In memory of Vanessa Yasintha Wambura (August 2003 – August 2023).
Growth is vital in humans’ lives; the body must grow and nourish to survive. Catholics also believe that the spirit, soul and body must grow to a high level of maturity like your human body through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The Sacrament of Confirmation is the tip of your growth, the adulthood. The growth begins with your Baptism, then to your Communion. Your Confirmation completes the process of your spiritual growth. Once baptized you become a son or daughter of God to the church and the Communion is when the Holy Spirit as entered you. So what does a Confirmation signify?
The Holy Spirit is first introduced the day that a Catholic is baptized, because the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are invoked at the ceremony. During Confirmation, God the Holy Spirit himself comes upon the person, along with God the Father and the Son of God, just as he did at Pentecost. This is called a Confirmation because the Holy Spirit in your body given at Baptism is now confirmed and strengthened. Once confirmed you are referred to as a Soldier of Christ, a spiritual position to refer the war fought between Good and Evil. Confirmation means accepting your duty as a Christian. Since you are now older than you were when you received your communion, you now of the choice to make your own decisions as Christian but are still held responsible to attain your duty as a follower of the Lord.
Recently I attend the Confirmation of my good friend in Kingston city. It was very blessing to be a part of that. It was in a small church so everyone knew one another. We sang hymns and the priest read verses from the bible, around halfway through the Priest called my friend over and blesses her with the Holy Spirit. Afterwards my family and I were blessed by the priest. The confirmation itself was beautiful, I’ve not been confirmed yet, however, I have witnessed other people’s confirmation and the experience was great. It’s interesting to know that growth isn’t just physical and emotional, it is spiritual as well, the growth of soul and body.
Many people receive their confirmation in Grade 8 or 7, but for some they receive it afterwards at a special Easter Mass. In reality you can receive your confirmation at any time. It is important that you fully understand the Lord and his ways to fully become accepted. God forgave our sins and protects us and he simply asks that you believe in him. Receiving the sacrament of Confirmation is a very important day in the religious life of a child, being surrounded by those you care about is important and comforting. Trust me, you’ll remember for a long time!
Trust in God, God is there to guide you every step of the way during these important days of your lives. He’ll protect you, guide you and accept you. All he asks in return is for you trust and love him. If you do that, God will surely do the rest!
Vanessa Wambura.