Anointed in the Spirit Candidate Handbook - Saint Mary's Press

A H i g h S c h o o l C o n f i r m a t i o n P r o g r a mRita Burns Senseman

ContentsIntroduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71. Being a Candidate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142. Baptism: Waters of New Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273. Renewing Baptismal Promises .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 414. The Laying On of Hands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 555. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 686. Being Anointed by the Holy Spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827. The Eucharist: The Heart of the Church’s Life. . . . . . . . . 968. Celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation . . . . . . . . 111Appendix A: Catholic Prayers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126Appendix B: Catholic Beliefs and Practices . . . . . . . . . . 136Appendix C: Patron Saints and Their Causes. . . . . . . . . 141Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

Special FeaturesEach chapter includes a number of special features designed to enhanceyour preparation. These include the following sidebars:Jesus ConnectionThese sidebars help you to deepen your understanding of JesusChrist and how he is central to our faith and to the Sacrament ofConfirmation.Lord, Hear My PrayerThe “Lord, Hear My Prayer” feature offers a short prayer to pray onyour own and with others during the preparation sessions.Did You Know?These sidebars explore topics related to your faith and Confirmationthat complement the main chapter material.Catholic ConnectionThe “Catholic Connection” sidebars help you to review some of thecentral teachings of the Church.8 Anointed in the Spirit

Right from the RiteThis feature presents quotations from the Rite of Confirmation andother rites of the Church. A rite is an official liturgical celebration,such as the Rite of Baptism for Children and the Rite of Confirmation.Living as a DiscipleThe “Living as a Disciple” feature invites you to reflect on the waysyou live your life every day as a disciple of Jesus Christ, who is filledwith the Holy Spirit.JournalingEach chapter ends with a journal page that includes suggestions forongoing, deeper reflection. If your leader or catechist doesn’t inviteyou to complete these pages during your sessions, you can completethem on your own.JournalingScripture QuotationsQuotations from Sacred Scripture are found throughout this book.These quotations will help you to see some of the connections betweenthe Scriptures and topics addressed in the program.ScriptureQuotations

© Pamela Moore/istockphoto.comYour ConfirmationNameWhen you are confirmed, the bishop willsay, “(your name), be sealed with theGift of the Holy Spirit” (Rite of Confirmation,27). There are two main practicesregarding the name the bishop will say.The first is to use your baptismal name.The second is to select a new name. Yourcatechist or program leader will provideguidance about your options.Baptismal NameDuring your preparation for Confirmation,you will hear a lot about the close relationshipbetween Baptism and Confirmation.You will learn that Confirmation completesthe process of initiation that wasbegun in Baptism. You will also learn thatthe outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Confirmationperfects the grace you receivedin Baptism. When Confirmation candidatesare confirmed using their baptismalnames, the close connection betweenBaptism and Confirmation is highlighted.New NameYour Confirmation sponsor is a role model who guides youin the Catholic way of life and someone you can talk to aboutyour faith. Who would be a good sponsor?In some parishes and dioceses, candidateshave the option of selecting newnames for Confirmation or using their12 Anointed in the Spirit

aptismal names. If you consider selectinga new name, a good approach is tochoose the name of a saint or a holy personwhose life inspires you to live faithfully.This name can be a symbol of whatyou will strive for in your life as a confirmedCatholic.Now that you know more aboutAnointed in the Spirit, it’s time to get started.The chapters that follow will supportyou on the exciting journey leading to thecelebration of Confirmation and beyond.Welcome to Anointed in the Spirit 13

1Being a CandidateThink about the various elections held early in the year at school for positions such asclass offices, student council representatives, and yes, the annual election for homecomingqueen and king. These elections mean that there are candidates for the various positions.Maybe you’ve even been a candidate for student council, class treasurer, dramaclub president, or some other office. Whether you’ve been a candidate or supported acandidate, you probably realize that being a candidate is pretty important.14 Anointed in the Spirit: Chapter 1

