Confirmation Lesson 6

(Re-affirming Our Faith)
(We renew our Baptismal Promises and commit to living the Christian life.)

As children, we begin our initiation into the Church through the desire of our parents for us to become members of the Church community.

As we are about to become fully initiated into this community through the Sacrament of Confirmation, we are called upon to make our own personal commitment to our faith by re-affirming the promises made to God on our behalf by our parents, at our Baptism.

The renewal of our Baptismal Promises is an important part of the Confirmation Rite. Those being confirmed are asked to profess their faith in God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

In making a public profession of our faith, we commit ourselves to living the Gospel values and attitudes. We commit ourselves to always try to resist the many temptations that would hinder us from always doing only what is right and good. In committing ourselves fully to God, we reject all the evil influences in the world and dedicate ourselves to being true followers of Christ.

Those being confirmed, renew their Baptismal Promises expressing their desire for a deeper relationship with God. As the Sacrament of Confirmation gives the special strength of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to respond to God's gift of His Own Spirit to us by always trying to be faithful to the promises we have made.

RECALL FROM LESSON 5 - 'Continuing the Mission of Jesus'

• The gifts of the Holy Spirit grow and develop in us.
• Through the Sacrament of Confirmation we receive the special strength of the Holy Spirit which enables us to deepen our relationship with God.
• We develop these gifts through the Holy Eucharist, prayer, studying the Scriptures and Developing an awareness of God's Presence in our lives.
• The Gifts of the Holy Spirit us to continue the mission of Jesus in the world.

DURING THE RITE OF CONFIRMATION WE MAKE PROMISES TO GOD.
THERE ARE CERTAIN ELEMENTS INVOLVED WHEN WE MAKE A PROMISE :

• We make a commitment to carry out what we have promised.
• We need to be faithful in carrying it out.
• We need to be always true to our word.
• Others trust that a promise once made, will certainly be carried out.

WE MIGHT REMEMBER WHEN OTHERS HAVE DEPENDED ON US TO KEEP A PROMISE :

• When a friend has asked us to keep a secret.
• When we have promised to take care of a little brother or sister or someone's pet.
• When we have promised to meet someone at a certain time.
• When we have promised to help someone.
• etc...

MAKING THE BAPTISMAL PROMISES

During the Sacramental Rite of Confirmation the Bishop or Celebrant, asks those who are to receive the Sacrament, the following five questions to which the recipients reply, "I do."

1. "Do you reject Satan and all his works, and all empty promises?"
   In responding, "I do", the recipients promise to always follow the teachings of Jesus, and to avoid doing what is wrong.
2. "Do you believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth?" In responding, "I do", the recipients affirm they believe in God the Creator of all things.
3. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?"
   In responding, "I do", the recipients affirm they believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, His death, and Resurrection, and all of His teachings.
4. "Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who came upon the Apostles at Pentecost, and today is given to you Sacramentally in Confirmation?"
   In responding "I do", the recipients affirm they believe in the Holy Spirit Who strengthens us, leads us, and guides us in the way of His Holy Love and Truth.
5. "Do you believe in the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?"
   In responding "I do", the recipients affirm they believe in ALL of the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church as the Church founded by Jesus; the Church which is ever-conscious of Jesus' promise to be with His Church in His Living Presence, "all days till the end of time."

(Note: All the doctrines, dogmas and official teachings are to be believed and acted upon, if one is to be truly a Catholic. Jesus gave to His Church the "the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven", saying, "What you bind upon earth is bound in Heaven", and, "Who hears you, hears Me!" Jesus is the Truth! He said, "I am the Truth". And the Scriptures refer to the Church as "His Body, with Christ as its Head", and that it is indeed, "the pillar and ground of the Truth" in the world. Its teachings are not a smorgasbord, where one is free to pick and choose which 'truth' is to be accepted, while others deemed too hard, may be freely rejected. We must always remember it has the Authority and the promise of Christ, "Who hears you, hears Me!")

This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it in Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen

So it is that we all can say, "We acknowledge that we believe in the faith we have professed, and that we want to live this faith in our lives."

PRAYER AFTER CONFIRMATION

Lord,
Through the power of Your Holy Spirit
You give me the strength to live by the faith professed at my Baptism,
and strengthened through my Confirmation.
Help me to express my beliefs with courage and understanding,
And to be ever true and faithful to the beliefs I profess. Amen