Expert: J.M.J. West - 6/16/2008

Question
I've been preparing for Confirmation for quite some time.  My sponsor has brought me closer to Christ and I pray the rosary more often. What are other things that I can do to prepare for this sacrament of initiation?

Answer
Cassie,

Congratulations on being Confirmed in the Church.  I don't know how old you are, which might influence my recommendations a bit, but the following is good measure:

1) Make sure you know your faith.  Sites like www.catholic.com and www.scripturecatholic.com will help you come to a more full understanding of the faith and all that it teaches.  Know your faith and live it daily.

2) Find a saint you're attracted to, learn about them, and consider taking them as your patron/confirmation name.  http://www.catholic.org/saints/ might be helpful for that.

3) Understand what confirmation is about, and what gifts it imparts.  http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/confirm.html

4) Pray.  Try attending an hour of Eucharistic Adoration  per week (many parishes offer this often, some even "perpetually", meaning that the blessed sacrament is exposed 24/7).  You might enjoy using something like the Liturgy of the Hours (cf. www.universalis.com or buy a copy at http://www.amazon.com/Christian-Prayer-Catholic-Book-Publishing/dp/0899424066/go...)

5) Go to Confession.  You are basically required to go yearly anyway, but it's very good to go before receiving such a blessing as the sacrament of Confirmation.

6) Got to Mass.  Go regularly at the very least, (It's your weekly obligation as a Catholic anyway, so make sure you don't skip it.  Skipping mass intentionally is a mortal sin requiring confession), if you have the ability go you might try to attend an extra mass during the week sometime.

That should get you pretty covered!  I'd love to know when you join (and how old you are and what your saint will be), so feel free to respond if you like (my email is aphisherofmen at gmail dot com).

Pax Christi (Peace of Christ),

-J.M.J. West