Adulthood, even young adulthood, means that you must do what’s right on your own, not for the recognition or reward but merely because it’s the right thing to do. Adult baptism is the norm when the Church is in a missionary situation, reaching out to persons in a culture which is indifferent or hostile to the faith. We can be grateful that people like Matthew Kelly and other publishers have made an effort to spruce up confirmation preparation, but, so far, those efforts haven’t really paid off.I make that assertion based on my limited track record as a religious educator, but also as a parent of Not to worry, though: Our Cecilia is actually excited about getting confirmed. Youth or adults who have not been baptized and are sensing that they are drawn to a life of faith and sharing in the Christian community should likewise contact the pastor to discuss these concerns. Instead of commencing an adventure, confirmation is too often experienced as a graduation commencement—a capstone and a conclusion, and the last time the recipients will be compelled to do anything overtly “religious” outside of showing up for Mass … maybe.Obviously, something is seriously amiss, and it seems like confirmation is an important key for correcting Catholic youth flight. . “Although Confirmation is sometimes called the ‘sacrament of Christian maturity,’” the Catechism insists, “we must not confuse adult faith with the adult age of natural growth.” Along those lines, we also have to reject the neo-gnostic idea that confirmation candidates have to fully comprehend what the sacrament is about before they can receive it. It is a response of faith to the gracious covenant into which God baptizes us. That grace — experienced by us as initiating, enabling, and empowering — is the same for all persons. An infant who is baptized cannot make a personal profession of faith as a part of the sacrament. For them, it is nurture for baptism, for becoming members of the Church, and for confirmation.Those who are baptized are also confirmed, remembering that our ritual reflects the ancient unity of baptism, confirmation (laying on of hands with prayer), and Eucharist.
Infant baptism rests firmly on the understanding that God prepares the way of faith before we request or even know that we need help (prevenient grace). In short, my confirmation was a launch—the beginning of an adventure!Is that how you remember your confirmation? Some see confirmation as a sign of mature commitment to the church, but others make the distinction that it is a gift, not something to be earned, and it is not a graduation from religious education. We’ve been doing if from the beginning of our marriage—it just makes sense. Nonetheless, it’s vitally important for teenagers to start thinking for themselves and making their own decisions. Confirmation is both a strengthening sign enacted by the church and a profession of faith by the person. Over time the three actions were separated from each other.
When a baptized person has professed her or his Christian faith and has been confirmed, that person enters more fully into the responsibilities and privileges of membership in the Church. If the family is not practicing the Christian life with the church, then it is not likely to ask for baptism. Plus, many parents of confirmation candidates aren’t exactly living a sacramental life themselves, and so their teens might assimilate the message that faith primarily involves going through the motions. Steve interviews Phil Meadows who is a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary. . Families seeking baptism for an infant or child, or youth or adults seeking baptism should contact the pastor for consideration of and preparation for baptism. .
Laying on of hands as a confirming sign was left for later, partially because only the bishop could confirm and he might not be available until sometime later. In a culture that is increasingly unfamiliar with Christian experience and practice, the church needs to be ready to befriend, counsel, and encourage adults to become disciples and to be baptized.
Adulthood, even young adulthood, means that you must do what’s right on your own, not for the recognition or reward but merely because it’s the right thing to do. Adult baptism is the norm when the Church is in a missionary situation, reaching out to persons in a culture which is indifferent or hostile to the faith. We can be grateful that people like Matthew Kelly and other publishers have made an effort to spruce up confirmation preparation, but, so far, those efforts haven’t really paid off.I make that assertion based on my limited track record as a religious educator, but also as a parent of Not to worry, though: Our Cecilia is actually excited about getting confirmed. Youth or adults who have not been baptized and are sensing that they are drawn to a life of faith and sharing in the Christian community should likewise contact the pastor to discuss these concerns. Instead of commencing an adventure, confirmation is too often experienced as a graduation commencement—a capstone and a conclusion, and the last time the recipients will be compelled to do anything overtly “religious” outside of showing up for Mass … maybe.Obviously, something is seriously amiss, and it seems like confirmation is an important key for correcting Catholic youth flight. . “Although Confirmation is sometimes called the ‘sacrament of Christian maturity,’” the Catechism insists, “we must not confuse adult faith with the adult age of natural growth.” Along those lines, we also have to reject the neo-gnostic idea that confirmation candidates have to fully comprehend what the sacrament is about before they can receive it. It is a response of faith to the gracious covenant into which God baptizes us. That grace — experienced by us as initiating, enabling, and empowering — is the same for all persons. An infant who is baptized cannot make a personal profession of faith as a part of the sacrament. For them, it is nurture for baptism, for becoming members of the Church, and for confirmation.Those who are baptized are also confirmed, remembering that our ritual reflects the ancient unity of baptism, confirmation (laying on of hands with prayer), and Eucharist.
