Confirmation – Session 4

Session 4

We are anointed witnesses

Note: you will need to set aside 35–40 minutes for this time together.

Prepare

You will need:

  • a small table with a nice cloth covering it—this will be your ‘prayer table’
  • a candle—preferably your child’s baptismal candle
  • a Bible and/or crucifix
  • a journal—something to write in and keep as a memento of this time together
  • a pen or pencil.

Begin

  • We gather our symbols on the prayer table and take a few moments to look at them.
  • We light the candle, and in doing so, we remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
  • We take a moment to be still.
  • We take three deep, quiet breaths.
  • With each quiet breath, you might like to pray in your heart, ‘Come, Holy Spirit.’

Share

Often, when people are together and experience the same event—when they are witnesses of the same thing—each individual’s memory of the event is different.

To illustrate this, parent(s) and candidate can try out the little experiment below:

  • Candidate: in your journal, write down the last event you attended as a family and then list five things you remember from that event.
  • Parent(s): on a piece of paper, complete the same activity.
  • Now share and compare your five memories of the family event.
    • What was the same?
    • What was different?

Typically, witnesses rarely recall the very same information. There are often some slight differences in the retelling of stories or the remembering of events.

For the followers of Jesus, the experience of Pentecost was similar. Although each person received the same Holy Spirit, one person’s memory and experience may have been different from another person’s. What remained the same was that each person was inspired by the Holy Spirit to be a witness of Christ.

Listen to God’s word

Pentecost

When Pentecost day had come, they were all together, when suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a rushing wind, filling the entire house in which they were sitting; and there appeared to them tongues as of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak different languages as the Spirit gave them power to express themselves.

Reflect

The people meeting in this house at Pentecost were the first to receive the Holy Spirit sent by God and promised by Jesus. These people were truly transformed, becoming very different people because of the Pentecost event. They were no longer hiding and afraid like they were before, uncertain what would happen to them.

Rather, through the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, they grew in strength of character and courage and they went out—eventually to all parts of the world—teaching others about Jesus, the Son of God, and the Gospel that Jesus taught them.

It was an extraordinary moment in their lives.

Explore

I wonder

I wonder what it must have felt like to be in that house on the day of Pentecost.

I wonder

I wonder why wind was chosen to represent the Holy Spirit.

I wonder

I wonder why the author of Acts chose fire to represent the Holy Spirit.

I wonder

I wonder what creates ‘fire’ and ‘rushing wind’ in you, and enables you to be passionate, strong and courageous.

Learn

The sacrament of Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Church.

A sacrament is when God gives us a special grace. It is an outward sign of an inner grace—a sign that God is active in our lives. Grace is a gift from God, and these gifts from God (or graces) help us to deepen our relationship with God and each other. Your confirmation will seal you as a member of the Body of Christ, the Church. The grace of Confirmation will strengthen you and activate in you the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

We use words, signs and symbols in the sacrament of Confirmation; each of these is an outward sign of the inner grace (or gift) that God has given us.

At your confirmation, you will be anointed with oil, and the sign of the cross will be traced on your forehead (an outward sign of the inner grace of the gifts of the Holy Spirit). This anointing also symbolises the fact that you have been chosen by God to be God’s witness in the world. You will be known as a Christian who witnesses to the teachings of Jesus through your choices—your words and actions.

Connect

The words, signs and symbols used during the sacrament of Confirmation will speak to you of the inner graces (gifts) God gives you. They will help you to connect the ‘theory’ with the ‘reality’ of being an anointed witness.

Apply

Have a try at matching the words, signs and symbols with their use and purpose in the celebration of the sacrament of Confirmation.

Baptismal promises

Laying on of hands

Anointing on the forehead

The oil of chrism

The liturgical colour for Confirmation

Symbols of the Holy Spirit

Great work!

Pray