Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation”.
The reception of the sacrament of Confirmation completes our baptismal grace.1 The effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. From this fact, 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 increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;
- it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;
- it gives us a special 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.2
We need to recognize, however, that the fully initiated Christian is not the fully mature Christian. Catechesis is life long and the Catholic community needs to provide learning opportunities for continuing growth in faith.
Faith Formation: Confirmation Preparation Program
After the Completion of the 7th grade, a student may enter the two Year Confirmation preparation program. A candidate that successfully completes the Confirmation preparation program, may be confirmed during the Easter Season of the Ninth Grade
[1] Catholic Church, Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Ed. (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997), 325–326.
[2] Catholic Church, Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Ed. (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997), 330.