27. In the confirmation you receive the Holy Spirit


Introduction

    If we pay attention in the Apostles' life before and after the coming of the Holy Spirit in Withsun, we can observe some important differences in them: at first, they were frightened, but then they started to preach the Word of God. Those who were dull, ignorant and uncultured became proclaimers of of the mysteries of God in foreign languages. That amazing change was caused by the very fullness of the Holy Spirit.

    In a similar way, the faithful also receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of confirmation. This lesson explains the nature and effects of the sacrament, and, if it is not received yet, we will prepare ourselves with the illusion of receiving it soon.

   A. Answer with one of the following words: determination, fear, Confirmation or Eucharist.

   Before receiving the Holy Spirit, the Apostles had

   After receiving It, they have

   The faithful receive the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of



 

 1. The Apostles received the fullness of the Holy Spirit in Whitsun; we do in the Confirmation

    The Apostles had received the Holy Spirit before Jesus' Ascension to heaven; on the evening of Resurrection Jesus appeared to them in the coterie and blew upon them, saying: 'Receive the Holy Spirit' (John 20,22). But in Withsun they became filled with the Holy Spirit and some exceptional gifts (cfr. Acts of Apostles 2,1-4).

 We also receive the Holy Spirit in the baptism, along with the grace, but Our Lord has also instituted the sacrament of confirmation, needed for the completion of baptismal grace.

  Confirmation binds more closely the Church and enriches the special strenght the Holy Spirit gives us. For this reason, we were more commited, as true witness of Christ, to spread and defend Christian faith with our words and deeds and to see us as true disciples of Christ.

 2. Effects of the sacrament of confirmation

    In a similar way than the events lived by the Apostles on Withsun day, the effects of this sacrament in a soul are these:

     a) It increases grace. The life of grace received in the first time obtains a new guarantee with confirmation: there are a growth and a deepening of baptismal grace.

   b) It brings strenght. Confirmation draws an indelible spiritual mark- character- to be witnesses of Jesus Christ and collaborators of his Kingdom. For this reason, it only can be received once in the lifetime.

     c) It strengthen faith. The word confirmation means strengthening. This sacrament invigorate our faith in Jesus.

     d) It makes witness of Christ. Confirmation gives us strenght to defend our faith from the external enemies of our salvation: the devil, the bad example or the persecutions which- openly or in a subtle way- we suffer as Christians. It also gives us energy to confess our faith as witness of Jesus Christ, helping in the sanctification of the world and acting as apostles in our houses and jobs.

   B. There are 5 true sentences and 3 false ones. Choose the true ones.

   The Apostles received the Holy Spirit before the resurrection

   In the evening of resurrection, while being in the coterie, they received the Holy Spirit

   They were gifted with the Holy Spirit and exceptional gifts during Withsun  

   We receive the Holy Spirit during the sacrament of penance  

   We receive the fullness of baptism grace in the confirmation

   The confirmation brings strenght to be witness of Jesus Christ

   This sacrament can be received many times  

   Confirmation boosts faith

 3. Ministry, subject, matter and shape in the sacrament of confirmation

    The ordinary minister of the sacrament is the bishop; the extraordinary one, the presbyter who has the power by common law or by concession of the authority; and, in mortal danger, the parish priest or any presbyter.

     The subject is every person baptized who has not received the sacrament yet. To receive it, it is necessary to be in grace of God, knowing the main mysteries of faith and approaching him with reverence and devotion.

     The substance is the anointing with the oil of chrism (oil mixed with balsam and consecrated by the bishop) which is done with the laying on of hands. The anointing means one of the effects of the sacrament: to strenghten faith.

">     The shape is constituted by the words pronounced by the bishop: `N., be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit´. It is answered: `Àmen´

 4. Appreciate the confirmation

   Although the confirmation becomes the faithful Christian a witness of Christ, developing and improving the gifts received in the baptism, it is necessary to fight for results. Only on this way we grow to be honest with our Christian faith. We achieve it through Penance and Eucharist.

     Usually, our Christian life is developed under common circumstances; only facing extraordinary events could the Lord ask for the heroism of martyrdom, shedding our blood by our faith in Christ. However, He asked us to fight the small conflicts on our daily life: on dealing with our parents and brothers, offering our job to God, helping others in a generous and disinterested manner, being faithful to Jesus words and spreading the faith with our example, friendship and good advices.

 Curso de Catequesis. Don Jaime Pujol Balcells and Don Jesús Sancho Bielsa. EUNSA. Navarra. 1982. Reproduced with the permission of the authors.

  C. There are 5 right sentences and 2 false ones. Choose the right ones.

   The ordinary minister is the presbyter who has this power 

   Ordinarily, it is imposed by the bishop  

   It could be received by a baptized who is in grace of God and it has not received it yet

   The substance is the anointing with the chrism while is laying on with the hands s  

   The shape is the words:`(Name), be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit´. It is answered: `Amen.´ 

   We would be strong if we frequently go to the Penance and the Anointing of the sick  

  Christian life must be a continuous praise  

  Questions from the Catechism

 1. What means confirmation? Confirmation is the sacrament that awards the outpouring of the Holy Spirit by the anointing of the chrism in the forehead and the laying of the hands while saying: `N., be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.´

 2. What are the effects of confirmation?  The effect of confirmation is the outporing of the Holy Spirit, like happened on Withsun to the apostles. There are a growth of baptismal grace, virtues are strengthen and the gifts from the Holy Spirit impresses on the soul an indelible character.

3. How must confirmation be received?  Confirmation must be received in state of grace and knowing the fundamental Christian truths.

   D. Choose the correct answer. Options are below  

   QUESTIONS

  ANSWERS 

   What is confirmation?

   What is the effect of confirmation?

   How must confirmation be received?


  POSSIBLE ANSWERS
  A    In fullness of grace and knowing the fundamental Christian truths.
  B    It is the outporing of the Holy Spirit, like happened on Withsun to the apostles. There are a growth of baptismal grace, virtues are strengthen and the gifts from the Holy Spirit impresses on the soul an indelible character.
  C    Is the sacrament that awards the outpouring of the Holy Spirit by the anointing of the chrism in the forehead and the laying of the hands while saying: `N., be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.´



Intentions for a Christian life

 - Want to receive confirmation, if it hasn't been received yet. Otherwise, to thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 - Try to live as a real Christian, with boldness and respect, knowing that confirmation become us witnesses of Christ.

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®Arturo Ramo García.-Record of intellectual property of Teruel (Spain) No 141, of 29-IX-1999. Plaza Playa de Aro, 3, 1º DO 44002-TERUEL







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