Several Our Lady of Lourdes youth will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at the 12:00 PM Mass this Mother’s Day weekend.   Bishop Emeritus Paul Loverde (retired Bishop of Arlington) will be the celebrant. 

When the Bishop anoints a Confirmation candidate with the sacred Chrism Oil (which was consecrated at the Chrism Mass last Holy Thursday), he says, “Be sealed with the Holy Spirit!”   When that happens, the holiness of a person’s Baptism is turned into Christ’s mission.  In other words:  Baptism makes us holy; Confirmation makes our holiness a mission!   Confirmation completes our Baptism.

Confirmation obliges us to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.  Like Baptism, it gives us an indelible mark, or seal, for all eternity.   In Confirmation, the Holy Spirit dwells more deeply in the soul.  Faith, hope, charity and the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are strengthened.

Confirmation also gives us a special strength and courage to persevere in the trials of the End Times.   As Jesus said: “When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say.  What you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you”  (Matthew 10:19-20).

Guard what you have received.  

God the Father has marked you with his sign; Christ the Lord has confirmed you and has placed his pledge, the Spirit, in your hearts.

(St. Ambrose, 4^th century)