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Resources:

Confirmation

This page offers videos, textbooks, and web sites on the sacrament of Confirmation.

 

Videos...available from the Media Centers

VC 2173*                   Confirmation: Rite for Life                                            JS*

cds                                (Oblate Media, 2004, 30 minutes)

In this two-part presentation a complete history of the sacrament unfolds beginning with Pentecost.  Its evolution

is traced through the centuries.  All of the essential elements of the sacrament are shown and explained in

detail.  The role of sponsors in both Anglo and Latino parishes is included.  There are interviews with experts

and reflections by young people who have been confirmed.

 

VC 2147                    Confirmation: Past & Present                                      SA

cds                               (Twenty-Third Publications, 2004, 30 minutes)

In this video Kathleen Chesto takes the viewer through the history and development of the sacrament of Confirmation from biblical times to post-Vatican II.  She explains Confirmation in light of Baptism and the initiation process.  She presents her content based on how the Spirit, historically, speaks to the Church and how this sacrament connects to that process.

 

VC 2032                    Forming Confirmation Sponsors                                SA

cds                               (St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2002, 23 minutes)

This Catholic Update Video is designed to offer insights and encouragement to those who accompany young people in the journey of initiation as confirmation sponsors. The story segment, witness, teaching, and music and prayer segments offer fresh insights into the importance of the sponsor's role.

 

VC 1991                    The Spirit Sets us Free                                                    A

cds                                (Sadlier, 2001, 22 minutes)

This video presentation explains sacramental catechesis and the effect that it can have in renewing a parish. It illustrates how sacramental catechesis draws upon the liturgy to enrich and inform the people who participate. Sr. Linda Gaupin and Fr J-Glenn Murray provide expert commentary. They examine the strengths of sacramental catechesis and model it at a conference as catechesis for Confirmation. While the video was prepared to accompany "The Spirit Sets Us Free" it is generic enough in nature to offer good insights into the meaning of sacramental catechesis.

 

VC 1967.01               Sacrament of Confirmation                                            IJSA

cds                                (St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2001, 48 minutes)

This video contains four segments: story, witness, teaching and musical reflection. A leader's guide is included.

 

VC 1964                    Sacraments of Initiation                                                    JS

cds                                (Oblate Media, 2001, 30 minutes)

This is the first of a three-part series, SACRAMENTS, GOD'S AMAZING GRACE, which covers all the sacraments. The presenter helps the viewer see that sacraments are not really "magic moments" but an opening to the reality of God's presence in our everyday life. This tape covers Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, the Sacraments of Initiation.

 

VC 1772                    The Spirit and Confirmation                                            IJ

cds                                (St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1999, 28 minutes)

This two-tape set explores several themes of the Spirit and challenges us to see the Spirit revealed as giver of life, giver of gifts and keeper of promise. Part one explores these themes:
Who is the Spirit?
When has the Spirit been present in salvation history?
What are our experiences of the Spirit in our daily living, in the life of Jesus, the Church and world?
How do we name our gifts in the service of others?
What are the fruits of the Spirit? Part two explores these themes:
What is the work of the Spirit?
What scriptural images speak of the Spirit?
What are the traditional seven gifts of the Spirit?
How do we ritually celebrate the presence of the Holy spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation?
How does the Spirit breathe in the Sacraments of Initiation?

 

VC 1769                    Who is the Spirit?                                                                PI

cds                                (St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1999, 11 minutes)

This video invites children to become more familiar with the working of the Holy Spirit as friend, helper and teacher of the message of Jesus. In the life of the Spirit received in Baptism, children explore the gestures and actions of Confirmation and discover how to use their gifts for others in making the world a better place.

 

VC 1531                    Sacraments of Initiation                                                   JS

Cds                             (Ikonographics, 1997)                      12 minutes

Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, the sacraments of initiation, demand that we let go of our self-absorption, strengthen ourselves in faith and help feed the world. This video uses story, Jesus’ life and ritual actions of the believing community to cal us to grow in Christ. The explanations and connections of the three sacraments are clear and concise.

 

VC 1528                    Promise                                                                                JSA

Ds                               (Ikonographics, 15 minutes)

This is the story of Mattie and her memories of her grandfather who was always true to his word. He influenced Mattie, an ordinary girl, to make and keep promises in her life and in them, discover God. It is the story of commitment at different times in life and in one’s sacramental moments, and serves as a vehicle for reflecting on Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, and the promises that have come from the different accounts of God’s relationship with God’s people.

 

VC 1471                    Confirmation: Be Sealed with the Spirit                       SA

Cds                             (Brown-ROA, 1996, 60 minutes)

Each of the six segments in this video has two five minute segments:

Episode 1: Preparing for Confirmation and Who is Jesus?

Episode 2: Teamwork and Being a Disciple

Episode 3: Living the Gospel and the Gameplan

Episode 4: Jesus at Work Today and Service

Episode 5: A Sense of the Spirit and the Gifts

Episode 6: The Rite of Confirmation and Making the Choice

 

VC 1469                    Confirmation: A Student’s Approach                           JSA

C                                 (Video Production Group, 1996, 50 minutes)

Bishop Cark K. Moeddel, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, was interviewed by students from 17 parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati about the sacrament of Confirmation. The interview was directed by Debbie McLaughlin and Kris Schoettmer of St. Ignatius parish. This video includes the interview, the Mass and Confirmation ceremony at St. Ignatius, and excerpts from the Confirmation and liturgy at St. Williams parish.

