Confirmation is a two-year sacramental program for seventh and eighth graders. If you have a question concerning the requirements for the reception of Confirmation, please contact the Religious Education Office at717-766-2472.
In the Sacrament of Confirmation, we are sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit to increase and deepen the gifts that are given to us in Baptism. Through Confirmation we become more fully the adopted children of God; we are rooted more deeply in Christ and in the life of His Church; we are given the special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the Faith as true witnesses, to confess the name of Christ boldly in season and out of season, and never to be ashamed of the Cross of our salvation.
What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit? The gifts of the Holy Spirit are revealed to us by the Propet Isaiah (Isaiah 11:2-3) as wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord.
Saint Ambrose (d. 397) speaks beautifully about the gifts of the Spirit: “Recall then that you have received the spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear in God’s presence. 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.”