What's The Date of Your Confirmation

Do you remember the day of your Confirmation? For some of us, the date comes up in the mind without fail. For most of us (myself included) the actual date of my confirmation isn’t something I can call to mind. But, I can remember the essentials of the day. I remember my sponsor; I remember (then) Bishop Hughes spending a few moments with each of us as he confirmed us and spoke briefly about the saints whose name we were taking; I remember the feel of the Oil of Sacred Chrism dripping down my forehead, pungent with sweet smelling balsam. And of course, I remember my confirmation name: John Berchmans, a Jesuit novice who died at 22 after living a relatively short life of piety and devotion to Jesus, most especially as he served the Mass. One of the things that is sometimes easy to forget, though, is what happened underneath all of the liturgy and ceremony, and this is often a challenge in our culture that says that we don’t need a “church service” to have spiritual things happen. At the same time, when we long for an encounter with the spiritual, we want something to tell us it’s happening.

At Confirmation, when the bishop extended his hands, prayed the prayer of Confirmation and sealed us with the Chrism, the Seven-fold Gifts of the Holy Spirit did indeed descend!  While in the moment, I may not have felt anything emotionally nor a warm electric current flowing down my spine like a superhero origin story, this Sacrament given to us by Jesus (and promised before his Ascension) in his Church did indeed take effect. And I have been very aware that the Spirit’s gifts have been given in those moments in my life when I was able to respond to circumstances well beyond my natural ability. As with all of the Sacraments, tremendous graces are poured out on us and we are then able to act in a supernatural way.  So, spine-zap or no, Confirmation does indeed make us a superhero in the life of virtue. We’re able to see with more than just human eyes when the Spirit infuses His power within us. We can choose with more than our fleshly desires as a guide. We can aspire not just to fame and earthly glory but for sainthood and heavenly union with God. This is the great gift of the Solemnity of Pentecost, wherein we are able to pray for a renewal of those graces of Confirmation and receive them in abundance. And if you’re not Confirmed yet, ask for the grace of longing for the outpouring of those gifts and ask for desire to be given The Holy Spirit.

Here’s a prayer that I pray when I desire to drink deeply once more of The Gifts of the Spirit:
 
Pray it well!