Rationale. Curriculum. 2. What are the effects of the Sacrament of Confirmation?

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1 Rationale In the Diocese of Scranton, children who have attained the age of twelve and/or who are in sixth, seventh or eighth grade are eligible to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Students who attend Catholic School are not required to attend weekly parish religious instruction, but need to learn about the sacrament they will receive. This curricular component was designed to be taught in the spring semester of fifth grade in the Catholic School. The students may review the material as needed in sixth through eighth grade. An additional review will be planned by the individual parishes as the time for Confirmation approaches. Curriculum 1. What is Confirmation? 2. What are the effects of the Sacrament of Confirmation? 3. What is the liturgical celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation? 4. At what age will a child receive Confirmation? 5. How does a candidate for Confirmation choose a sponsor? 6. How does a candidate for Confirmation choose a Confirmation name? 7. What are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit? 8. What are the Fruits of the Holy Spirit? 9. What is required to live a Spirit-filled life of Service to God s Church? 1. What is Confirmation? Christian initiation is celebrated in Baptism, Confirmation or Chrismation, and Eucharist. These sacraments are efficacious signs of God s love and stages of a person s journey toward communion with the Trinity. Through these sacraments, a person is incorporated into the Church, is strengthened for participation in the Church s mission, and is welcomed to partake of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. (NDC #36.A) Dioceses and parishes should present catechesis for the Sacrament of Confirmation that

2 Teaches that Confirmation increases and deepens the grace of Baptism, imprinting an indelible character on the soul Teaches that Confirmation strengthens the baptismal conferral of the Holy Spirit on those confirmed in order to incorporate them more firmly in Christ, strengthen their bond with the Church, associate them more closely with the Church s mission, increase in them the gifts of the Holy spirit, and help them bear witness to the Christian faith in words and deeds. Teaches about the role of the Holy Spirit, his gifts, and his fruits Is developmentally appropriate and includes retreat experiences Includes instruction on the Rite of Confirmation and its basic symbols: The imposition of hands, the anointing with Sacred Chrism, and the words of the sacramental formula Ensures that parents and sponsors are involved in the catechetical preparation of the children for Confirmation Teaches that the bishop is the ordinary minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation (NDC #36.A.2) 2. What are the effects of the Sacrament of Confirmation? 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. (CCC #1302) From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, Abba! Father! ; it unites us more firmly to Christ; it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us; it renders our bond with the Church more perfect; it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross: Recall then that you have received the spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and

3 understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear in God s presence. 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. (CCC #1303) Like Baptism which it completes, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the character, which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness. (CCC #1304) This character perfects the common priesthood of the faithful, received in Baptism, and the confirmed person receives the power to profess faith in Christ publicly and as it were officially (quasi ex officio). (CCC #1305) 3. What is the liturgical celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation? Students will be familiar with the prayers and responses of the Mass and will be able to participate by listening, responding and singing. Students will be familiar with the Rite of Confirmation: CCC # At what age will a child receive Confirmation? Children twelve years of age or in the sixth grade are to be admitted to the Sacrament of Confirmation. According to the parishes to which your students belong, they may be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation in sixth, seventh, or eighth grades. As the time for the sacrament draws near, the students will be asked to participation in a two-year preparation program designed by the parish. This may include prayer, retreat, service and practice. 5. How does a candidate for Confirmation choose a sponsor?

4 Candidates for Confirmation, as for Baptism, fittingly seek the spiritual help of a sponsor. To emphasize the unity of the two sacraments, it is appropriate that this be one of the baptismal godparents. (CCC 1311) It is desirable to choose as sponsor (for Confirmation) the one who undertook the same function in baptism. (Canon 893 #2) This practice deepens the spiritual relationship of the godparent to the candidate and expresses more clearly the link between Baptism and Confirmation. Nonetheless, the choice of a special sponsor Confirmation is not excluded. It is recommended that sponsors be of the same sex as the candidates, but this is not absolutely necessary. Parents may act as presenters in proxy for sponsors. To be permitted to take on the function of sponsor, a person must: have completed the sixteenth year of age; be a practicing Catholic who has been confirmed; not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared, e.g., divorce, excommunication (Canon #874) Sponsors bring the candidates to receive the sacrament, present them to the bishop for anointing, and later help them to fulfill their baptismal promises. Sponsors should be willing to continue the spiritual relationship after the sacrament has been received. The parish should provided, as much as possible, education and formation for sponsors in the immediate preparation for Confirmation. In light of these directives, the candidate should begin to discern the best sponsor for him or her. The decision should not be made lightly. 6. How does a candidate for Confirmation choose a Confirmation name? The use of the Baptismal name best expresses the relationship between Baptism and Confirmation. If a name other than the baptismal name is taken, it should be a Christian name or the name of a recognized saint of the Church. The candidate should be exposed to the wide array of saints, so that he or she can make an informed decision. Once the student has narrowed the field, he should begin to articulate the story of that saint and his reasons for choosing that saint.

5 As the time for Confirmation draws near, the parish may ask the student to write or offer an oral presentation about the saints whose name he or she has chosen. 7. What are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit? Students will be able to name the seven gifts and will be able to explain the need for each of the gifts. Wisdom, which enables us to know the purpose and plan of God Understanding, which enables us to have greater insight into revealed truths Counsel, which disposes us to judge more readily what should and should not be done and to act with prudence especially in difficult circumstances Fortitude, which enables us to do God s will despite obstacles and difficulties Knowledge, which enables us to judge created things in the light of faith Piety, which leads us to devotion to God and assists in exercising the virtue of religion and fulfilling the demands of justice Fear of the Lord, which insures awe and reverence for God, making us dread offending God or being separated from Him through sin (CCC # ) 8. What are the Fruits of the Holy Spirit? The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. Charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity (Gal 5:22-23, CCC #1832) Charity Joy

6 Peace Patience Kindness Goodness Generosity Gentleness Faithfulness Modesty Self-control Chastity 9. What is required to live a Spirit-filled life of Service to God s Church? Confirmation is not an end, but a beginning of a life of service. In the immediate preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation the parish will guide those who are preparing to receive the sacrament in age-appropriate avenues of service within the parish and the community. As early as fifth grade, however, students should be expected to offer service at home, in school and in the parish. The students should be guided in reflecting on this service: How do I serve? What do I do? Who benefits from my service? How do they benefit?

7 Do I offer this service as a form of prayer? How do I benefit from performing this service?