It is Confirmation season in the Metro area. Seventh and eighth graders throughout the region are standing before the bishop to “be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”. Unfortunately, far too many of these confirmands think this sacrament serves as a graduation from religious education. In fact, the sacrament of Confirmation is one of three sacraments of initiation. The other two are Baptism and Holy Communion. It used to be customary to receive Confirmation after Baptism but before Holy Communion resulting in reception of the Eucharist as the culmination of one’s entry into the Church. It is still done this way in the Eastern Rite Catholic Church. It is called Chrismation instead of Confirmation. Confirmation is also the second Sacrament of Initiation received by those entering the Church through the RCIA program. In the Western Church Confirmation has been moved to the “age of reason”. If one looks at programs across the United States, the age for Confirmation varies from around seven where it is combined with First Communion, to the late high school years. The Diocese of Arlington does Confirmation in the eighth grade while the Archdiocese of Washington D.C. does it in either seventh or eighth grade. I am afraid the older the students are when they receive this sacrament, the more likely they are to view it as a graduation. Instead of seeing Confirmation as completing the foundation for a Christian life of continual study and growth, they see it as the end of their religious formation.
If you are buying a gift for a middle-school aged or older confirmand, I suggest you promote the idea of future study. While lots of dove and flame decorated knick-knacks offer mementos of the occasion, I think these books put the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to work right away.
I highly endorse anything written by Peter Kreeft, but his book Because God is Real (Ignatius Press) is especially suited for the newly confirmed. It is a series of questions and answers that take the young Catholic through the core tenets of our faith. Kreeft states in the introduction that he did not write a book for children. He wrote an adult book that children can understand. He speaks candidly and is never condescending. He does make good use of humor and is quite entertaining.
Every Catholic, in fact, every Christian should read The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. Present a quality copy of this book to your newly confirmed Catholic because a serious Christian will read it over and over. This classic work offers a fresh perspective on evil and temptation with each reading.
Finally, Northern Virginia Community College historian and author, Dr. Diane Moczar, has some great books that will dispel myths and put Church history into perspective. Ten Dates Every Catholic Should Know (Sophia Institute Press) as well as Catholic History: What Every Catholic Wants to Know(Our Sunday Visitor Press) are two good additions to the young (or not so young) Catholic’s library. They are written in a conversational style. They do not get bogged down in minutiae but do offer plenty of additional reading suggestions if you want more details.
Celebrate Confirmation. But don’t let anyone think this sacrament signals that the work is done. The sacramental preparation may be done. The real work of Catholic living and learning is just beginning.
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