CONFIRMATION: Another Beginning

That's because her Confirmation was a bit unique. She was hospitalized in May when Bishop Howard J. Hubbard confirmed her peers. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, while the bishop is the ordinary minister of this sacrament, he can concede that role to a priest when serious situations arise.

That's what happened to Nichole. When her parish priest, Rev. Bernard Turner, administered the sacrament during a recent parish Mass, "it was really nice," she said. "I felt really special."

Oil and hands

The two main symbols of this sacrament are anointing with oil and laying on of hands.

"These are ancient symbols," he said. "Anointing signifies the imparting of strength, holiness, official duties and powers. Laying on of hands signifies much the same thing -- a blessing, and a passing on of special gifts, powers and authority."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that oil is a sign of abundance and joy, cleansing and limbering, healing, and being radiant with beauty, health and strength.

Baptismal link

As in Baptism, the community plays a role in supporting those receiving the sacrament. In Baptism, godparents symbolize that support. At Confirmation, candidates for the sacrament turn for spiritual help to their sponsors.

Nichole chose Rose Metzger, the mother of a good friend and "a second mother to me."

Tied together

According to the Catechism, Confirmation can be received once the age of discretion is reached. In the Albany Diocese, Confirmation is received during the teenage years. In other parts of the country, it can be received during childhood.

According to Joyce Solimini, associate director for children, youth and family catechesis for the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, Confirmation has been seen by some as a sacrament of maturity and graduation.

"The real theology is initiation," she said. "It's not a rite of passage; it's a rite of initiation."

Not the end

Parishes are often upset when youths no longer participate in the parish once they have been confirmed. As a solution, Mrs. Solimini suggests that parishes look at the structure they've created.

For example, some parishes refer to catechetical programs for high school youth as the "Confirmation class." When the sacrament is seen as the goal at the end, the idea of it being a sacrament of graduation develops.

Saying yes

"Young people feel they have to have a theologian's understanding of faith and an adult commitment," said Mrs. Solimini. "Young people need to know that when they are saying 'yes' to this way of life, they will always have questions and doubts. They need to know that they don't have to have all of the answers."

At other points in time, people have seen Confirmation as the time of becoming a "soldier of Christ" or as the sacrament of the Holy Spirit.

"We took the idea of the sacrament of the Spirit and distorted it so that people saw it as the time you received the Holy Spirit," Mrs. Solimini said, noting that the Holy Spirit is present from Baptism on. "We need to see Confirmation as a step on a journey of faith...as a call to be more in tune with the moving of the Spirit...as a call to a full sense of discipleship at whatever age it's received. It's an entrance into the mystery of Christ."

(07-06-00) [[In-content Ad]]