Confirmation Ceremony Details

Since confirmation is the affirmation of faith, it signifies that the young person has accepted their faith and will continue to serve the Lord. In the eyes of the church, a pre-teen or teen that goes through a confirmation ceremony is an adult and is responsible for their own decisions. In most churches the ceremony is conducted every year or so.

Confirmation may take place during a traditional mass or during a non-traditional mass. When the participant and their sponsor approach the pastor, priest or bishop, the ceremony begins in earnest. A Catholic tradition is to place the sign of the cross on the participant’s forehead and recite the phrase "be sealed with the gift of the holy spirit."

Confirmation Scripture

There are many verses in the bible that support the spiritual ideal of confirmation. Some of these will be read during the confirmation ceremony whereas others can be engraved on a gift or even incorporated into a special family prayer.

Here are two poignant examples of poetic scripture, perfect for celebrating confirmation.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 - But the one who gives us security with you in Christ and who anointed us is God; he has also put his seal upon us and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.

Ephesians 1:13 - In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit.

To read a more complete list of confirmation scripture options, visit the website of The Veritas Project.

Confirmation Prayers and Songs

It’s not a mystery that the confirmation ceremony involves music and specially crafted prayers. The ceremony is very meaningful; not a dry recitation, but an emotional rite of passage.

Here’s an example of a confirmation prayer used at St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

Spirit of God, grant me:
The gift of wisdom
To see the world through your eyes,
The gift of counsel
To make difficult decisions,
The gifts of knowledge and understanding
To use my mind to know you and to love you,
The gift of fortitude
To have the courage to live in the faith
Despite the difficulties and disappointments,
The gift of piety
To be able to express my special love
And commitment to you,
And the right kind of awesome fear
That makes me pause to wonder and revere
God’s Love.
Amen.

If you don’t already have a favorite hymn or a piece of Christian music that speaks to you, just listen to a sampling of pieces to get a feel for what you like. This list by Worship Together is a great start.