How to Prepare for a Catholic Confirmation
The Roman Catholic sacrament of confirmation is the final stage of initiation into the Catholic faith. Historically, confirmation occurred in union with baptism and the first reception of eucharist, or "First Communion." Over time the initiation sacraments were separated and administered at different times. This was considered necessary when the primary recipients were children who would grow in understanding. Today, adults seeking to become Catholics will have the three administered together once again in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, the RCIA. An already-baptized Christian who seeks confirmation will also be prepared through the RCIA.
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Instructions
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Preparing for confirmation means becoming part of the preparation process known as the RCIA, or Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. If the person seeking confirmation is a college student, he should contact his office of University Ministry for information on the RCIA program at school. Most campus ministry programs offer the RCIA each academic year for students seeking either the complete initiation sacraments or confirmation alone if it was never received. At a public university, the Catholic campus ministry is usually called a Newman Center.
If the person is an adult not in college, he should inquire at his local parish about their RCIA program or, if necessary, individual preparation with a catechist for the sacrament. A catechist is a teacher authorized to teach and prepare candidates for confirmation and other rites. Most parishes have yearly RCIA programs.
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Talk with your local parish priest or the director of religious education at the parish to find out about upcoming confirmation classes. If you are in college, talk with the staff in the campus ministry office for information about preparing by joining their RCIA program for the year. Most preparation programs begin in September and run through the academic year, even in parishes.
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Ask a practicing Catholic whose faith you admire to be your sponsor for the period of preparation for confirmation. The Catholic Church requires a sponsor for candidates, whether minors or adults. These are people who are prepared to accompany you on the spiritual journey, vouch for your sincerity in seeking the sacrament, stand with you as you receive the sacrament, and continue to be available to you afterward as needed as a kind of spiritual father or mother. This is an ancient practice and goes back to the earliest days of the church, when it was considered necessary to have someone who could verify the sincerity and likelihood of a person continuing in the faith even in the face of persecution.
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Prepare to spend several months attending classes and possibly attending a retreat to be considered fully ready for the commitment that confirmation represents in the eyes of the church. Once completed, confirmation of adults usually takes place in the spring during the Easter Vigil.
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Being confirmed during the Easter Vigil is the culmination of your preparation, a celebration that takes place on Holy Saturday night, the night before Easter, just as was common in the earliest days of the church. In the case of special needs such as health, travel or other circumstance that might warrant it, permission may be granted to receive the sacrament of confirmation at a more convenient time.
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Tips & Warnings
Study the book "Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults," available at both religious bookstores and secular bookstores with religion sections, as well as online. This is an excellent resource to have and review before beginning your sacramental journey to understand the process that will unfold.
Another excellent source is the official Catechism of the Catholic Church. A catechism is a primer --- it contains the basics for church doctrine and practice. Buy the catechism at bookstores, or read online free at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website, Usccb.org.
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