206 CONFIRMATION AT ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CROSS PLAINS

YOUCAT Lesson 206

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

206  Who can be confirmed, and what is required of a candidate for Confirmation?

Any Catholic Christian who has received the sacrament of Baptism and is in the “state of grace” can be admitted to Confirmation.  [1306-1311, 1319]

January 8, 2017 Photo: …..Father Tomas L. Kelley confirming three person a St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Cross Plains, WI, at the 8:30 a.m. Mass. …..206

 To be “in the state of grace” means not to have committed any serious sin (mortal sin).  By a serious sin a person separates himself from God and can be reconciled with God only by making a good confession.  A (young) Christian who is preparing for Confirmation finds himself in one of the important phases of his life.  He will do everything possible to grasp the faith with his heart and his understanding; he will pray alone and with others for the Holy Spirit; he will reconcile himself in every way with himself, with the people around him, and with God.  Confession is part of this, since it brings one closer to God even if one has not committed a mortal sin.  316-317

“I am created to do or to be something for which no one else is created: I have a place in God’s counsels, in God’s world, which no one else has.  Whether I be rich or poor, despised or esteemed by man, God knows me and calls me by my name.”  Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

“The most important thing is to begin decisively.”  St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

The Repentance of Saint Peter by El Greco.

WHO CAN RECEIVE THIS SACRAMENT?

…….1306   Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should receive the sacrament of Confirmation.(compare Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 889 § 1)¹²³    Since Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist form a unity, it follows that "the faithful are obliged to receive this sacrament at the appropriate time,"(Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 890)¹²⁴   for without Confirmation and Eucharist, Baptism is certainly valid and efficacious, but Christian initiation remains incomplete.  –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

…….1307   For centuries, Latin custom has indicated "the age of discretion" as the reference point for receiving Confirmation. But in danger of death children should be confirmed even if they have not yet attained the age of discretion.(compare Codex Iuris Canonici, cann. 891; 883, 3^o)¹²⁵ --CCC

…….1308   Although Confirmation is sometimes called the "sacrament of Christian maturity," we must not confuse adult faith with the adult age of natural growth, nor forget that the baptismal grace is a grace of free, unmerited election and does not need "ratification" to become effective. St. Thomas reminds us of this:

Age of body does not determine age of soul. Even in childhood man can attain spiritual maturity: as the book of Wisdom says: "For old age is not honored for length of time, or measured by number of years. "Many children, through the strength of the Holy Spirit they have received, have bravely fought for Christ even to the shedding of their blood.(St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae III,72,8, ad 2; compare Wisdom 4:8)¹²⁶ --CCC

 …….1309   Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit - his actions, his gifts, and his biddings - in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. The latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands.(compare Ordo Confirmationis  Introduction 3)¹²⁷ --CCC

……..1310   To receive Confirmation one must be in a state of grace. One should receive the sacrament of Penance in order to be cleansed for the gift of the Holy Spirit. More intense prayer should prepare one to receive the strength and graces of the Holy Spirit with docility and readiness to act.(compare Acts of the Apostles 1:14)¹²⁸ --CCC

…….1311   Candidates for Confirmation, as for Baptism, fittingly seek the spiritual help of a sponsor. To emphasize the unity of the two sacraments, it is appropriate that this be one of the baptismal godparents.(compare Ordo Confirmationis Introduction 5; 6; Codex Iuris Canonici, Can. 893 §§ 1-2)¹²⁹ –CCC

…….IN BRIEF

…….1319 A candidate for Confirmation who has attained the age of reason must profess the faith, be in the state of grace, have the intention of receiving the sacrament, and be prepared to assume the role of disciple and witness to Christ, both within the ecclesial community and in temporal affairs.