Mass for 6th Sunday of Easter -
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Rite of Confirmation
CCC 1313: The ordinary minister of Confirmation is the bishop. Bishops are the successors of the apostles. It is proper that they complete the sacraments of initiation. Their presence demonstrates clearly that the effect of Confirmation is to unite those who receive it more closely to the Church, to her apostolic origins, and to her mission of bearing witness to Christ. Usually, Confirmation takes place within Mass. Let’s look at Order of Confirmation:
1. Collect:
This is the first Invocation of the Holy Spirit.
Grant, we pray, almighty and merciful God, that the Holy Spirit, coming near and dwelling graciously within us, may make of us a perfect temple of his glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
What does it mean for me to be a temple of God’s glory?
2. Liturgy of the Word:
It is from the hearing of the Word of God that the many-sided power of the Holy Spirit flows upon the Church and upon each one of the baptised and confirmed, and it is by this Word that God’s will is made clear in the life of Christians
3. Presentation of the Candidates
After the Gospel, the (parish) priest presents the candidates for confirmation. The candidates stand before the bishop and the bishop asks if the candidates are prepared to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. The priest testifies that the candidates are prepared based on the recommendation of the catechists.
4. Homily
The bishop then gives a brief homily.
5. Renewal of Baptismal Promises:
After the homily, the candidates stand and the bishop asks them the same questions that were asked at their baptism. This clearly shows that Confirmation follows Baptism. When adults are baptized, they immediately receive Confirmation and participate in the Eucharist.
Bishop: Do you reject Satan and all his works and all his empty promises?
Candidates: I do.
Bishop: Do you believe in God the Father almighty creator of heaven and earth?
Candidates: I do.
Bishop: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was
buried, rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
Candidates: I do.
Bishop: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who came upon the apostles at Pentecost and today is
given to you sacramentally in Confirmation?
Candidates: I do.
Bishop: Do you believe in the holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the
body, and life ever-lasting?
Candidates: I do.
Bishop: This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Congregation: Amen.
6. Laying on/Imposition of Hands:
The bishop invokes the Holy Spirit by extending his hands over the whole group of Confirmands. Since the time of the apostles this gesture has signified the gift of the Spirit.
My dear friends:
In baptism God our Father gave the new birth of eternal life to his chosen sons and daughters. Let us pray to our Father that he will pour out the Holy Spirit to strengthen his sons and daughters with his gifts and anoint them to be more like Christ the Son of God.
(with arms outstretched)
7. Anointing with Chrism on the forehead and the sign of peace:
The bishop makes the sign of the cross with sacred Chrism on the forehead of the Confirmand. The bishop then says: “Peace be with you” and the newly confirmed responds “And with your spirit.”
o Very early on, the better to signify the gift of the Holy Spirit, an anointing with perfumed oil (Chrism) was added to the laying on of hands. This anointing highlights the name "Christian," which means "anointed" and derives from that of Christ himself whom God "anointed with the Holy Spirit." The term Confirmation suggests that this sacrament both confirms and strengthens baptismal grace.
o Oil is a sign of abundance and joy; it cleanses (think about baby oil) and limbers (the anointing of athletes and wrestlers); oil is a sign of healing, since it is soothing to bruises and wounds; and it makes radiant with beauty, health, and strength.
o By this anointing the confirmand receives the "mark”, the seal of the Holy Spirit. A seal is a symbol of a person, a sign of personal authority, or ownership of an object.
o Anointing signifies and imprints a spiritual seal: "It is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has commissioned us; he has put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." (2 Cor 1: 21-22)
o This seal of the Holy Spirit marks our total belonging to Christ, our enrolment in His service for ever, as well as the promise of divine protection at the Last Judgement.
o By Confirmation, Christians, that is, those who are anointed, share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit with which He is filled, so that their lives may give off "the aroma of Christ." (2 Cor 2: 15)
o The sign of peace signifies and demonstrates ecclesial communion with the bishop and with all the faithful.
Bishop: (Name of Candidate), be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Newly confirmed: Amen.
Bishop: Peace be with you.
Newly confirmed: And with your spirit.]
8. Prayers of the Faithful:
Enlightened and moved by God’s Word, the assembly exercises its priestly function by interceding for all humanity. We are all called to be Prophet, Priest and King, and offer prayers to God for the salvation of all.
[The prayer of the faithful reveals to us how the gift of Holy Spirit might bear fruits in our lives.
Celebrant: My dear friends, let us be one in prayer to God our Father as a community embracing the faith, hope and love his Spirit gives.
Lector: For these sons and daughters of God, confirmed by the gift of the Spirit, that they give witness to Christ by lives built on compassion service and love.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Lector: For the parents and godparents who are their spiritual guide: that by word and example they may always encourage them to follow the way of Jesus Christ
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Lector: For ourselves, called into the one faith through baptism: that we may bear with one another charitably in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Lector: For the holy Church of God, in union with Francis our Pope and William Goh our Bishop, and all bishops: that God who gathers us together by the Holy Spirit may help us grow in fellowship and discipleship.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Celebrant: God our Father, you sent your Holy Spirit upon the apostles, and through them and their successors you give the Spirit
to your people. May his work begun at Pentecost continue to grow in the hearts of all who believe.We ask this through
Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.]
9. Prayer over the People:
At the concluding rites, the bishop prays over the people and makes the sign of the cross over all present.
[Prayer:
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your Spirit.
Celebrant: May God the Father almighty bless you, whom he has made his adopted sons and daughters reborn from water and the Holy Spirit, and may he keep you worthy of his fatherly love.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: May his Only Begotten Son, who promised that the Spirit of truth would abide in his Church, bless you and confirm you by his power in the confession of the true faith.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: May the Holy Spirit, who kindles the fire of charity in the hearts of disciples, bless you and lead you blameless and gathered as one into the joy of the Kingdom of God.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: And may almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen
Celebrant: Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.]
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