I recently got Confirmed and it has been SUCH a Grace. Where there was once deep sin there is now liberty, where there was once weakness there is now resistance. Gloria Patri ✝️🕊🇻🇦
"God acts first and we respond... He makes conversion happen." So powerful! Thank you, Fr. Hugh and thank you Catholic Answers! May the Lord bless you and keep you.🙏🙏🙏
Those who are Dead in Trespasses and sins have no power to "respond". We are CONDEMNED ALREADY because we have not believed. Sacraments won't erase that. Salvation is by Grace ALONE through God-Given Faith ALONE in Christ Alone. FLEE this idolatry.
This makes a lot of sense! I was confirmed as an infant in Mexico, which my family refers to as “when the Bishop slaps you” from the Bishop’s touch to the cheek and says Pax recumbent” lol Now I see why my sister didn’t do her confirmation until after her first communion here in the United States! Thanks Father and thanks Catholic Answers!
I have written a book about the seven sacrament but do not have a Publisher. How I wish there is someone out there who is willing to sponsor the Publishing. Thank You.
I like hearing you every year to keep my mind in the teachings of the Holy Spirit, as I teach and run Confirmation classes.Thank you so much! Where is Father Hugh Barbour? Haven’t seen him in Catholic answers. God bless you both!❤️🙏❤️
Christ be with you Confirmation is given with Children at their first communion. How are they ready to preserve and defend the life they have been given in Christ, and promote it? God bless you
The Bishop of Phoenix’s idea to have kids confirmed at their First Communion is an amazing idea. It allows them to get the graces they need when they need them! Also, it allows them to preserve the beautiful tradition of Confirmation Names!
Just like any graces that God gives us, we can still ignore them and commit sin confirmation doesn't take away the free will we still have a responsibility to choose God every day until the day we go to be with him forever hopefully
When I was confirmed as a teen I was acting pretty badly in my life at the time and probably was no where near being disposed to receive the graces. Is there a way to get right on that or do I just keep on living the sacramental life.
I have a slight problem with this explanation. If confirmation is an indelible character recieved by those of saficient sacramental maturity, then why have nearly %100 of people who have left the Church been Confirmed?
why cant the confirmation classes learn about the entire catholic teachings? like the eucharist, how jesus is god with human nature and divinity, the baptism being real not symbolic. etc?
That would take a life time to teach everything that the Catholic Church teaches. Learning does not end when you get confirmed; it is not a graduation ceremony. That is why you should continue to learn what the Church teaches. The information is out there; you just want to know it.
The two natures or Christ was discussed in my preparation, and the Eucharist was reinforced but already taught at first communion preparation, it really depends on the parish
God and the Holy Spirit were mentioned frequently, along with the trinity, the Mass, the grace of the sacraments etc. You remind me of the disciples on the path the emmaus, unable to recognise Christ when He is right in front of you.
How do you get it undone? I said “no” in my heart, yet said yes because I was forced into it. Does that mean it’s unofficial? I want my name removed from Catholicism
@@johnmcnamara8741 Sorry you feel so much hatred towards the Church. If it helps, your family is not the Church. However they hurt or forced you, you can still belong to the Church, find love in the Church and worship Jesus... and distance yourself from your personal family members.
Actually the laying of hands for the rite of confirmation and anointing of oil is prefigured in the texts. He makes reference to the Holy Spirit coming to us after he is gone from the earthly plane in the Bible
Maybe I'll need to hear this again to see if I missed it, but historically - yes, all three sacraments were administered together, but - that practice fell away when the Church became legal, and more people were initiated than the Bishop could preside over, in a reasonable period of time. The Bishop reserved Confirmation for himself to administer, and there were just too many being baptized for him to visit in a timely manner. As to the significance of the sacraments, whereas baptism is where we profess our acceptance of Christ and his teaching, confirmation is the Church (in the person of the Bishop) receiving them ... ratifying their covenantal commitment. ... Yes, it's a conferral of the Holy Spirit, and does give us strength for the battle, but not because of OUR choice -- that's baptism -- it's an act of the CHURCH, a gift from the Church TO us. Am I wrong? The analogy of "the Catholic bar mitzvah" is a poor attempt at understanding what was forgotten through history. The Byzantine Church was able to keep the sacraments together because the Bishop allowed the local priests to confer the sacrament on their behalf. Doesn't this make sense?
Just confirmed this past weekend. This sacrament seems to be not as fully understood as the others, at least for me. Pray I receive more understanding so as to apply in my own life, and to share with others. God bless, and thank you for this focused topic discussion
Good question, I would say that although those receiving Confirmation are strengthened, they also must choose to exercise that strength with their free will. By analogy, imagine a teen could bench press 100 pounds. Imagine one day he is strengthened and can bench 200 pounds. Would he ever know if he never lifted again? If students are simply going through the motions before Confirmation, they may not "exercise" the grace they have received. Also the grace is blocked by mortal sin, so in theory they would not receive the grace of their Confirmation until they are forgiven in Confession. A large majority of Catholic teens do not attend Mass weekly, and missing Sunday Mass can be a mortal sin if they realize this and choose not to go. Hope this helps!
There are many factors involved, mainly the quality of the catechism they receive, the parent(s) or legal guardian, and the child. Parents are a child’s first and primary catechist. They set the example. The catechist must be knowledgeable and effective in echoing the catechism. The child must be open to accepting the catechism, and must have a good working knowledge of the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit. They can memorize all 7, but have no idea what each means and how to use them. The parents, catechist and child all play an equal role in the success of this important sacrament.
Confirmation given by the Bishop also allows every parishes of a diocese to get at least a celebration with their bishop once a year. I think from a pastoral view, it is useful. If It wasn't because of confirmation, many areas of a diocese wouldn't welcome the visit of the bishop (who got many occupations), and receiving the bishop is always a great occasion of joy.
