Rite of Confirmation: The Renewal of Baptismal Promises

Joe Paprocki Junior High, Liturgy and Sacraments

Confirmation Preparation Class

For our next (and final) Confirmation Intensive, we are focusing on the Rite of Confirmation which includes the following:

  • the Presentation of the Candidates
  • the Bishop’s Homily
  • the Renewal of Baptismal Promises
  • the Laying on of Hands and the Anointing with Chrism
  • the General Intercessions

I’m currently sharing with you what I’m developing for each of these 5 elements of the Rite (the kids will exerience five, 15-minute mini-sessions, one on each of the 5 elements). We continue today with the Renewal of Baptismal Promises.

Renewal of Baptismal Promises

  • Explain to the young people that following the bishop’s homily at the Confirmation Mass, he will invite them to stand and to renew their baptismal promises.
  • Show a picture of your own (or one of your children’s baptisms) and explain that since most of us were baptized as infants, someone else (our godparents and parents) responded on our behalf.
  • Explain that when the light of Christ was handed to us at baptism, it was held by one of our godparents as the priest prayed the following words:

Receive the light of Christ. Parents and god-parents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ. He/she is to walk always as a child of the light. May he/she keep the flame of faith alive in their heart. When the Lord comes, may he/she go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom.

  • Tell them that now they are old enough to be entrusted with the light of Christ that they received in baptism.
  • Call them forward one at a time by name to take a vigil candle (battery operated  from the prayer center and to go to a place in the room (on the floor if they wish) where they can be alone (tell them it’s their “sacred space” – at least 10 feet away from anyone else)
  • Play Pachelbel quietly in background.
  • Turn off the lights. (use a mini-flashlight to lead the reflection)
  • Lead the Reflection on the Renewal of Baptismal Promises.
  • When finished, turn on the lights, have them return the battery operated vigil lights to the prayer center and give them a real tea light candle to take home with them as a reminder that they are being entrusted with the light of Christ.
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About Joe Paprocki 2742 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

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6 Comments

  1. Is there a resource with guided meditations I could purchase? I’d love to start using them with my grade 6 class (Vancouver, Canada) but don’t have the time to start writing my own. Thanks!
    Faith Maier

    Reply

  2. This site is amazing! I am teaching a Confirmation Class with 7-9 children in 3rd though 7th grade. I have minimal resources. Thank you for this info. I’ve got two questoins:

    1. How can I get a complete set of your Confirmation Intensives?

    2. I bought our class a TV/DVD/VCR. Can you recommend any DVDs with 15 minute segments on things like the parables, sacraments, etc. that I can use to wake the kids up after I’ve put them to sleep?

    Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

    Reply

    • Thanks, Brad. I’m sure you don’t put them to sleep!!! If you look at my posts beginning in early to mid-December, 2008 through the end of January, 2009, you’ll find all 5 Confirmation intensives described in detail over the course of those weeks. As for videos, here is a link to a correlation of videos with the Finding God program which should be helpful for you.

      http://www.loyolapress.com/assets/fg/Finding-God-Video-Suggestions-Loyola-Press.pdf

      If not, contact your diocesan/archdiocesan media center (or one from a major archdiocese if your diocese does not have one) to get recommendations on videos. Thanks again!

      Reply

  3. i am a catecist for 20 more yrs. and i have recently been told , no more extended prayer times, no more experimentials… it breaks my heart, because i know this is what touches the depth of these kids, and now, i am forbidden to do it. iam hoping to be able to find a connective spirit thru only academic words.

    Reply

    • Anonymous, that is very sad indeed. What is catechesis without prayer? I hope you have an opportunity to address the situation with your DRE and ask for an explanation.

      Reply

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