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

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

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