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| CONFIRMATION. Image from ourladyofhal.wordpress.com |
Confirmation is the second of the three Sacraments of Initiation. Through this sacrament, "[the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed" [CCC 1285].
The term Confirmation signifies the strengthening of the baptismal grace [CCC 1289]. Through this sacrament we also acquire a spiritual seal [CCC 1293] and we share in the Lord's Messianic mission as a messianic people [CCC 1287].
The effects of Confirmation are [1] more deepening of the divine filiation which makes us cry "Abba! Father!", [2] firmer union with Christ, [3] the increase of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, [4] more perfection of our bond with the Church, and [5] the special strengthening by the Holy Spirit to spread and defend by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross [CCC 1303]. And like Baptism, it endows us with an indelible mark which perfects our membership to the Church and our sharing of the common priesthood of all the faithful [CCC 1304, 1305].
Living the sacrament of confirmation in our lives therefore means being [1] more conscious of our being children of the Father, hence being more aware also of the call to be holy like Him; [2] closer with the Lord Jesus Christ, our brother and friend, conforming to His Person more perfectly by denying ourselves, carrying our crosses and following Him; [3] more receptive to the gifts of the Holy Spirit and manifesting these gifts in our lives; [4] more obedient to the Church and having closer relationship with fellow Christians; and [5] more active in proclaiming and defending the Gospel through our very lives.
Being the Father's children we ought to be like Him: holy and loving [see 1 John 3:10; Matthew 5:48]. Not only because these are ideals which we ought to try to achieve but because these can be done as shown by the Lord Jesus Christ and the many Saints who have lived - and are possibly still living - in the world. Unless we live in holiness and love, we cannot become His children [see 1 Peter 1:16; Ephesians 1:4; 1 John 4:7].
Living closer to the Lord means conforming to His Person some more each day. This also means discarding our old sinful selves, carrying our crosses which will keep us focused upon our ultimate end, and following in His steps and His examples especially His total surrender and full obedience to the will of the Father [see Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23].
With the gifts of the Holy Spirit will be able to have a more perfect faith through Wisdom, better insight into the truths of our Faith through Understanding, better defense of the Faith through Counsel, more courage in facing challenges and trials to our Faith through Fortitude, better insight into what God wants us to do in our lives and how to live them accordingly through Knowledge, deeper and truer expression and exercise of religion through Piety and more perfect expression of hope through the Fear of the Lord [see 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11].
Being more obedient to the Church means being obedient to the Lord who established the Church and who has provided her with the guidance of the Holy Spirit that she may remain faithful to her divine founder [see John 14: 16-17, 26]. Hence questioning the Church would be tantamount to questioning the Lord and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit [see Matthew 28: 18-20; John 20: 21-23].
With all of these, we shall find it easier to live out our Christian vocation and our Christian identity. By living out our Christian vocation and identity especially by fulfilling the command of the Lord to love one another [see John 15: 12-17], we shall be able to truly and actively proclaim the Gospel and let the world know that we are truly the Lord's disciples [see John 13: 34-35].
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