For the celebration of the sacrament of Confirmation
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism. The bishop anoints with chrism: “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2).
Not a graduation from the Church, but a sending into the world as witnesses.
Name one place where each young person will need courage this year: school, friends, social media.
Dear young people, today the Holy Spirit comes upon you in a new way. You were baptised as infants; others spoke for you. Today you say your own “yes”, and the Church seals you with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
At Pentecost the frightened apostles became bold witnesses. The same Spirit gives you his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. These are not ornaments; they are tools for life.
Confirmation is sometimes treated as the end of catechism, the day after which we need not come to church. It is exactly the opposite. Jesus says, “You will be my witnesses.” You are being sent: to your school, your friends, your phone, your future work.
Ask the Holy Spirit today for one gift you need most. And come back next Sunday to the Holy Mass / Holy Qurbana, where the Spirit keeps strengthening you. Amen.
Before Pentecost the disciples hid behind closed doors (John 20:19).
The Spirit came as wind and tongues of fire and they spoke boldly (Acts 2:1–4).
The man who denied Jesus to a servant girl preached to thousands (Acts 2:14–41).
Confirmation is your personal Pentecost: the same Spirit, the same courage.
Dear candidates, picture the apostles after the Resurrection. They knew that Jesus had risen, yet they sat behind locked doors, afraid (John 20:19). Knowing the truth is not the same as having the courage to live it.
Then came Pentecost. A sound like a strong wind filled the house, tongues as of fire rested on each of them, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–4). The doors opened. The same men who had been hiding went out into the streets of Jerusalem and spoke about Jesus to people from every nation.
Look at Peter. A few weeks earlier he had denied Jesus three times, frightened by a servant girl at a fire. Now he stood before a crowd and preached the risen Christ, and about three thousand were baptised that day (Acts 2:14–41). What changed? Not his intelligence, not his education. The Holy Spirit changed him.
Today is your Pentecost. The bishop will lay hands on you and anoint your forehead with sacred chrism, saying: be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is the same Spirit who came upon the apostles. You may not hear wind or see fire, but the gift is real. The Spirit gives wisdom to choose well, courage to stand for what is right, and love that does not give up.
You will need that courage. At school, on your phone, among friends, there will be days when it is easier to hide your faith. On those days remember this morning. You are not alone and you are not weak: you are sealed. Pray every day: Come, Holy Spirit. And keep coming to the Holy Mass / Holy Qurbana, where the Spirit keeps the fire burning.
Confirmation perfects baptismal grace and binds us more closely to the Church (CCC 1285).
Laying on of hands and anointing with chrism on the forehead, with the words: be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit (CCC 1300).
Wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:1–3; CCC 1831).
Confirmation imprints an indelible mark and is received once (CCC 1304).
Dear candidates, families and friends, today the Church celebrates one of the three sacraments of Christian initiation. Baptism gave you new life, the Eucharist feeds that life, and Confirmation completes and strengthens it (CCC 1285).
The Catechism explains that Confirmation roots us more deeply in our being children of God, unites us more firmly to Christ, increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us, binds us more perfectly to the Church and gives special strength to spread and defend the faith by word and action (CCC 1303).
The rite is simple and ancient. The apostles laid hands on the baptised so that they might receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14–17). The bishop, a successor of the apostles, does the same today, and anoints the forehead with chrism, oil mixed with balsam and consecrated on Holy Thursday. Chrism gives Christians their name: Christ means the Anointed One, and we share His anointing (CCC 1289, 1294).
Isaiah names the gifts that rest on the Messiah: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:1–3). These gifts are now yours. They are not trophies for a shelf; they are tools. Wisdom helps you see life as God sees it. Fortitude helps you do the right thing when it costs you. Fear of the Lord is not terror, but the deep respect that never wants to hurt the One we love.
Confirmation marks the soul with an indelible character; it is never repeated (CCC 1304). You are now fully equipped as witnesses of Christ. Choose a saint whose name you take and get to know his or her life. Keep in touch with your sponsor. Above all, use the gifts: pray daily, read the Gospel, come to the Holy Mass / Holy Qurbana and to confession, and do not be ashamed of the name of Christ.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of these young people. Seal them with your gifts, make them brave witnesses of Christ, and keep them faithful all their lives. Amen.