The Sacrament of Confirmation

for Confirmation Programme 2021 email: karol.porczak@rcdea.org.uk

In the Old Testament the prophets announced that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the hoped-for Messiah for his saving mission… By Confirmation Christians, that is, those who are anointed, share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1286)

Jesus, in the synagogue at Nazareth, invokes the prophet Isaiah as He begins His mission of preaching the good news of the kingdom of God:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed [chrisme] me to preach good news1 to the poor. He has sent me2 to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord… Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:18-21)

Mass attendance Attending Sunday Mass throughout the period of catechesis is an integral part of the Confirmation course, and this may need to be made clear to candidates and their parents. Confession The Sacrament of Confession should be regularly offered, and should not be seen as a ‘one off’ to be completed before the Confirmation Mass.

Confession should be arranged for the entire group of candidates on at least three occasions during the year: firstly, during Advent; secondly, during Lent; and thirdly, in the days prior to the Confirmation Mass. Ideally a priest should be available for Confession at every session of the course.

Adoration The group of candidates should be encouraged regularly to spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament, and times should be arranged when the whole group does so together. This might take the form of Exposition and Benediction, or simply spending time as a group in silent prayer before the tabernacle. Parish priests and deacons are asked to ensure that these opportunities are made available.

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