Why is being a candidate so important?A candidate is a person who is beingconsidered for a significant position,award, or honor. Perhaps you’ve had acoach who was a candidate for a coachof-the-yearaward or a friend who was acandidate for a science award. If you area candidate for something, then chancesare it’s pretty significant. And that’s thecase here because you are a candidatefor the Sacrament of Confirmation.Like most worthwhile things in life,being a candidate involves effort andcomes with some responsibilities. For example,if you are a candidate for studentcouncil president then you must be willingto work hard to represent the students ofyour school. If you want to be elected,you need to campaign and let peopleknow who you are and what you intendto do.Being a candidate for the Sacramentof Confirmation is different though,because you don’t campaign and youdon’t have to be voted in or elected.God has already elected or chosen youthrough Baptism. Any baptized personwho reaches the appropriate age canand should become a candidate for Confirmation.Everyone is encouraged to beconfirmed, because without Confirmationa person’s Christian initiation is incomplete.Confirmation adds to the gift ofnew life we receive in Baptism. It perfectsbaptismal grace by deepening the gift ofthe Holy Spirit we receive in Baptism.YourConfirmationCandidacyWhen you are a candidate for Confirmation,you are in a period of preparationfor receiving the Sacrament. You havea special place in the Church, and yourparish community has a responsibility tohelp you get ready for Confirmation.Being a Candidate 15

What the Parish PromisesYour FirstResponsibilityWith any candidacy come certain responsibilities.Now that you are a candidate forConfirmation, your responsibility is to prepareyourself for the celebration of the Sacrament.What will you do to prepare?Here are some things the parish promises to help you with while youare preparing for Confirmation:• developing a closer relationship with God—the Father, the Son,and the Holy Spirit• becoming more familiar with the presence and action of theHoly Spirit in your life• gaining a stronger sense of belonging to the Church—your parishas well as the worldwide or universal Church• developing a greater capability to serve others and contribute tothe Church’s missionBe assured that members of your parish will also be praying for youand providing examples of what it means to be a community of disciplesof Jesus Christ.16 Anointed in the Spirit: Chapter 1© Bill Wittman/www.wpwittman.comThe Church stands with you as you prepare forConfirmation. How might members of your parish helpyou along the way?

What Is Asked of YouEven though candidates for Confirmation do not campaign, the Churchdoes ask that you be prepared and that you meet certain requirements.Here’s a checklist of guidelines:A Candidate’s Checklist❏ I am a baptized Catholic.❏ I have not been confirmed before.❏ I am over the age of seven (or otherage set by my bishop).❏ I want to live as a disciple of Christand be a witness to the Christian wayof life for others.❏ I am willing to seek guidance aboutthe Christian life from my Confirmationsponsor.❏ I want to receive the Sacrament ofConfirmation and complete my initiationinto the Church, which beganwith my Baptism.❏ I am willing to pray more often in orderto be better prepared to receivethe Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation.❏ I am capable of renewing my baptismalpromises. (We’ll talk more aboutbaptismal promises in chapter 3.)❏ I am willing to receive the Sacramentof Penance and Reconciliation beforereceiving Confirmation to makesure I am in the state of grace (seethe “Catholic Connection” sidebar onpage 21).❏ I attend Mass regularly.❏ I am willing to spend time preparingfor the Sacrament of Confirmationand learning more about its meaningand significance for my life.Your parish or diocese probably hassome additional guidelines or requirements,so check with your catechist orparish leader.Being a Candidate 17

What God PromisesThose who have been baptizedcontinue on the path ofChristian initiation throughthe sacrament of confirmation.In this sacrament they receivethe Holy Spirit who the Lordsent upon the apostles on Pentecost.(Rite of Confirmation, 1)18 Anointed in the Spirit: Chapter 1© Anton Novik/shutterstock.comFirst and foremost, God promises love.Because he loves us, God has revealedto us that he is one God in threePersons: the Trinity. This is the centralmystery of Christianity. The three divinePersons—the Father, the Son, and theHoly Spirit—are completely in unionStudy this symbol.Why is it a goodwith one another, and their love flowsrepresentation of theout to us. God has given himself to usHoly Trinity?and calls us to share in the love and lifeof the Trinity.God desires that we will respond to his Revelation with faith.Faith is first of all a gift from God. Someone cannot have faith withoutthe Holy Spirit, who helps us see our need for God. Being freeto choose our response to this gift is part of our nature as humans.Being faithful is possible when someone understands and freelychooses to believe in God and his Church. Our salvation dependson our faith.Having faith means that we believe. Believing is also an act ofthe entire Church. Don’t confuse Church—with a capital C—witha building. The Church is the community of faithful people who puttheir faith in Jesus Christ. It is the Church that teaches you. It is theChurch that is a role model for you. It is the Church that supports andnourishes your own faith.One part of a faith-filled response to God is to complete yourinitiation into the Church by being confirmed. Through the waters of

Baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit, we become members ofChrist’s Body, the Church. God continues to call us throughout ourlives to deepen our relationship with him and strengthen our bondwith the Church.In the Sacrament of Confirmation, there is a special outpouringof the Holy Spirit upon those being confirmed. Through the actionof the Holy Spirit, the Father, united with Christ, accomplishes greatthings for us:• Our relationship with the Father grows deeper.• We are united more firmly with Jesus Christ.• The Gifts of the Holy Spirit increase in us.• Our connection with the Church increases, and we are betterable to continue the Church’s mission.• The Holy Spirit gives us a special strength to be witnesses to theChristian way of life through what we say and what we do.Called by GodThe Scriptures are filled with accounts of peoplewho heard God’s call and responded with faith.Here are a few of those people and the verseswhere you can read about them.Biblical People Scripture VersesAbraham Genesis 12:1–9Moses Exodus 3:1–12Samuel 1 Samuel 3:1–10Isaiah Isaiah 6:1–8Jeremiah Jeremiah 1:4–10Mary Luke 1:26–38The First Disciples Matthew 4:18–22Matthew Matthew 9:9–13And, rest assured, God always keeps his promises. So even ifyou don’t fulfill all your responsibilities and commitments or do all thethings you say you’ll do, God will always do what he says becauseGod’s promises are trustworthy and eternal.We do not have to earn God’s gifts. All of God’s gifts are freelygiven, including the grace of Confirmation. “Earning” Confirmationis not at all the point of spending some time in preparation as acandidate for Confirmation. The time of preparation is meant to helpcandidates be receptive to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Godcalls each of us at all times and pours out his love upon us. The challengefor us is to recognize his love and his call and to respond withfaithful living.The SamaritanWomanSaulJohn 4:4–42Acts of theApostles 9:1–19Jesus approachedMatthew at histax collectionbooth, saying,“Follow me.”© Brooklyn Museum/Corbis

Candidates for SacramentsOne of the highest responsibilitiesof the peopleof God is to prepare thebaptized for confirmation.(Rite of Confirmation, 3)You and your peers who are Confirmation candidates are most likelynot the only candidates in your parish responding to God’s call bypreparing for initiation Sacraments. Parents of babies are preparingto present them for Baptism, and children are getting ready for FirstCommunion. Adults who didn’t complete their initiation when theywere young might now be seeking Confirmation. Catechumens,both adults and children older than seven, are seeking to join theChurch and are candidates for all three Sacraments of Christian Initiation:Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.There is also another type of candidate for the Sacraments ofChristian Initiation. These people are candidates for reception intothe full communion of the Catholic Church. These candidates arealready baptized, but not as Catholics. They are Christian andmight be Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, or Episcopalian, for example.When these kinds of baptized candidates join the Catholic Church,they make a profession of faith and usually receive Confirmationand the Eucharist during the same liturgy.Whether a person is young or old, baptized or unbaptized,Catholic already or just becoming Catholic, Confirmation is an essentialpart of becoming a full member of the Catholic Church.Let’s turn now from the different types of candidates and take alook at your Confirmation candidacy.20 Anointed in the Spirit: Chapter 1

