THE CONSOLATION OF CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

Posted on September 27, 2022 by franksantucci

“The Holy Spirit can be with you always and guide you back to Him, but in order to enjoy the benefits of this holy gift, you must truly receive it, and then you must use it in your life. How sad it would be to be given such a precious gift and then set it aside and never use it.” (Margaret D. Nadauld)

During Eugene’s lifetime, the only person who could give the sacrament of confirmation was the bishop. Bishop Eugene thus went on a regular basis to celebrate this sacrament in the parishes, usually for large numbers of children. Every Monday, however, he celebrated the sacrament in his chapel at his residence, usually for adults. This diary entry gives an idea of his ministry and the consolations it brought him.

It is hard to believe. I am coming again to administer the sacrament of Confirmation to some twenty adults, and it is like this every Monday since I have been bishop. Oh, the fine thought that was inspired in me there!

All the bishops of the large cities ought to do as much of this, they would experience the same consolation as I. Because it is to be taken for granted that this great number of persons of every age and of every condition who present themselves willingly in my private chapel would never have the courage to mix with children in the general Confirmations of children. What astonishes me is that there is such a great number of them every week.

Today, among others I confirmed a father and his son, the son was a good 25 years of age; I confirmed a cripple who has no legs and walks with his hands, dragging himself on his knees, he’s a man of about 35 years of age, very well dressed, in the association of artisans; several other men, and among the women some ladies from the market, etc. This source has been providing a surprise for some time. I confirmed up to a dozen of them at a time.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 14 April 1845, EO XXI

The regular flow of ladies from the market was due to the influence of Babeau’s determination to bring her fellow-workers back to the practice of their faith.

What does the sacrament of confirmation mean to me today?

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One Response to THE CONSOLATION OF CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:
    September 27, 2022 at 13:16

    I am always uncomfortable when the topic of the sacrament of confirmation comes up, fearful that “it didn’t work” when I received it.

    The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost… Guard what you have received. God the Father has marked you with his sign; Christ the Lord has confirmed you and has placed his pledge, the Spirit, in your hearts.”

    And Margaret D. Nadauld speaks about how we must “truly receive it and then be ready to share” such a precious gift.

    Most mornings, though not all, I wake up and find my heart singing a hymn, usually one that is proclaiming the glory of God in some way. I may recognize the tune, but consciously not know the words – yet my heart, my being is singing them…

    The Holy Spirit within me…

    Here, this morning I receive the consolation of having received this sacrament and the Spirit is alive within me. Like Babeau I experience the need and the willingness to share this part of myself with those around me, if only that they might experience the love of God in their lives as I have.

    It is the Spirit herself within me that fills me with life, that whispers and inspires, that gives me the words and helps me to recognize the opportunities to share them.
    Again, this morning, I awoke to find my heart singing the words from Marty Haugen’s Canticle of the Sun (full disclosure – I had to Google the words to name the song):

    The heavens are telling the glory of God,
    And all creation is shouting for joy!
    Come, dance in the forest, come, play in the field,
    And sing, sing to the glory of the Lord!

    I am not just singing the refrain over and over again, but rather it is living and ongoing within me, and that I am but one voice within creation’s choir that sings the Spirit’s invitation to live.

    This is the living consolation of celebrating the sacrament of confirmation.

    Reply

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