St. Andrew's Catholic Church
401 S Willow St Ellensburg WA 98926
Why the Sacrament of Confirmation?
Prior to his ascension into heaven, Jesus told his apostles that he would send them the Holy Spirit to be their advocate and guide, and on the Feast of Pentecost, the promised gift of the Holy Spirit fell on the apostles and the Virgin Mary as they prayed in the Upper Room, empowering them to be witnesses of Jesus in the world. “The Sacrament of Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us to bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds.” (CCC 1316) “Confirmation, like Baptism, imprints a spiritual mark or indelible character on the Christian’s soul; for this reason one can receive this sacrament only once in one’s life.” (CCC 1317)
What is the role of a Confirmation Sponsor?
Just as sponsor for baptism takes upon himself/herself the responsibility of helping the newly baptized person mature in the living a Christian life and offers his or her own life and practice of the faith as an example of faith, prayer and service within the Catholic Church, the Sponsor for Confirmation continues that work for the person who is to be confirmed. The Sacrament of Confirmation also creates a strong spiritual bond between the one who is confirmed and the sponsor. The sponsor should be committed to trying to be a part of the confirmandi’slife by presence and prayer always realizing that a sponsor’s prayers for that person are especially efficacious before Almighty God. One’s “yes” to be a sponsor for Confirmation is not just a “yes” to the candidate, but also a serious commitment to God in taking on this obligation.
What are the requirements of the Church for being a Confirmation sponsor?
- A sponsor must be someone other than the parent of the one to be confirmed.
- A sponsor must have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.
- A sponsor must be at least 16 years of age and may be male or female regardless of the sex of the candidate.
- A sponsor must be leading a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken; therefore, if married, must be married in the Church and if single, must be striving to live a chaste life and therefore cannot be living with a person outside of marriage.
- A sponsor must be a practicing Catholic, registered in a parish, who regularly attends Mass on Sundays and Holy Days and receives the Holy Eucharist.
About Confirmation Names
Confirmation names are a special part of the confirmation process for Roman Catholics. Before the ritual of being confirmed, those seeking confirmation choose to take a saint's name with whom they identify. After confirmation the confirmed can pray to the saint for guidance and protection.
Significance
Confirmation is a rite or sacrament in the Christian tradition. Coming from the New Testament, confirmation is related to the receiving of the Holy Spirit by the apostles on Pentecost. At the time of confirmation, the Holy Spirit is thought to descend on the person and bestow spiritual gifts.
Features
Roman Catholics going through confirmation choose a saint they feel an affinity for as their confirmation name. The patron saint then serves as their guide and protector.
Considerations
The common advice for those trying to decide on a name is to research saint names and find one that fits their personality or spiritual goals. Those seeking confirmation are also encouraged to pray and seek a saint that is willing to guide them as they seek a closer relationship with God.
How to Choose A Saints Name
During the Catholic sacrament of Confirmation, God the Holy Spirit comes upon you to bestow numerous spiritual gifts and "confirm" the faith given you in Baptism when Original Sin was wiped away. You choose a Confirmation name before Confirmation. This new name, imposed by the bishop during Confirmation, becomes a part of your full name. It comes after your first and middle names and before the last name.
- Find a list of canonized saints in the Roman Catholic Church by reading a book or doing online research. Saints are people who have lived holy lives and are now in heaven. Their life stories provide examples for others on how to overcome spiritual obstacles on Earth
- Pray to the Holy Spirit, and ask Him for help in finding a saint whose life you'd like to imitate. This saint will be bonded with you spiritually, and in essence becomes your heavenly patron who intercedes for you before God.
- Narrow your selection to 1 saint. They will be your new Confirmation name. Think about the specific virtues those saints exhibited, such as patience, perfection, diligence, humility, mortification, meekness, obedience, prayer, charity or simplicity. Find a virtue that connects with you.
- Consider the one or two special stories told about that saint on your "short" list to help you find a spiritual connection. For example, St. Maximilian Kobe gave up his life for another person's life in a German concentration camp during World War II, and so showed the virtue of selflessness. St. Francis, a spiritual leader who founded a religious order, led a simple life of poverty and greatly loved animals.
- Pray to the saint whose name you will be using as your Confirmation name. Ask this saint to intercede for you, to help you make the right moral choices, and overall to be a powerful spiritual guide the rest of your life.
- Write a 1 page paper describing who you picked, why you picked them, and a summary of their life. Turn the paper in on Nov. 15, 2017.
Confirmation Candidate-Sponsor Information
Confirmation Candidate: ______
Confirmation Sponsor: ______
Relationship to Candidate: ______
Sponsor’s Address: ______
Sponsor’s Phone #: ______Sponsor’s Email: ______
Sponsor’s Church:______
Pastor at Sponsor’s Church: ______
Year & Place of Sponsors Confirmation: ______
Questions for the Sponsor
Have you received all three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist?
□Yes□ No
If married, are you married in the Catholic Church? If single, are you attempting to live according to the moral teachings of the Church (not cohabiting/living with anyone outside of marriage)?
□No□ Yes
Are you a practicing Catholic, regularly attending Sunday Mass and receiving at least yearly Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
□Yes□ No
Are you attempting to live in conformity with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Church and witnessing to your faith in your daily life?
□No□ Yes
Do you understand and accept the responsibility of being a sponsor for the confirmation candidate named above, supporting him/her by your prayer and example in living the Catholic faith?
□Yes□ No
As God is my witness, I swear that I have answered all of the above questions truthfully and meet the qualifications to be a sponsor for Confirmation and that I am truthfully filling out these papers as a candidate.
______
Signature of Sponsor Signature of Sponsor
______
DateDate
Please write your Saint Name Paper here. Or type it up and staple to this page. If you choose to handwrite it and I am unable to read it you will have o type it up and turn it in again.
Due NOV. 15, 2017 in class