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

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