These past few weeks have been very busy. My 16 year old daughter received her Sacrament of Confirmation on April 18th. It is always a wonderful journey to the Cathedral of St. Paul, but it is truly meaningful when it is for a precious sacramental feast.
The Rite of Confirmation states:
"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."
The Sacrament starts with the laying on of hands, which signifies the descent of the Holy Spirit and the anointing of the confirmandi with chrism - accompanied by the words "Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit".
This seal is a consecration, representing the safeguarding by the Holy Spirit of the graces conferred on the Christian at Baptism and ministered by a Bishop.
The Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation. Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist are the three Sacraments.
This leads into this upcoming Sunday - May 1st. I am a catechist for the children preparing to receive the Sacrament of their First Holy Eucharist.
This past Saturday we had a "retreat" for the children and a breaking of bread gathering before they went off to practice for the special Mass.
I was very happy to see my class answering the Priests questions that he was asking them. They were very sure of their faith and are so open minded to learning. Like Jesus said, "Let the children come to me". They will come to Him next Sunday to receive His great gift of love.
Just like the title of my blog, The Real Presence for Us, the children will receive the real presence of Christ.
"The doctrine of the Real Presence asserts that in the Holy Eucharist, Jesus is literally and wholly present—body and blood, soul and divinity—under the appearances of bread and wine."
Dear Lord Jesus,
Look lovingly upon your lambs as they come to you Sunday for the first time to receive Your precious Body and Blood.
Guide the newly Confirmed on their life journey and give them the grace to see clearly the path ahead.
Allow all of your children to have great strength from these Gifts from You.
Amen.
