The Spirit Sent by Jesus
Jesus promised to send the Spirit to be our advocate and helper. At Pentecost this Spirit was poured out on the first believers, making them witnesses full of faith and courage. At Baptism the Holy Spirit comes upon us, and at Confirmation we are anointed in the strength of this Spirit to carry on Christ's mission.
The Spirit in us is the same Spirit who anointed Jesus to redeem the world and bring about the kingdom of the father through loving service. The Holy Spirit and his gifts help us to live our baptismal promises, grow into the likeness of Christ, and share his mission. We are united with other Spirit-filled people in the Church, the Body of Christ. Together we spread the message of the Good News, we worship at the Eucharist, we support one another in community, and we give service to those in need.
What Is the Sacrament of Confirmation?
Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist are called the sacraments of initiation. Through these
sacraments we become members of the Catholic Church, a community of Spirit-filled people who have been saved by Christ and who witness Christ's love in the world.
As one of the sacraments of initiation, Confirmation impresses the candidates with a special character. Through this sacrament the candidates are enriched by the gift of the Holy Spirit, are bound more perfectly to the Church, and are strengthened in faith. They are enabled to witness more courageously to Christ and to spread and defend the faith.
The Role of Those to Be Confirmed
Those to be confirmed must be suitably instructed and properly disposed.
They must be willing to be involved in the preparation program with the intention of remaining faithful to Christ and his Church.
The Role of Parents
Parents play a primary role in the sacramental preparation program. You help your son or daughter grow in
faith as you prepare him or her for fruitful reception of the sacrament. Your attendance at required meetings and the Sunday parish celebrations of the Eucharist is vital.
There is, and can be, no substitute for your actual presence at such moments. Your interest, involvement, and concern make a Difference in your son's or daughter's perception of what this sacrament and the Christian life are all about.
The Role of the Sponsor
Each candidate, with the help of his or her parents, is responsible for choosing a sponsor. It is
recommended that, if possible, the baptismal sponsor also be the confirmation sponsor.
This choice would express more clearly the relationship between Baptism and Confirmation and would make the function of the sponsor more effective. There is no regulation determining that men be sponsors for boys and women be sponsors for girls.
Church law states that the sponsor must be at least sixteen years of age. He or she must be a confirmed Catholic who has received Holy Eucharist and is living according to the Catholic faith. The sponsor may not be the mother or father of the one to be confirmed. It is the responsibility of the sponsor to give assurance of his or her qualifications.
Sponsors take on a lifelong commitment to help their candidates fulfill the obligations of this sacrament. During the time of preparation, the sponsors are expected to take an active role in the confirmation program and meet with their candidates on a regular basis.
Sponsors must be present at the confirmation practice and ceremony. Their immediate role demands time, commitment, and willingness to engage in faith-sharing activities with their candidates. Persons who are too young, live too far away, or who are too busy to devote proper time and care to the candidates would not be able to fulfill this role.
It is important that parents, candidates, and prospective sponsors consider carefully the qualifications and requirements given in this letter before a commitment to the confirmation program is made.
Things to look for when discerning a sponsor:
A sponsor is one who assumes responsibility for helping another grow in faith and love of God:
One who is willing to help in good times and bad;
One who loves and follows Christ;
One who shares his/her wisdom and understanding;
One who possesses courage and will follow hisiher convictions in light of the Gospel;
One whose life reflects the presence of God;
One who uses the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given him/her to build up and make holy the Body of Christ on earth, the Church;
One who is willing to live as Jesus did;
One who understands what it means to become an active member of the Church, that is to participate fully in Christian life.
Church law states that the sponsor must be at least sixteen years of age. He/she must be a confirmed Catholic who has received Holy Eucharist and is living according to the Catholic faith. The sponsor may not be the mother or father of the one to be confirmed. It is the responsibility of the sponsor to give assurance of his/her qualifications.
During the time of preparation, the sponsors are expected to take an active role in the confirmation program and meet with their candidates on a regular basis.
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