One of my many joys as a bishop is to confer the sacrament of Confirmation. For many of us, Easter season is also "Confirmation season." Bishops Garcia, Madera, Quinn, and I are busy conferring the Sacrament of Confirmation on many faithful throughout the Diocese. Over the years, I have often received letters from Confirmation candidates in which they have shared with me their reasons for wanting to receive this special sacrament.
Some of the candidates focus right away on the gift of receiving the Holy Spirit. One writes: "I want to be enlivened by the power of the Holy Spirit and I want to be an adult, a full member of the Catholic Church, the Body of Christ." Another writes: "I want to become a confirmed Catholic and I want the Holy Spirit in me to help me be a better person and guide me and help me through this life and I want to be closer to God and to Jesus." Still another writes: "I'd like to have the Holy Spirit enter me so my life may be filled with more love and understanding for others."
Each of these reasons points to different gifts and effects of the Sacrament of Confirmation. For example, the Catechism underlines that with 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." (No. 1285) Moreover, Confirmation "unites us more firmly to Christ; it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us." (No. 1303)
The Holy Spirit becomes a helper and guide to the confirmand, specifically through the "seven gifts of the Holy Spirit." During Confirmation, the bishop prays: "Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence." (Order of Confirmation, No. 25)
Some Confirmation candidates write of their understanding that Confirmation means spiritual adulthood or fuller initiation into the faith community. One says: "I am already a part of the Catholic community and I want to become more fully a part of it." Another writes: "I believe strongly in the Catholic faith and I want to be a stronger part of my Catholic community." A third underlines: "I want to be confirmed so I can be a soldier of Christ and be more responsible like an adult."
In Confirmation, one "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." (No. 1295) The Catechism explains further: "This seal of the Holy Spirit marks our total belonging to Christ, our enrollment in his service for ever, as well as the promise of divine protection in the great eschatological trial." (No. 1296)
Indeed, some candidates mention witness or service. "I will continue going to church regularly and being a good example to other kids." Another writes: "In preparing, I have attended a Confirmation class for two years. I have done community work, and have gone to a retreat." Still another notes: "God's Spirit will be in my heart and soul, which will enable me to share God's love with others around me." And: "I have been in the service to the church for 10 years as an altar server, three of which I have been very closely related with training of new altar servers."
As hundreds of young people and a good number of adults receive Confirmation during these weeks of Eastertide, we pray that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation may empower them to live the Christian life ever more faithfully. Together, may all of us witness to each other and to our world by holy lives and live in the power of the Holy Spirit.
