Confirmation

Temples of the Holy Spirit

The Sacrament of Confirmation completes the Sacrament of Baptism and makes us full members of the Church.  When you are confirmed, God the Holy Spirit comes into the innermost part of your soul, so that you become, in St Paul’s words, “temples of the Holy Spirit”.

And in order that your souls may be made ready to receive the Holy Spirit, you have several weeks of preparation before your Confirmation.

Confirmation classes

Part of the preparation consists of going to Confirmation classes which teach you more about the Christian Faith, and help you to understand it better.  You are taught why God made us, what our sins do, and what God has done to save us from them.  You learn about the Church and the Sacraments, and in particular about Baptism, Confirmation, Confession and the Eucharist.

Preparing your soul

But besides learning about the Christian Faith, you also get your soul ready, so that when God the Holy Spirit comes he finds it, not dirty and grubby, but clean and fresh.  So your preparation for Confirmation reaches its completion in your first Confession.  You kneel before the Crucifix, and as you look at it you begin to realise, as you never realised before, what it cost Jesus in suffering and pain to give you the forgiveness of your sins.  And you resolve that, come what may, you will belong completely to him, to work and to live for him all your life.

So, with your soul as white as snow, you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at the hands of the Bishop.  It is a very joyful occasion which you will remember for ever.