We Celebrate the Gift of the Holy Spirit
In this Easter Season, the Sacrament of Confirmation is frequently celebrated in the parishes and deaneries throughout the Diocese. It is a deep joy for me as Bishop to confirm our youth and young adults and seal them with the gift of the Holy Spirit through the imposition of hands and the anointing with the sacred chrism.
As a custom, I meet with the candidates prior to the Confirmation and am always inspired by their exuberant love for Our Lord Jesus and His Church. As Catholics, they are usually in the minority within their school communities and circles of friends. Thus, I am edified to see the great witness of our Confirmation candidates as they proudly profess their faith and acknowledge their desire and intention to be confirmed in Christ Jesus. To all of us who are baptized and confirmed in Christ they are a reminder of the call to share our love for the Lord with others and to be proud of the gift of our holy Catholic faith.
At every celebration and as I write to you now, I join the newly-confirmed in thanking God for bestowing the gift of faith upon them and for His abiding presence through the gift of the Holy Spirit. We also express gratitude to the parents who nourish the seeds of faith and help their children to grow in their intimate relationship with the Lord. Special thanks are also given to the sponsors who are chosen because of their great example of living and practicing the faith. Deep appreciation is also extended to the pastors, deacons, religious, pastoral administrators, faith formation directors and catechists for their generous service in supporting and assisting our youth and young adults in their ongoing formation. You are gifts to our candidates, to the Diocese and to the Church!
We also celebrate the fact that many adults were baptized, confirmed and received First Eucharist at the Easter Vigil and within this joyful season. It was a privilege to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for 22 university and college students who are members of our Catholic campus ministry programs. As we rejoice in the confirmation of our youth, young adults, and adults we recognize that the Spirit of God is truly alive in the Diocese of Raleigh!
We also use this special time in the life of our Diocese to recall the teaching of the Church regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1285-1321). The Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist are the Sacraments of Initiation. The Sacrament of Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace. Both can be received only once, for they imprint “on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the ‘character’, which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of His spirit . . . with power from on high to be His witnesses” (1304).
“The effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost” (1302). The graces of Confirmation are the same as those experienced by the Apostles: the power of the Holy Spirit to evangelize, charisms to build the community, the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit in daily life, fuller membership in a loving community and, finally, holiness of life in the Spirit. The gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord) and the graces of Confirmation help us to be true witnesses of Jesus Christ in word and action.
All of us baptized and confirmed in Christ are daily called to be such witnesses of the Risen Lord. We must help others recognize His abiding presence through the holiness and integrity of our lives and the generous service we offer to the community and those in most need. With God’s grace, may the example of our lives let everyone know that we in the Diocese of Raleigh are disciples of Jesus Christ and are on fire with the gift of the Holy Spirit!