Confirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation is the third of the three sacraments that make us full members of the Catholic church. They are called the "sacraments of Christian initiation," and their unity is sacred to us.
So, for example, when Confirmation is celebrated separately from Baptism; Confirmation begins with the renewal of baptismal promises and the profession of faith. In fact, when adults are baptized, they immediately receive Confirmation and participate in the Eucharist. Confirmation completes Baptism - inviting us to recognise all we have recieved in Baptism and to, now, step up as adults and take seriously this grace we have received! Baptism makes us children of God, but Confirmation makes us His intimate friends and gives us the grace to bear witness to him.
On the first Pentecost, Jesus gave the Apostles the gift of the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit given in a particular way in Confirmation. It empowers us to leave behind our fear and, realising that the Holy Spirit is with is; to go out into the world taking responsibility to to spread God’s love in the part of the world where we live.
The Church gifts us to do this, not with our own strength, but with the strength and wisdom of God Himself. That’s because only the Holy Spirit can win the world to Christ, can make us holy and helps us to make holy the ordinary things of everyday.
We must understand that we are not alone. We are one body, one people, one Church of Christ. The sponsor who stands at your side at Confirmation represents for you the whole community. Together, with a great crowd of witnesses drawn from all peoples and every age, you represent Christ who says: "As the Father sent me, so I am sending you." (Jn.20:21)
Christians are sent to proclaim the joy and wisdom of Christ to the world and to work for justice, which will bring peace on earth.
Click here for the 2012 Confirmation List across the Diocese of Limerick.
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