Infant baptism rests firmly on the understanding that God prepares the way of faith before we request or even know that we need help (prevenient grace). In short, my confirmation was a launch—the beginning of an adventure!Is that how you remember your confirmation? Some see confirmation as a sign of mature commitment to the church, but others make the distinction that it is a gift, not something to be earned, and it is not a graduation from religious education. We’ve been doing if from the beginning of our marriage—it just makes sense. Nonetheless, it’s vitally important for teenagers to start thinking for themselves and making their own decisions. Confirmation is both a strengthening sign enacted by the church and a profession of faith by the person. Over time the three actions were separated from each other.
When a baptized person has professed her or his Christian faith and has been confirmed, that person enters more fully into the responsibilities and privileges of membership in the Church. If the family is not practicing the Christian life with the church, then it is not likely to ask for baptism. Plus, many parents of confirmation candidates aren’t exactly living a sacramental life themselves, and so their teens might assimilate the message that faith primarily involves going through the motions. Steve interviews Phil Meadows who is a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary. . Families seeking baptism for an infant or child, or youth or adults seeking baptism should contact the pastor for consideration of and preparation for baptism. .
Laying on of hands as a confirming sign was left for later, partially because only the bishop could confirm and he might not be available until sometime later. In a culture that is increasingly unfamiliar with Christian experience and practice, the church needs to be ready to befriend, counsel, and encourage adults to become disciples and to be baptized.
Adulthood, even young adulthood, means that you must do what’s right on your own, not for the recognition or reward but merely because it’s the right thing to do. Adult baptism is the norm when the Church is in a missionary situation, reaching out to persons in a culture which is indifferent or hostile to the faith. We can be grateful that people like Matthew Kelly and other publishers have made an effort to spruce up confirmation preparation, but, so far, those efforts haven’t really paid off.I make that assertion based on my limited track record as a religious educator, but also as a parent of Not to worry, though: Our Cecilia is actually excited about getting confirmed. Youth or adults who have not been baptized and are sensing that they are drawn to a life of faith and sharing in the Christian community should likewise contact the pastor to discuss these concerns. Instead of commencing an adventure, confirmation is too often experienced as a graduation commencement—a capstone and a conclusion, and the last time the recipients will be compelled to do anything overtly “religious” outside of showing up for Mass … maybe.Obviously, something is seriously amiss, and it seems like confirmation is an important key for correcting Catholic youth flight. . “Although Confirmation is sometimes called the ‘sacrament of Christian maturity,’” the Catechism insists, “we must not confuse adult faith with the adult age of natural growth.” Along those lines, we also have to reject the neo-gnostic idea that confirmation candidates have to fully comprehend what the sacrament is about before they can receive it. It is a response of faith to the gracious covenant into which God baptizes us. That grace — experienced by us as initiating, enabling, and empowering — is the same for all persons. An infant who is baptized cannot make a personal profession of faith as a part of the sacrament. For them, it is nurture for baptism, for becoming members of the Church, and for confirmation.Those who are baptized are also confirmed, remembering that our ritual reflects the ancient unity of baptism, confirmation (laying on of hands with prayer), and Eucharist.
Infant baptism rests firmly on the understanding that God prepares the way of faith before we request or even know that we need help (prevenient grace). In short, my confirmation was a launch—the beginning of an adventure!Is that how you remember your confirmation? Some see confirmation as a sign of mature commitment to the church, but others make the distinction that it is a gift, not something to be earned, and it is not a graduation from religious education. We’ve been doing if from the beginning of our marriage—it just makes sense. Nonetheless, it’s vitally important for teenagers to start thinking for themselves and making their own decisions. Confirmation is both a strengthening sign enacted by the church and a profession of faith by the person. Over time the three actions were separated from each other.
