Tiber River Cafe--Confirmation, 2-minute version

Hello, and welcome to the Tiber River Café.  My name is Dean Humphreys, and today’s two minute topic is the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The Catholic Church recognizes seven Sacraments.  We believe that there is a sacred reality to each of the Sacraments and that each Sacrament points us towards Jesus.  Catholics believe that each of the Sacraments was instituted by Jesus himself, pointing to Biblical events in the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, our Lord and Savior. 

In the Book of Acts we read how the early apostles confirmed the new converts, how Peter and Paul laid hands on the new converts to the faith and they received the Holy Spirit.  The ‘laying on of hands’, which is the Sacrament of Confirmation, has the power to transform.  Two thousand years ago the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, forty days after the Resurrection of Jesus, and Jesus promised his disciples at that Pentecost that he would send his Spirit to comfort and strengthen them.  We are filled with this same Holy Spirit at the time of our own Confirmation.

The Sacrament of Confirmation involves the laying on of hands when we receive the Holy Spirit.  Confirmation solidifies more firmly our bond with the Church and associates us more closely with the mission of the Church.  And Confirmation helps us to proclaim our Christian faith in words accomplished by deeds.  This is the time in a person’s life when there is a mature commitment to Christianity, to what we believe as Catholics, to following Jesus and being his disciple.

Our Confirmation is our own Pentecost when we receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and we are sealed with the Holy Spirit as we continue on our faith journey for we are commissioned to live out our faith on a daily basis.  Remember, the same Holy Spirit that descended on Jesus during his baptism in the Jordan River is the same Holy Spirit that descended on the Apostles at Pentecost, and it is the same Holy Spirit that descends on us at our Confirmation. 

Well, thanks again for stopping by the Tiber River Café, where there is always plenty of room at the banquet table.  I hope to see you next time.  Peace be with you.