"The Faith Explained", by Leo J. Trese, is a great book that talks about a wide range of Church teachings in a relatively easy-to-understand format. I thought I'd put in an excerpt from the book on the sacrament of Confirmation, because I'm making my Confirmation this year. (YAY!) Here's the quote: "Without Baptism, we can not go to Heaven. Without Confirmation, we can get to Heaven, but the going will be much rougher. In fact, without Confirmation it would be easy to lose our way entirely, easy to lose our faith. That is why it is an obligation for every baptized person to be also confirmed if he has the opportunity of receiving the sacrament of Comfirmation. We know that Jesus did not institute any of the sacraments "just for the fun of it". Jesus instituted each individual sacrament because he foresaw, in his infinite wisdom, that we would have need of certain special graces under certain particular circumstances."
Pretty awesome, eh? If only we could fully understood how many spiritual gifts we receive by allowing the Holy Spirit to come into us in that way, we would be BEGGING the bishop to confirm us early!! My parish priest compares the gifts of the Holy Spirit to a video game. He explains that as the characters advance in the game, they unlock super powers and special features. At confirmation, we're infused with many fruits and graces - a kind of spiritual power-up! Even after Confirmation, we should continue to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, daily.
Prayer to The Holy Spirit:
Come Holy Spirit! Enlighten my understanding in order that I may know your commands; strengthen my heart against the snares of the enemy; enkindle my will. I have heard your voice, and I do not want to harden my heart and resist, saying " Later... tommorrow." Nunc coepi! Right now! Lest there be no tomorrow for me. Oh Spirit of truth and wisdom, Spirit of understanding and counsel, Spirit of joy and if peace! I want what you want, because you want it, as you want it, when you want it.
Amen.
Pretty awesome, eh? If only we could fully understood how many spiritual gifts we receive by allowing the Holy Spirit to come into us in that way, we would be BEGGING the bishop to confirm us early!! My parish priest compares the gifts of the Holy Spirit to a video game. He explains that as the characters advance in the game, they unlock super powers and special features. At confirmation, we're infused with many fruits and graces - a kind of spiritual power-up! Even after Confirmation, we should continue to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, daily.
Prayer to The Holy Spirit:
Come Holy Spirit! Enlighten my understanding in order that I may know your commands; strengthen my heart against the snares of the enemy; enkindle my will. I have heard your voice, and I do not want to harden my heart and resist, saying " Later... tommorrow." Nunc coepi! Right now! Lest there be no tomorrow for me. Oh Spirit of truth and wisdom, Spirit of understanding and counsel, Spirit of joy and if peace! I want what you want, because you want it, as you want it, when you want it.
Amen.
RSS Feed