This page gives a brief introduction to the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation at St Mary’s Church, and answers the following questions:
What is Confirmation all about?
Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: It roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, ‘Abba! Father!
It unites us more firmly to Christ: it increased the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us: It renders our bond with the Church more perfect: It gives us a perfect strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by Word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.
Confirmation is thus closely linked with Baptism. The one distinctive aspect of the four characteristics mentioned above is the last. Confirmation makes us witnesses of Christ. One way of looking at it is to say that baptism transforms us, making us a new creation. Confirmation makes that public, so that we, in the power of the Spirit, might transform the world.
In the early church, Confirmation was administered at the same time as Baptism, usually by the Bishop and usually to adults. With the growth of infant baptism, the priest would baptize the infant, and that baptism would be confirmed by the Bishop when he next visited. Our current practice has grown out of this. By having the Bishop administer Confirmation we are remined of our connection with the wider church.
When are people Confirmed?
Confirmation normally takes place any time after the age of eleven. This is seen as an appropriate age for young people to take on the responsibility for their own faith. However, it is for everyone themselves to decide when they are ready and to seek guidance from their priest and fellow Christians.
The Confirmation itself will take place wither with candidates from other Churches at a Deanery or Diocesan Confirmation service in a local church, or on a Sunday morning in the normal Parish Mass when the Bishop is visiting.
How do you go about seeking Confirmation?
If you are a regular worshipper at St Mary’s Church, and you feel you would like to be confirmed, then ask the clergy if you could be included in the next service of Confirmation. You will need to know if you have been baptized. If you are unsure, don’t worry, there are ways of checking. If you haven’t been baptized, please let the clergy know, you will need to be baptized in the Confirmation Service. Once you have had that conversation, we will let you know when the next Confirmation Service is taking place and set up some confirmation classes with you. These classes are usually with any other candidates who wish to be confirmed.
During the classes you will reflect on your faith and how God is working with you in your life. This gives the perfect opportunity to ask any questions about our faith, or the different services and sacraments offered by the church. You may wish to know more about prayer life, or the different prayers of the Church such as the Lord’s Prayer or the Hail Mary, or about pilgrimages. This is your chance to ask those questions about faith and Church you have always wanted to ask!
What Happens in the Confirmation Service
Curing the Confirmation service, you will be asked to renew the Baptism vows made for you by your parents and Godparents (or you will be baptized). You will be presented to the Bishop who will lay hands on you and pray for the Holy Spirit to come upon you and give you strength for you Christian life.
So, what now is expected of you as a Christian?
Once confirmed you will be growing in faith. There are many ways you may wish to do this. You may join prayer groups, Bible Study groups, maybe your gifts lie in other ministries which you would like to discuss with other Christians or a priest.
Remember, being a Christian is not a ‘go it alone’ journey. Think of a glowing fire of red-hot coals. Whilst they are all together, they help to keep each other hot and glowing. If you take one coal away from the rest, very quickly it loses heat and becomes dull.
It is the same with faith. We all need nourishment, guidance, and support on the way. Regularly meeting together to break bread as commanded by Jesus is at the heart of our faith. And once refreshed we are sent out to do God’s work.
- What is Confirmation about?
- When are people confirmed?
- How do you go about seeking confirmation?
- So, what is now expected of you as a Christian?
What is Confirmation all about?
Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: It roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, ‘Abba! Father!
It unites us more firmly to Christ: it increased the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us: It renders our bond with the Church more perfect: It gives us a perfect strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by Word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.
Confirmation is thus closely linked with Baptism. The one distinctive aspect of the four characteristics mentioned above is the last. Confirmation makes us witnesses of Christ. One way of looking at it is to say that baptism transforms us, making us a new creation. Confirmation makes that public, so that we, in the power of the Spirit, might transform the world.
In the early church, Confirmation was administered at the same time as Baptism, usually by the Bishop and usually to adults. With the growth of infant baptism, the priest would baptize the infant, and that baptism would be confirmed by the Bishop when he next visited. Our current practice has grown out of this. By having the Bishop administer Confirmation we are remined of our connection with the wider church.
When are people Confirmed?
Confirmation normally takes place any time after the age of eleven. This is seen as an appropriate age for young people to take on the responsibility for their own faith. However, it is for everyone themselves to decide when they are ready and to seek guidance from their priest and fellow Christians.
The Confirmation itself will take place wither with candidates from other Churches at a Deanery or Diocesan Confirmation service in a local church, or on a Sunday morning in the normal Parish Mass when the Bishop is visiting.
How do you go about seeking Confirmation?
If you are a regular worshipper at St Mary’s Church, and you feel you would like to be confirmed, then ask the clergy if you could be included in the next service of Confirmation. You will need to know if you have been baptized. If you are unsure, don’t worry, there are ways of checking. If you haven’t been baptized, please let the clergy know, you will need to be baptized in the Confirmation Service. Once you have had that conversation, we will let you know when the next Confirmation Service is taking place and set up some confirmation classes with you. These classes are usually with any other candidates who wish to be confirmed.
During the classes you will reflect on your faith and how God is working with you in your life. This gives the perfect opportunity to ask any questions about our faith, or the different services and sacraments offered by the church. You may wish to know more about prayer life, or the different prayers of the Church such as the Lord’s Prayer or the Hail Mary, or about pilgrimages. This is your chance to ask those questions about faith and Church you have always wanted to ask!
What Happens in the Confirmation Service
Curing the Confirmation service, you will be asked to renew the Baptism vows made for you by your parents and Godparents (or you will be baptized). You will be presented to the Bishop who will lay hands on you and pray for the Holy Spirit to come upon you and give you strength for you Christian life.
So, what now is expected of you as a Christian?
Once confirmed you will be growing in faith. There are many ways you may wish to do this. You may join prayer groups, Bible Study groups, maybe your gifts lie in other ministries which you would like to discuss with other Christians or a priest.
Remember, being a Christian is not a ‘go it alone’ journey. Think of a glowing fire of red-hot coals. Whilst they are all together, they help to keep each other hot and glowing. If you take one coal away from the rest, very quickly it loses heat and becomes dull.
It is the same with faith. We all need nourishment, guidance, and support on the way. Regularly meeting together to break bread as commanded by Jesus is at the heart of our faith. And once refreshed we are sent out to do God’s work.