 

VC 1460.07               Living in God: Trinity, Holy Spirit, Confirmation        SA

Cds                             (CTND, 1996, 30 Minutes)

This is one of eleven videos translating the teaching and message of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in such a way that individuals or groups will feel engaged in a dialogue of faith. Msgr. John Zenz gives teachings that readily connect with daily life and applies the Catechism to concrete realities of our spiritual, professional and family life.

 

VC 1430                    Service—The Church’s Greatest Vice                          J

Cd                               (Mass Media, 20 Minutes)

Teenage hosts of this program use jokes, puns, and slapstick to “sneak” in a serious message—the importance of serving others. Jesus’ command to serve is explored in short humorous skits that show how little value we place on service and how we ignore opportunities to serve.

 

VC 1408                    Understanding the Sacraments                                     SA

Cds                             (St. Anthony Messenger, 30 minutes)

This program which is part of the Catholic Update Video series, provides insight and inspiration for the celebration of the sacraments. In the story segment (10 Minutes) viewers meet Nancy and Conrad, parents of five children. They speak of how they have come to understand sacrament through the events in their lives.  In the witness segment (5 minutes) ordinary people of faith tell how they have experienced God through prayer, signs and communal worship. Fr. Tom Richstatter, in the teaching segment (7 minutes) leads us to an understanding of God as present in the Body of Christ and the sacraments and liturgy are expressions of that Body.

 

VC 1296,02               Confirmation: Sacrament of Strengthening               IJ

Cds                             (Ikonographics, 14 minutes)

Challenging young people to remember Jesus’ love and to serve others, Gaynell Cronin and Fr. Jack Rathschmidt use the actions of daily living, Jesus’ life and the ritual actions of the believing community to call us to grow in Christ. Confirmation challenges us to move past our weaknesses and sins into a deeper communion to Christ.

 

VC 1247                    Christopher Course for Young People                        JSA

Cds                             (The Christophers, 1994)

This five session process for developing leadership skills can supplement Confirmation preparation for teens and pre-teens. This course can help teens tell their faith stories to one another.

 

VC 1199                    Confirmation: A Commitment to Life                            JS

Cds                             (Liguori Publications, 57 minutes)

Father Joe Kempf leads a group of students as they prepare for Confirmation. In a series of six vignettes each three to eleven minutes, these young people explore issues that they face.

__________________________________________________________________________

 

 * The usage codes for the videos are as follows: A = Adults; E = Early Childhood; I = Intermediate; J = Junior High; P = Primary; and S = Senior High.

*   Cds = Media Center Codes:  C = Cincinnati; D = Dayton; S = Sidney

 

 

 

Textbooks on Confirmation

 

 The Media Center has available all of the materials from the 2004 “Preferred Religion Textbook/Program List”:

  

Ave Maria Press

 

Benziger

 

Good Ground Press

 

Harcourt Religion Publishers

 

Pflaum Publishing Group

 

Living the Good News

 

Loyola

 

RCL

 

Sadlier

 

Silver Burdett Ginn

 

St. Mary's Press

 

Websites on Confirmation

 

The Sacrament of Confirmation: What's it all about? By Tom Sullivan.  A good history and overview of the sacrament: http://www.ewtn.com/library/CATECHSM/CONFIRM1.HTM

 

Who May Receive Confirmation and What is the Proper Age? By Nicholas Halligan.  Answers taken from the Code of Canon Law, the Catechism and The Administration of Sacraments.

http://www.ewtn.com/library/DOCTRINE/AGECONF.TXT

 

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops have a ten question quiz (with answers) on the Sacrament of Confirmation.

            http://www.usccb.org/catechism/quizzes/confirmation.htm

 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1997 edition) includes a large section on the Sacrament of Confirmation. Here is this section of the catechism on-line from the Bishops’ web site: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt1art2.htm

 

The Vatican’s Office of the Catechism provides links on every aspect of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

age for receiving, 1307-08
apostolate of the laity and, 900, 941
character of, 698, 1121, 1304-05, 1317
New Law and, 1210
preparation and purposes for, 1309
priesthood of the Christian faithful and, 1546
salvation and, 1286-92
significance of, 1289
state required for receiving, 1310, 1318-19
who may receive the sacrament of, 1306-11
witness and, 2472

Confirmation and the sacraments
    Christian initiation and, 695, 1212, 1275, 1285, 1533

effects of Confirmation
    increase of baptismal grace, 1303, 1316
    indelible character of, 1304-05, 1317
    the outpouring of the Spirit, 1302
    the Seal and, 698, 1121

Rite of Confirmation, 1297-301
    anointing, 695, 1242, 1291, 1294, 1300, 1523
    celebration separate from Baptism, 1233, 1290, 1321
    to be conferred only once, 1304
    godfather and godmother, 1311
    handing over of the Lord's Prayer, 2769
    Holy chrism, 1297
    laying on of hands, 1288
    minister of, 1312-14, 1318
    signs and rites of, 1293-301, 1320

 

St. Anthony Messenger Press newsletters and articles on Confirmation are available here.

http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Sacraments/Confirmation.asp

 

Diocese of Richmond, Virginia Bishop Walter Sullivan wrote an article on

Confirmation for the April 29,2002 issue of The Catholic Virginian. It is a PDF file available here.

http://www.richmonddiocese.org/tidings/TID042102_Conf2002.pdf

 

Ministry & Liturgy Magazine “Confirmation. A Sacrament in Search of a

Theology.” By Frank Karl.  http://www.rpinet.com/ml/2803conf.html

 

 Last Updated: 4/1/2006