From the CCC:
1830 The moral life of Christians is sustained by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
1831 The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. They belong in their fullness to Christ, Son of David.109 They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations.
- Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.110For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God . . . If children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.111
1832 The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: "charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity."112
Let us be honest and face the fact that most of the adolescents who have received these gifts are not exhibiting them. Why?
Several reasons may be delineated.
One, the formation necessary for children after baptism is not occurring in most Catholic families, which is the meaning of my Pentecost Poem below. Formation begins immediately, in the womb and especially after baptism. The cardinal virtues are given at baptism, as are many other gifts. Without early formation, those gifts listed above, which COMPLETE and PERFECT the virtues lie dormant.
Parents have the primary responsibility for the early spiritual formation of their children.
Two, the conveyor belt so-called preparation for Confirmation may include as few as four classes in Great Britain, although usually more in the States, even as many as 24 over a year of prep. Those dioceses here in GB which only demand 4-6 classes cannot expect the Confirmands to be open and ready for the fullness of grace which comes through the sacrament. The deceit of the preparation which does not even demand a break with mortal sin stops all grace from becoming active. Some places still do not have Confession as a requirement for Confirmation prep.
Three, those who are giving the prep may not be living the life of virtues themselves and, therefore, cannot lead those under them to the completion and perfection of baptismal grace. If one has not experienced the flowing of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in one's own life, how can one lead others to the appropriate mind-set and state of the soul to receive Confirmation properly?
Four, too much emphasis is on the receiving of the gifts outside the context of baptism and the fact that Confirmation, being one of the three Sacraments of Initiation, must be understood as a continuum of a life of grace from baptism and nurtured by the Holy Eucharist. This does not seem to be understood by some teachers. Confirmation is here further explained in context from the CCC:
1302 It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.
1303 From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:
- it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!";117
- it unites us more firmly to Christ;
- it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;
- it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;118
- it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross:119
- 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.120
1305 This "character" perfects the common priesthood of the faithful, received in Baptism, and "the confirmed person receives the power to profess faith in Christ publicly and as it were officially (quasi Ex officio)."122
The signature mode of power should be evident after the reception of the sacrament. Like the inspiration of the Spirit into the world at Creation, the young persons should reflect a newness of life and resolve, as well as creativity. Such words as being born in the spirit or being a soldier of Christ are not poetry, but real. A person is changed ontologically and this major change should be manifested.
Lastly, one must ask if there are obstacles in the person's soul which stop the graces being operative. There is a need for spiritual direction, not merely teaching, in Confirmation prep. Some reasons have already been outlined here as blocks to grace, but there may be more of a personal nature, such as fear, abuse, gross ignorance, or even demonic blocks caused by young people getting involved in the occult. Such blockages need to be addressed. If a change is not seen after the administering of the sacrament, a team must stop and review preparation. Power and peace, as well as the completion and, at least, the beginning of the perfection of the virtues, should be obvious.
If not, something is wrong, and Pentecost is lost.
