As an initiation sacrament, Confirmation is intended to complete the grace that we receive in baptism. As Father Hurlbert, former Ascension Parish pastor, would tell the youths preparing for Confirmation, all the baptized have an invisible tattoo on the forehead that was traced there at baptism. As I like to extend the metaphor, that tattoo gets oiled up in Confirmation. In this sacrament, we receive an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and His seven gifts, which empowers us to uphold the faith.
I saw a citizenship ceremony 4 weeks ago as part of the Constitution (Signing) Day festivities at the National Constitution Center. In my career, I've had at least 2 co-workers who became naturalized citizens. With them in mind, I thought about how naturalized citizens spend years preparing, which includes studying for an oral test on knowledge of the USA and its government. Then comes the momentous occasion when they take the oath of citizenship, which opens up for them the great opportunity to participate in the USA and its government processes. I had that in mind when I went to the first of a series of monthly Confirmation preparation meetings that evening. I got to meet my new group for this year, and I encouraged them at the start of their preparation by telling them about these newly naturalized citizens. Similarly, we all spend time preparing for Confirmation to have a grounding in faith, and then, once Confirmed, we start an amazing new life with the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit.
For the past 11 months, I've reflected on the preparation process through short posts that focused on the various topics at those meetings: I started an important journey in November that would make me new. I learned about the sacraments in December. I learned about the Creed in January. In February, I considered service as part of Confirmation and took stock of all I had learned. I learned about the symbolism in the Church sanctuary in March. I considered how the Holy Spirit works in the lives of the faithful through those who shared their testimony at the April meeting. I put my knowledge to work in completing a test in May and considered all that I learned in the process. I reflected on faith and Scripture as it shows a picture of the Kingdom of God at the summer meeting in July. I came to understand what Confirmation is all about at the September meeting. And I came to realize the implications of Confirmation at the retreat in September.
Throughout the months from November to May, we had Scripture reflection sheets to complete, in which we thought in-depth about the passages of Scripture for Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. One of the reforms of the Vatican II Council was the intention that the faithful would more actively participate in Mass. Those Scripture reflections helped me ponder more deeply what I was hearing at Mass. Those sheets were in a red binder that each student had. Three years after my Confirmation, I attended the Confirmation Vigil for the 2008 group. Mrs. Ondrla told them to keep their red binders for three years, and then, look at the Scripture reflection sheets as a way to see that while the Scripture readings remain the same in a 3-year cycle, each of us changes. I still have my red binder with all those reflection sheets, and I read them each time the set of readings comes up again, and I can see how I have progressed in my understanding of faith since 8th grade.
So much of the Confirmation process was learning about what we believe as a Church and why it matters. I entered into this process having been profoundly impacted by my middle school experience. As I have mentioned before, interacting with people of other religious and cultural backgrounds at Julian Middle School caused me to turn inward and reflect more on who I am, and I appreciated who I am even more. With a greater embrace of faith, I knew that it was meant to be something by which I would make a holy impact on the world. While my Confirmation happened at the beginning of my high school years, it was undoubtedly shaped to be an impactful experience by what happened in middle school. As I anticipated this anniversary today, I was so delighted that the 20th anniversary of my 8th grade graduation was on Pentecost Sunday, a celebration of the Holy Spirit's working in my life.
Clearly, Confirmation was a new beginning for me, and so much of the Mass that day and the dinner at beloved 1036 Clarence afterwards helped truly make it a time of celebration, like the choir being present to offer music and the dinner with DiNico's Pizza and soup, along with the wonderful gifts I received.
It wasn't clear what life as a Confirmed Roman Catholic would exactly look like in the first few weeks and months. I took important steps to make something of faith, like lectoring at Mass, which was an opportunity for me to continue building my understanding of Scripture, and share my gifts and talents. I thank Mrs. Ondrla for giving me the opportunity to lector at two RE Masses, which then made it a good fit going forward into high school.
Then, when I went to college, I built upon my Confirmation by getting involved at St. Teresa's, and my understanding of faith got even greater. There was so much more to learn about faith, and St. Teresa's provided a place where I could learn, and experience a community that would empower me in faith. There's no doubt that being part of St. Teresa's was part of God's big plan for me because I was confirmed on the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila.
I developed such a vibrant faith life in college, and after graduating, as I thought about what I would do in life, I sensed teaching Religious Education would be a great way to channel the great gift of a vibrant faith and act on it by supporting youth in their journey of faith. My involvement as a Religious Education volunteer, in the classroom, and at Confirmation preparation meetings, has been so rewarding and a tremendous blessing.
The evening before the Confirmation Mass set the tone. There was a prayer vigil, and I wasn't expecting the Church bells to ring shortly before it started and then a procession with candles up the main aisle to the altar. Nevertheless, it underscored what had been part of the process all along, that Confirmation would be a powerful encounter with God. We also chanted the Litany of the Saints, an awesome reminder of our friends in Heaven, and that we share in communion with them, throughout the centuries of the Church.
The readings at the Mass were from the lectionary for the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time in Cycle A. The Gospel reading is from Matthew 22, when Jesus utters the profound statement, as a fine comeback to the schemings of the Jewish religious experts, "Then repay to Casear what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God".
I am in the image of God, created for His purpose. His gifts to me in Confirmation have allowed me to be a gift.
More recently, I encountered the magnificent encyclical Dominum et Vivificantem, in which Pope St. John Paul II writes about the Holy Spirit. Here's one sentence that stands out to me: "In our own age, then, we are called anew by the ever ancient and ever new faith of the Church, to draw near to the Holy Spirit as the giver of life."
Indeed, by my Confirmation, I was sealed in the ancient faith of the Church and I was empowered to live it anew with the very life of Christ imparted to me by the Holy Spirit.
Glory to God!
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| Party like it's 2005: Here I am with my Uncle Bernie, my sponsor on the left, and Bishop Kane to the right. |
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| My Uncle Bernie and I posed by Ascension last Saturday as I approached the anniversary of my Confirmation. Thanks to fellow parishioner Clem who photographed us. |
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| Fellow parishioner Laurie photographed me by the pew where I sat during my Confirmation Mass when I was there this morning for Mass to celebrate. |
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