SUMMARY

1. In Confirmation God the Holy Spirit comes into our souls, making us “temples of the Holy Spirit”.  We become full members of the Church.

2. When we make our Communion, we receive not something but Someone, Jesus Christ himself, our Lord and our God.  We should prepare carefully for our Communions.

3. The regular communicants are the real power in the Church’s life, and we should aim at communicating every Sunday, and as we grow up, try to communicate during the week as well.

Note

According to the laws (Canons) of the Church of England, people who receive Holy Communion should either have been confirmed in the Church of England or should be ready and wanting to be confirmed. (4) However, in most dioceses there is provision for children who have not been confirmed to receive Holy Communion.  This is subject to the agreement of the bishop, the parish priest, and the congregation or Parochial Church Council.  Before receiving Communion, children should receive appropriate instruction which must be in the context of a programme of ongoing nurture leading to Confirmation. (5)

References

1. Church of England (not dated) Confirmation.  Available from: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/baptismconfirm/sectionc.html  (Accessed 21 August 2010) (Internet)

2. Augustine Sermon 227, cited in Dix, G. (1945) The shape of the liturgy, Westminster: Dacre Press, p.247.

3. cf Dix, G. (1945) The shape of the liturgy, Westminster: Dacre Press, p. 734.

4. Church of England (not dated) Confirmation.  Available from: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/baptismconfirm/sectionc.html  (Accessed 21 August 2010) (Internet)

5. Church of England (not dated) Section A – Christian initiation.  Available from: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/baptismconfirm/sectiona.html (Accessed 21 August 2010) (Internet).