Over the past several weeks, teens across the Anchorage Archdiocese and the Diocese of Fairbanks have been receiving the sacrament of confirmation from Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz, who is also the temporary apostolic administrator of the Fairbanks Diocese until Pope Francis appoints a new bishop for that diocese.
Hundreds of teens have received the sacrament of confirmation, thereby undertaking the graces and responsibilities of becoming adults in the Catholic faith.
During the formation and discernment process, the youth have had opportunities to take a deeper look at church teaching and history, especially with regards to confirmation — a sacrament that dates back to the dawn of Christianity.
In the New Testament, the Acts of the Apostles notes that after new converts were baptized by Saint Philip the deacon, Saint Peter and Saint John laid their hands on the new converts, “so that they might receive the Holy Spirit.”
The Letter to the Hebrews contains instructions about baptisms and the laying on of hands as a manual of sorts for the sacrament, stressing the importance of both baptism and confirmation as sacraments of initiation.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, during the first centuries of the church, both baptism and confirmation already were vital sacraments.
The Catechism talks about the importance of having a sponsor help prepare the confirmand for the spiritual journey. A sponsor’s duty doesn’t end the day the sacrament is conferred but remains a life-long commitment. Likewise, faith formation for the newly confirmed students does not end once they receive the sacrament of confirmation.
'Confirmation gives teens chance embrace deeper faith'
Be the first to comment on this post!has no comments