Confirmation: Signed Sealed Sent

Recently a friend told me he asked a spiritual advisor, "How to do you know if it is the Holy Spirit talking to you?" The advisor responded. "If you talk with the Holy Spirit often enough you will recognize the voice."

"Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit." With these words a bishop makes the sign of the cross with Chrism oil on the forehead of the confirmand. Our newly ordained Bishop Scheurman confirmed 87 of our teens in May. To prepare they participated in catechetical sessions, retreats, mission trips, and prayer opportunities. Parents, sponsors and friends nurtured, encouraged and accompanied our young people in their spiritual formation to prepare them to discern their commitment into mature Christian discipleship. This means understanding a life of service especially to the vulnerable and those in need. This means a life of prayer and devotion to the sacramental life of the church. This means living the centrality of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This means inviting and looking for the active presence of the Holy Spirit in his or her life.

Baptism begins a journey. Confirmation blesses that journey and emphasizes that whatever life brings, the Holy Spirit always will be with us. As parents, we want our children to have every benefit in life. A robust faith formation, supported by church and family is one of those priceless advantages that promises optimal spiritual maturation and results in a resilient faith.

Confirmation deepens the life we are given in Baptism and calls us to share faith in Jesus Christ through loving service. It completes baptismal grace. Confirmation is about learning to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit, listening to it and acting on it.