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Antonius_Lupus
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My confirmation is coming up, and I am a little anxious about whether I am ready for it. Is this normal?
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puzzleannie
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normal and worthy, you should be thinking about it. Anxious, no, that is not the primary feeling that should be at work hear, anticipation, desire, but not fear. Continue whatever preparation your parish and diocese have prescribed, and spend most of your free time between now and Confirmation in prayer. The novena to the Holy Spirit, the traditional preparation for Pentecost, is the ideal prayer. So is meditation with scripture about the Holy Spirit–a list of these has probably been provided to you at some point. Journalling about your reaction to these scriptures, and about your feelings is also valuable. In this diocese candidates are expected to write a letter to the bishop asking the Church for this sacrament. This is a good practice, at least for your journal, so you do get these thoughts in order.
What do you think is required to be “ready” for Confirmation? If the bishop has called you, and you have done your best to prepare as required in your parish, and you want the Holy Spirit to come to anoint you and bestow his gifts, you are ready.
The other choice you have is to reject the sacrament, reject all that it stands for, and reject your commitment to the Catholic Faith. If “I am not ready” really means “I do not accept the responsibilities of an adult Catholic” yes, you do need some help, especially pastoral counselling from your priest. If it means, “sometimes I have doubts but I want to believe” or “I don’t feel worthy, holy, mature, wise” those are actually healthy feelings, we are not worthy, it is the Holy Spirit who makes us worthy.
Intense study of the faith as we undertake at this time inevitable raises questions, that is the purpose of the study. Ask those questions and take pains to resolve them, and acknowledge that in many areas your human knowledge and ability to understand is necessarily limited. That is precisely why we desire the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so he can bring us to knowledge and understanding.
What do you think is required to be “ready” for Confirmation? If the bishop has called you, and you have done your best to prepare as required in your parish, and you want the Holy Spirit to come to anoint you and bestow his gifts, you are ready.
The other choice you have is to reject the sacrament, reject all that it stands for, and reject your commitment to the Catholic Faith. If “I am not ready” really means “I do not accept the responsibilities of an adult Catholic” yes, you do need some help, especially pastoral counselling from your priest. If it means, “sometimes I have doubts but I want to believe” or “I don’t feel worthy, holy, mature, wise” those are actually healthy feelings, we are not worthy, it is the Holy Spirit who makes us worthy.
Intense study of the faith as we undertake at this time inevitable raises questions, that is the purpose of the study. Ask those questions and take pains to resolve them, and acknowledge that in many areas your human knowledge and ability to understand is necessarily limited. That is precisely why we desire the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so he can bring us to knowledge and understanding.
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JimR-OCDS
Guest
Gee I’m impressed that you’re anxious about it. It means you’re thinking about what it really means.My confirmation is coming up, and I am a little anxious about whether I am ready for it. Is this normal?
When I got confirmed many years ago, I did it because my parents made me and I didn’t want to disappoint them. Besides, they had a nice party for me where I received a new fishing pole and reel.
Later on in life, wish I had the understanding that you have, when I received my confirmation.
Pray and ask for God’s grace. It will be a joyous event of your life.
Jim
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stbruno
Guest
God bless you on your upcoming reception of Confirmation. The graces of this sacrament are wonderful. Just remember this, don’t leave the gifts of the Holy Spirit on the shelf, to collect dust. Pull them out and use them.
Particularly the ones that you are weak in…The Holy Spirit will never ever refuse you…Congratulations on this wonderful occasion of your life.
Whenever you receive a sacrament, no matter which one, God is present, Jesus is there greeting you in the persona of the priest/bishop/deacon…whom ever it may be! That’s a wonderful gift in itself, to meet Christ! If we should be complacent about this and not anxious I would be worried! You are experiencing a perfectly normal and healthy reaction! God bless you again!
Particularly the ones that you are weak in…The Holy Spirit will never ever refuse you…Congratulations on this wonderful occasion of your life.
Whenever you receive a sacrament, no matter which one, God is present, Jesus is there greeting you in the persona of the priest/bishop/deacon…whom ever it may be! That’s a wonderful gift in itself, to meet Christ! If we should be complacent about this and not anxious I would be worried! You are experiencing a perfectly normal and healthy reaction! God bless you again!
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chrysostom15
Guest
Generally being anxious is a sign that you are ready.
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BobP123
Guest
I second that and CONGRATULATIONS!Generally being anxious is a sign that you are ready.
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