CONFIRMATION
“Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds” (CCC, 1316).
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you an Advocate to be with you always”. John 14:16
Welcome!! We are happy and grateful that you have chosen Our Lady of Lourdes as the parish where you or your child will be completing the official initiation into the Catholic Church. Please read on to learn more about this important Sacrament and the steps necessary to receive it here at Our Lady of Lourdes parish.
What is Confirmation?
True to its name, the Sacrament of Confirmation confirms the life of the Holy Spirit which was received at Baptism. This sacrament was originally given by the bishop immediately after Baptism to show that it is a necessary “completion of baptismal grace” (CCC, 1285). It gradually became the practice in the Western Church (though not in the Eastern Church) to wait until the person was of the age of reason before he or she could be confirmed. Though Baptism alone is absolutely necessary for salvation (according to John 3:5), Confirmation is not on that account dispensable. As the Catechism states, “Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the ‘sacraments of Christian initiation,’ whose unity must be safeguarded…By the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed” (CCC, 1285).
The Sacrament of Confirmation has been traditionally bestowed by the bishop to show the Catholic’s ecclesial bond with him.
What are the requirements for Confirmation?
Since Confirmation is no longer conferred with Baptism and can only be received once because of the indelible mark that it imprints on the soul, it is crucial that the candidate be properly disposed when he or she receives the sacrament. The Catechism states that the candidate should know and be practicing his or her faith, be in the state of grace, and be willing to assume a more active role in the Church (CCC, 1319). This means that the candidate should have at least a rudimentary understanding of what it means to be a Catholic, should be attending Sunday Mass regularly, and be frequenting the sacraments of the Eucharist and Penance/Reconciliation. Because it is also absolutely necessary that the candidate be in the state of grace (be free of grave sin) when receiving this sacrament (as stated above), it is customary for the candidate to receive the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation very shortly before receiving Confirmation as part of the immediate preparation (CCC, 1310).
The pastoral requirements for Confirmation at Our Lady of Lourdes are as follows:
- The candidate must be at least 12 years of age or in seventh grade.
- The candidate must submit proof of Baptism and, ideally, proof of First Communion.
- The candidate must choose a sponsor(s). It is recommended in the Catechism that at least one of the sponsors should be the child’s baptismal sponsor since the two sacraments are connected (CCC, 1311). We do understand this is not always possible. At least, the sponsor should be a Catholic of good standing. If not a parishioner, he or she should submit a letter of good standing from his/her parish. Please use the following link to access the Confirmation Sponsor Form to be completed by the Confirmation Candidate: CONFIRMATION SPONSOR FORM – Candidate Please use the following link to access the Confirmation Sponsor Form to be completed by the Confirmation Sponsor: CONFIRMATION SPONSOR FORM – Sponsor Please use the following link to access the Sponsor Eligibility Form: Sponsor Eligibility Certificate
- The candidate should choose a Confirmation patron (it is recommended that the saint be of the same sex as the candidate) whose name will be given to him or her by the bishop upon bestowal of the sacrament. Please use the following link to access the Confirmation Saint Form: CONFIRMATION SAINT WHO ARE THE SAINTS
- The candidate must attend the on-site ½ day Retreat which is scheduled for Saturday, May 4th from Noon to 6 p.m. (including lunch).
We are excited and happy to accompany you and your child in the journey to receiving this truly wonderful sacrament, and want to make the process as grace-filled and pleasant as possible. Please join us on Sunday, September 17th at 12:30 p.m. in the Pastoral Center for a parent and/or child information meeting.
Calendar & Registration Information
Confirmation classes will be held on Sunday afternoons from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. beginning with a kick-off on Sunday, October 1st.
Click Here to Access the 2023-24 Confirmation Class Schedule