1The Seven SacramentsConfirmation is one of the Church’s Seven Sacraments.The other six are Baptism, the Eucharist, Penance and Reconciliation,Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.The Sacraments bring us face to face with God. Wedon’t literally “see” God in a visual way, but we know he iswith us and loves us. We call this relationship with Godgrace. We encounter grace most fully in the Sacraments.Through grace we participate in God’s divine life, the life ofthe Trinity. It is pure love between the Father and the Sonpoured out to us by the Holy Spirit. When we celebrate theSacraments with the required disposition, an attitude ofopenness to God’s love, we are able to recognize his presencemore clearly. The Sacraments truly make present thegraces that they signify. For example, in Baptism, the personreally becomes a new creation.The Sacraments are gifts from Christ, who institutedthem. The Gospels show us how he established the meaningof each Sacrament and commissioned his disciples tocelebrate them.The Sacraments fall into three categories:1. Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist are theSacraments of Christian Initiation because they are thefoundation of Christian life. Baptism is celebrated firstbecause it makes us members of Christ and part of theChurch (see John 3:5 and Matthew 28:19). Confirmationstrengthens us and is necessary to complete baptismalgrace (see Acts of the Apostles 8:14–17). TheEucharist nourishes us with Christ’s Body and Bloodand completes Christian initiation. It is the high pointof Christian life and all the Sacraments are oriented towardit (see Matthew 26:26–28; Mark 14:22–24; Luke22:14–20; and John, chapter 6).2. Anointing of the Sick and Penance and Reconciliationare the Sacraments of Healing because through themthe Church continues Jesus’ mission to heal and forgivesins (see James 5:14–15 and John 20:22–23).3. Holy Orders and Matrimony are the Sacraments at theService of Communion. These Sacraments contribute tothe Church’s mission primarily through service to others(see Matthew 16:18–19; Matthew 28:19–20; Mark3:14–19; Matthew 19:1–15; and John 2:1–11).You’re a Candidate Now 21Being a Candidate 21

Confirmation during the Teen YearsJesus of Nazareth1It was Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph andMary, who called Zacchaeus down fromthe tree. Jesus wasn’t just an ordinary guypassing through Jericho, even though hemay have looked like one. He had a humannature, like ours. He experienced pain, joy,loneliness, and love. He laughed and cried.He went through childhood, adolescence,and all the periods of human development,like us. We can imagine him as a youthhanging out with friends and learning carpentryfrom Joseph.Jesus is fully human, like all of us, excepthe did not sin. But there is muchmore to understanding Jesus’ identity. Heis a divine Person, the second Person ofthe Trinity, who took on a human nature.That doesn’t mean he is half man and halfGod. “He became truly man while remainingtruly God. Jesus Christ is true God andtrue man” (Catechism of the Catholic Church[CCC], 464).22 Anointed in the Spirit: Chapter 1Most Confirmation candidates in the United States celebrated Baptismas babies and the Eucharist at around age seven or grade two,and then celebrate Confirmation during the middle school or highschool years. The celebration follows the Rite of Confirmation, whichis what the Church calls the official Confirmation ceremony. TheAnointed in the Spirit program will help you prepare by walking youthrough various parts of the Rite of Confirmation and helping youexplore its rich meaning and significance. Our walk-through of therite begins in this chapter with the Presentation of the Candidates.Presentation of the CandidatesConfirmation is normally celebrated within the Mass. This helps toshow the connection between Confirmation and the other two Sacramentsof Christian Initiation, Baptism and the Eucharist. Whethercelebrated within or outside of the Mass, however, there is a celebrationof the Word, called the Liturgy of the Word, before the Riteof Confirmation. Hearing the Word is important because the HolySpirit flows out among all the people gathered and makes God’swill known in their lives.After the proclamation of the Gospel, the Confirmation Rite itselfbegins with the Presentation of the Candidates. The bishop sitsdown instead of immediately beginning the homily, and the candidatesare then presented to him by a leader in the community, suchas a priest, deacon, or catechist.

