chrism makes it difficult for the Devil to grab you lot!
5. Why My Forehead?
Yous probably wondered this equally it dripped down your face during your Confirmation. St. Thomas Aquinas explained that this is because your forehead is office of your face – the first thing people encounter when they talk to you. Having the Chrism spread on your forehead proclaims to the earth that the first matter people should notice about you is your religion in Christ.
6. What's in a Name?
Many Catholics adopt the proper noun of a biblical figure or saint that they find inspiring at their Confirmation. This shows your intention to copy their dedication to God. Information technology makes you a heavenly friend who will pray and intercede for yous on your Christian journey. Other Catholics choose not to select a new name and stick with the one that they were baptized with to evidence Confirmation'due south shut connectedness with Baptism!
7. Confirmation is Ancient
Faithful people have been receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation for near 2,000 years. In that location are even examples of it recorded in the Bible! In Acts 19, Paul the Apostle lays his easily (just similar the bishop does during Confirmation today) on a group of believers and the Holy Spirit descends upon them. So, when you are Confirmed, you are sharing in an ancient and rich tradition that millions of Catholics have participated in throughout history
viii. You Aren't Alone
To be Confirmed, y'all must select a sponsor to help guide you lot through the procedure. This person is a great example of what it ways to be a Cosmic. They pray for you and provide a support organization for your faith. Confirmation certainly makes you better equipped to handle life as a Christian, but that doesn't mean things will always be like shooting fish in a barrel. During these more hard times, don't forget about your sponsor.
Hopefully, these facts will help yous on your journey to Confirmation. It might be a lot of work now, but information technology will all exist worth it before long. The whole Church is rooting for you!
Source: https://lifeteen.com/blog/8-things-you-need-to-know-about-confirmation/
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