Confirmation

I watched the young people come before the Bishop to be anointed at their Confirmation Mass on Saturday. He smeared their foreheads with Chrism oil saying, ‘Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ This is the eve of Pentecost. It is the feast when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit which transformed the Apostles, Mary and the women. They were now filled with courage which enabled them to venture forth and share the Good News with the whole world.

It is good for us who have been confirmed to be reminded of the Gift of the Spirit that all of us received at our own Confirmation. Our young people have received the fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, to witness before all to the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. My hope and prayer is that they become active members of the Church and discover for themselves what it means to serve others. We need to examine ourselves and ask: How are we doing with our witnessing and serving?

Recently Pope Leo met with young people who were preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation and said, ‘It is very beautiful to receive this Sacrament because the fullness of the Holy Spirit gives us enthusiasm, strength, and the ability to follow JesusChrist, to say “Yes” to the Lord always and not to be afraid to follow courageously, to live the faith in a world that so often wants to lead us far from Jesus.’

He also said the Bishop who confirms often feels sadness, since many young people never set foot in the church again, disappearing from their parishes. Pope Leo therefore appealed to young Catholics to pay special attention to the Holy Spirit’s gift of perseverance, so that they live their faith together.

Let us pray for our young people that they become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ and persevere in the faith. May they participate in the many activities and opportunities offered to them so that they can live in community. As Pope Leo reminded the young people he met: ‘We do not live the faith alone; we live it together. And forming these relationships of friendship and community is a way to live perseverance as disciples of Jesus.’

Holy Spirit, memory of God, revive in all of us the memory of the gift we have received at Confirmation. Free us from the paralysis of selfishness and awaken in us the desire to serve, to do good. Come, Holy Spirit: you are harmony; make us builders of unity. You always give yourself; grant us the courage to go out of ourselves, to love and help each other, in order to become one family. Amen.