Confirmation

In the Liturgy and the Sacraments the Holy Spirit makes the saving events from the life of Christ Present so that what took place in Him can take place in us.

The Catechism in paragraph 1286 teaches that Confirmation makes present the DESCENT of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at his Baptism so that we might share in His Anointing by the Spirit.

In Luke chapter 3 and 4 we see that Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit at his Baptism. Immediately He is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to resist the temptations of the devil. From there he is led by the Spirit into Galilee Where he courageously proclaimed the kingdom of God in all their villages. He went on to willingly accept his share in the Cross.

This strengthening of the Holy Spirit is precisely what takes place in us at Confirmation. In Confirmation we participate in the Anointing of Jesus with the strength and power of the Holy Spirit. And by the Sacrament of Confirmation we are

     i.                Enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit

   ii.                To resist temptation

  iii.                To share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ

  iv.                        To spread and defend our faith by word and by deed

     v.                        To take up our cross and follow him all the days of our life