When a baptized person has professed her or his Christian faith and has been confirmed, that person enters more fully into the responsibilities and privileges of membership in the Church. If the family is not practicing the Christian life with the church, then it is not likely to ask for baptism. Plus, many parents of confirmation candidates aren’t exactly living a sacramental life themselves, and so their teens might assimilate the message that faith primarily involves going through the motions. Steve interviews Phil Meadows who is a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary. . Families seeking baptism for an infant or child, or youth or adults seeking baptism should contact the pastor for consideration of and preparation for baptism. .
Laying on of hands as a confirming sign was left for later, partially because only the bishop could confirm and he might not be available until sometime later. In a culture that is increasingly unfamiliar with Christian experience and practice, the church needs to be ready to befriend, counsel, and encourage adults to become disciples and to be baptized.
Do you mark baptismal days in your family? Childhood is a time when you’re told what to do, and you react positively to reward and negatively to punishment. "The ritual of the baptismal covenant included in So how does confirmation relate to the question of age? There is no right age for a person to be confirmed. Phil’s latest book Remembering Ou. Confirmation is not regarded as a sacrament or a means of conferring divine grace. Are youth ready to signify their lifelong discipleship in the sixth grade? The teen years are often a rocky, rebellious period, and there’s no doubt that strong parental guidance will be required throughout. For views of other churches on confirmation, read the Wikipedia article on "Confirmation". Gradually, first communion happened at a different time.
Adulthood, even young adulthood, means that you must do what’s right on your own, not for the recognition or reward but merely because it’s the right thing to do. Adult baptism is the norm when the Church is in a missionary situation, reaching out to persons in a culture which is indifferent or hostile to the faith. We can be grateful that people like Matthew Kelly and other publishers have made an effort to spruce up confirmation preparation, but, so far, those efforts haven’t really paid off.I make that assertion based on my limited track record as a religious educator, but also as a parent of Not to worry, though: Our Cecilia is actually excited about getting confirmed. Youth or adults who have not been baptized and are sensing that they are drawn to a life of faith and sharing in the Christian community should likewise contact the pastor to discuss these concerns. Instead of commencing an adventure, confirmation is too often experienced as a graduation commencement—a capstone and a conclusion, and the last time the recipients will be compelled to do anything overtly “religious” outside of showing up for Mass … maybe.Obviously, something is seriously amiss, and it seems like confirmation is an important key for correcting Catholic youth flight. . “Although Confirmation is sometimes called the ‘sacrament of Christian maturity,’” the Catechism insists, “we must not confuse adult faith with the adult age of natural growth.” Along those lines, we also have to reject the neo-gnostic idea that confirmation candidates have to fully comprehend what the sacrament is about before they can receive it. It is a response of faith to the gracious covenant into which God baptizes us. That grace — experienced by us as initiating, enabling, and empowering — is the same for all persons. An infant who is baptized cannot make a personal profession of faith as a part of the sacrament. For them, it is nurture for baptism, for becoming members of the Church, and for confirmation.Those who are baptized are also confirmed, remembering that our ritual reflects the ancient unity of baptism, confirmation (laying on of hands with prayer), and Eucharist.
Infant baptism rests firmly on the understanding that God prepares the way of faith before we request or even know that we need help (prevenient grace). In short, my confirmation was a launch—the beginning of an adventure!Is that how you remember your confirmation? Some see confirmation as a sign of mature commitment to the church, but others make the distinction that it is a gift, not something to be earned, and it is not a graduation from religious education. We’ve been doing if from the beginning of our marriage—it just makes sense. Nonetheless, it’s vitally important for teenagers to start thinking for themselves and making their own decisions. Confirmation is both a strengthening sign enacted by the church and a profession of faith by the person. Over time the three actions were separated from each other.
When a baptized person has professed her or his Christian faith and has been confirmed, that person enters more fully into the responsibilities and privileges of membership in the Church. If the family is not practicing the Christian life with the church, then it is not likely to ask for baptism. Plus, many parents of confirmation candidates aren’t exactly living a sacramental life themselves, and so their teens might assimilate the message that faith primarily involves going through the motions. Steve interviews Phil Meadows who is a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary. . Families seeking baptism for an infant or child, or youth or adults seeking baptism should contact the pastor for consideration of and preparation for baptism. .
Laying on of hands as a confirming sign was left for later, partially because only the bishop could confirm and he might not be available until sometime later. In a culture that is increasingly unfamiliar with Christian experience and practice, the church needs to be ready to befriend, counsel, and encourage adults to become disciples and to be baptized.
