An Explanation of the Ceremonies and
of the Wonderful Effects of the
Sacrament of Confirmation
By
A Sister of Charity of Providence
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CONFIRMATION
What should we do to obtain the Gifts of the Holy Spirit?
First, we should earnestly desire Him to increase these gifts in us, and confidently trust that He will do so.
Second, we should make such a good confession that He will wish to fill our purified heart with His love.
Third, we should, as the Apostles did, prepare for His coming by silence and prayer. Let us, like them, beg our Blessed Mother to intercede for us with Him. He is ready enough to come to us with an increase of His gifts and fruits, yet He wishes to be invited, and even pressed to come. Prayer is the golden key to His treasure chamber.
If we are faithful to prepare as did the Apostles for His coming, the Holy Spirit will not fail to work a change in our heart also. There will be no noise of a mighty wind, nor vision of fiery tongues, for these were needed only for the people on the outside. These exterior signs
attracted and interested them in what was going on, and made them willing to listen to the preaching o£ the Apostles and be converted. In our heart, the Holy Spirit will work silently. He will inflame us with His love, and stir us to do good, and transform us as He did the Apostles. We are told that so great was the help given them when they were confirmed, they never again committed a mortal sin. This shows not only the abundance of grace given them, but also the wholeheartedness and loyalty of their cooperation.
As the Holy Spirit gave miraculous power to the speech of the Apostles after their Confirmation, so that people of different countries might understand them and be converted; so too will He let us speak a language which will be understood and will convert all with whom we live. This will be the language of our good example.
If our companions see us doing what is right,—studying our lessons, being obedient, kind and patient, keeping silence where we should, saying our prayers devoutly, going to Holy Mass, receiving Holy Communion frequently, visiting our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament often,—they will be led to do the same, and we shall, by the Holy Spirit’s help, be little apostles too, making other souls love and please God better.
Lastly, after their Confirmation the Apostles were ready to suffer anything rather than deny their faith. They even rejoiced to be scourged and put in prison that they might thereby prove their love for Jesus and their loyalty to Him. If we worthily receive this Sacrament of the Holy Ghost we too shall be enabled to endure any suffering, any persecution, and even martyrdom itself, in defense of our faith. Our only fear will be lest we should ever become cowardly or disloyal soldiers of Jesus, for nothing is so disgraceful as a Catholic who is ashamed of his faith, or is so cowardly as to deny it. Let us therefore prepare as fervently as did the Apostles for the reception of this sacrament, and the Holy Spirit will come Himself with His great Gift of Fortitude, and will make us His firm and faithful children.
