St Stephen's Church, Skipton

Events - Confirmation Mass (22 November 2003)

OUT OF CONSIDERATION FOR DOWNLOAD TIMES, THIS EVENT IS DIVIDED INTO THREE PAGES:

>>>PRE-CONFIRMATION >> THE CONFIRMATION MASS >> POST-CONFIRMATION <<<

A photograph of the eleven Confirmandi with Bishop David, Fr Peter and Deacon King after the Confirmation Mass.

A wonderful Reception was hosted in the Presbytery after Mass and the Bishop chatted to many parents and parishioners, as well as each of the newly-Confirmed.

Deacon Malcolm King and his team of willing helpers who put on such a scrumptious Reception!

THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE LORD, THE GIVER OF LIFE...

Who is the Holy Spirit?

In his intimate life, God "is love," the essential love shared by the three divine Persons: personal love is the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of the Father and the Son. Therefore he "searches even the depths of God," as uncreated Love-Gift. It can be said that in the Holy Spirit the intimate life of the Triune God becomes totally gift, an exchange of mutual love between the divine Persons and that through the Holy Spirit God exists in the mode of gift. It is the Holy Spirit who is the personal expression of this self-giving, of this being-love. He is Person- Love. He is Person-Gift Here we have an inexhaustible treasure of the reality and an inexpressible deepening of the concept of person in God, which only divine Revelation makes known to us.

At the same time, the Holy Spirit, being consubstantial with the Father and the Son in divinity, is love and uncreated gift from which derives as from its source (fons vivus) all giving of gifts vis-a-vis creatures (created gift): the gift of existence to all things through creation; the gift of grace to human beings through the whole economy of salvation. As the Apostle Paul writes: "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us." - Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Dominum et Vivificantem (1986), art 10.

Why is the Spirit important to Christian Living?

The Holy Spirit is light and strength. He teaches us to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and between good and evil. Like glasses that magnify objects, the Holy Spirit shows us good and evil on a large scale. With the Holy Spirit we see everything in its true proportions; we see the greatness of the least actions done for God, and the greatness of the least faults.

The Holy Spirit is like a gardener cultivating our souls. . . . The Holy Spirit is our servant. . . . There is a gun; well you load it, but someone must fire it and make it go off. . . . In the same way, we have in ourselves the power of doing good. . . when the Holy Spirit gives the impulse, good works are produced. The Holy Spirit reposes in just souls like the dove in her nest. He brings out good desires in a pure soul, as the dove hatches her young ones. The Holy Spirit leads us as a mother leads by the hand her child of two years old, as a person who can see leads one who is blind.

The Sacraments which Our Lord instituted would not have saved us without the Holy Spirit. Even the death of Our Lord would have been useless to us without Him. Therefore Our Lord said to His Apostles, "It is good for you that I should go away; for if I did not go, the Consoler would not come. " The descent of the Holy Ghost was required, to render fruitful that harvest of graces. It is like a grain of wheat--you cast it into the ground; yes, but it must have sun and rain to make it grow and come into ear. We should say every morning, "O God, send me Thy Spirit to teach me what I am and what Thou art." - St John Vianney, the Cure d'Ars and patron saint of Parish Priests.
 

What are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, received primarily at Confirmation?

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are the permanent dispositions which help us to live the Christian life and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them.

How many are there and what are they?

There are seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit:
Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord

Why are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit important for us?

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are important for us because they help us to:
Make wise decisions about important matters
Understand the real meaning of life
Advise and help others to make the right decisions
Be strong to uphold and do what is right and to condemn and avoid what is wrong
To know the teaching of God and our true destiny
To give true worship and praise to God
To fear offending God who is our loving Father

What are the Fruits of the Holy Spirit?

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit are the virtues produced in our lives when we exercise the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

How many Fruits are there and what are they?

There are twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-control, Chastity.

When will we know that we are producing these Fruits in our lives?

We will know we are producing these Fruits in our lives when we are loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, generous, gentle, faithful, modest, when we exercise self-control and when we are chaste and pure.

For more on the Holy Spirit CLICK HERE!

“Come, Creator Spirit, you who are named the Paraclete:
gift of God most high, living fountain, fire, love and anointing for the soul.
Come, Holy Spirit, and fill with heavenly grace the hearts that you have made!”
 

>>>PRE-CONFIRMATION >> THE CONFIRMATION MASS >> POST-CONFIRMATION <<<