Called by NameEach candidate is called by name, if possible. As the priest, deacon,or catechist calls out a person’s name, she or he stands, but if thegroup is large, calling each individual name may not be feasible. Ifeach person is not called by name, all the candidates stand beforethe bishop as a group. Even though individual names may not becalled aloud, there is great meaning in being called by name. Let’stake a closer look.How many times a day do you hear your name called? Christopher!Samantha! Jacob! Jessica! Who calls you by name? Yourmom? your dad? your friends? your teacher? your boss? yourcoach? Hearing your name called means something’s up. Yourfriend is trying to tell you what’s going on tonight, or your algebrateacher wants you to answer a question. Your mom wants you tohurry up and get in the car, or your boss wants you to come to workearly. Your coach wants you to get to the ball faster, or maybe yourgrandmother just wants you to know she loves you.When the Church calls you by name, it means God is callingyou. Being called by name is direct, personal, and hard to ignore.You are called out, singled out of the crowd. You are not just part ofthe pack anymore. God invites you personally into an intimate relationship.Remember when Jesus was in Jericho and called Zacchaeus, thetax collector, by name (see Luke 19:1–10). Zacchaeus was part ofa big crowd, watching Jesus from a distance when he climbed atree so he could get a better view. Then, when Jesus approached,he looked up at Zacchaeus and called out his name. It was up to© Brooklyn Museum, Purchased by public subscriptionWhen he reached theplace, Jesus looked up andsaid to him, “Zacchaeus,come down quickly, fortoday I must stay at yourhouse.” (Luke 19:5)Jesus singled out Zacchaeus in a compelling,personal way, calling him by name. Throughthe Church, God calls you by name inConfirmation.Being a Candidate 23

The State of GraceGrace is the gift of God’s loving presence in our lives. It isthe help he gives us through the Holy Spirit to participatein God’s life. God wants us to be with him. At Baptismwe receive the life of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit breatheslove into us. This gift of grace draws us into close relationshipwith God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and givesus the help we need to become God’s adopted sons anddaughters.The Church says that you must be in the “state ofgrace” to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Nothingwe can do will ever stop God from loving us. When wetalk about being in the state of grace, we mean being opento God’s gift and responding to God’s call. It doesn’t meanperfect living, free from all sin every day. Rather, being inthe state of grace is to be free from serious sin, the kindthat turns us away from God and shows that we have rejectedhis love. These kinds of sins are called mortal sinsbecause they bring spiritual death. Less serious sins arecalled venial sins.Before receiving Confirmation, the Church asks thatyou receive the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.Through this Sacrament, God forgives your sins. Even ifyou haven’t committed any serious sins, the Sacramentis important for your life. The grace of the Sacramentstrengthens our relationship with God and the Churchand helps us resist our tendency to sin. The Sacramenthelps to prepare Confirmation candidates to receive, withopen hearts and minds, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.When you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation,God’s own self will be poured out through the Holy Spirit,and you will be filled with the gift of God’s loving presenceeven more than you already are!24 Anointed in the Spirit: Chapter 1

Zacchaeus to respond to Jesus’ call, and because he did, his encounterwith Jesus transformed his life.When God calls each of us, it is personal. He wants us to respond,and he gives us the grace that enables us to do so.Standing before the BishopSo there you’ll be, called by name and standing before the bishop.The bishop is the minister of Confirmation. (We’ll talk more abouthim in chapter 6.)After you’ve been called, the bishop will give the homily, duringwhich he’ll explain the Scripture readings and talk about the meaningof Confirmation.After the homily, the bishop will ask you some questions, butthat’s for the next chapter. For now let’s concentrate on what it meansto be a candidate.Being a CandidateA candidate is a person preparing for an important role, responsibility,office, or position. You’ve been called by God to be a candidateand prepare for Confirmation. It’s a significant moment in yourlife, and you’ll want to take it seriously. But don’t be overwhelmedby what you are being asked to do. Accept and enjoy all the specialsupport from your parish, your sponsor, and your family as youprepare to be confirmed. Remember, Confirmation is a once-in-alifetimecelebration. Do everything you can to prepare well!O God,You call all people of the earth toyourself.You have called me to be a candidatefor Confirmation.Help me to answer your call bygladly fulfilling the responsibilitiesof my candidacy and bybeing the best candidate I canpossibly be.I pray that during this time I’lldeepen my relationship withyou and your Son, JesusChrist.I pray that the Holy Spirit willhelp me and guide me in all Ido. Amen.Being a Candidate 25

Responding to the CallYou probably hear your name called several times a day, but God’s call is a bit different. God iscalling you to the Sacrament of Confirmation and to a life of Christian discipleship. Read aboutsome of the people from the Bible listed in the “Called by God” sidebar on page 19. Ask yourselfwhat meaning this story has for your life and then record insights from the Scripture passagesthat may help you to be a faithful disciple.26 Anointed in the Spirit: Chapter 1