Dear newly Confirmed member of the Catholic Church,
First of all, I want to welcome you to the club! I mean, you were already part of it...but now your initiation process is complete! So welcome!!! Hopefully Bishop didn't put too much chrism in your eye, if he used too much or missed your forehead for some reason!
I just wanted to let you know, on behalf of your parish family (and the diocese, and really...the greater Church as a whole), that we're so proud of you. If only you knew the extent of our prayers for you to receive this sacrament. Believe me, whether it is made known to you or not--a lot of prayers have been offered for you. Across the parish, across the nation...even others from around the world!
I hope that your suffering through Confirmation classes has at least equipped you with the basic knowledge to know what it is you are partaking in. But my dear sibling in Christ, there is so much more to learn!
Being Catholic does NOT end at Confirmation!
Confirmation is NOT graduation.
It's like...learning a martial arts discipline and earning your black belt. Baptism is earning your white belt. You progress through the other belts through religious education and Confirmation classes. Then finally--you earn it! Your black belt. Confirmation. But in martial arts, they always say..."black belt is simply the beginning."
With all this training and basic knowledge, now is the time to start applying what you know. And to go even deeper. And yes, to teach others too by your life and example. Confirmation is simply a renewed beginning of the rest of your Catholic life.
My dear sibling in Christ, do not let your Catholic faith fade! Whether you feel it or not, the Holy Spirit now burns brightly within your soul. And last I checked, if you're on fire (literally), you have to do something about it. You can either A) make the fire bigger, B) let it burn itself out, or C) extinguish it. And it's obvious for me to say that Option A is the way to go...because the fiery soul is truly a gift. A great power. Thus, a great responsibility. It's your responsibility to keep that fire burning. Dump some diesel on it. Nuke it. Maybe have movie director Michael Bay provide his explosive expertise.
God's call for you is now ever present. What is your response?
I hope and pray that you take the strength of the Holy Spirit now burning within you to put your Catholic faith into action. Passivity only allows the fire to burn itself out.
Dearest sibling in Christ, the Catholic Church needs those who are on fire with the Holy Spirit. The world seems to be an increasingly hostile environment for the Catholic Church, especially in the American Catholic Church. We need young, enthusiastic Catholics who genuinely seek what it really means to be Catholic and to inspire the minds and ignite the hearts of others to be disciples of Jesus Christ. To be living examples striving to answer their call to holiness through actions of love and charity.
Let me quote an offshoot of a song lyric which somewhat quotes a good friend quoting his favorite retreat speaker quoting his favorite theologian quoting a pretty legit saint:
"If you are who God calls you to be, you will set the world ablaze" - St. Catherine of SiennaYes. St. Ignatius of Loyola also used to say to his students, "Go set the world on fire."
It's okay to be simultaneously a pyro and fisherman for God. Use responsibly.
So do something with your faith. Seek truth. Don't settle for mediocrity and partial truths. Go help other people. Develop yourself in the interior. Be a living witness and saint.
And you've received gifts. Share them with the world!
Know your faith. Own your faith. Live your faith. Spread your faith.
Sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- JD
