Confirmation

“By the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence, they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obligated to spread the faith by word and deed.” Lumen Gentium, 1285

Our Confirmation Preparation is two years, 7th and 8th Grade.

Children must enroll with St. Veronica Religious Education, and

  1. St. Veronica Religious Education program -Typically for our children enrolled in public school
  2. St. Veronica Catholic School
  3. Another Catholic school (must register in the St. Veronica RE program designating Catholic school)
  4. Homeschooled for all of their academic subjects in addition to their Faith formation (must register in the St. Veronica RE program designating Homeschool)

In 7th Grade:

Students will begin with a review of the Creed, including:

  • Scriptures
  • God the Son as Redeemer and Savior
  • The Incarnation
  • The Kingdom of God
  • The Holy Spirit as Sanctifier (New material)

In addition, students will broaden their knowledge in these important aspects of the Faith:

  • The Sacraments
    • The definition, categories, and names of the Seven Sacraments
    • Sign, Minister, and effects of each Sacrament
    • Students are provided with several opportunities for Confession, one during Lent
  • Moral Life
    • God has called each of us by name to a life of holiness, in the state of grace
    • Each of us has a call to a particular vocation
  • Prayer
    • Prayer is necessary in order to grow in our faith in God, in our hope in Him, and in our love for Him and in this way to receive the grace necessary to be united with Him in heaven
    • The importance of participation in weekly (or more often!) Mass and Holy Days of Obligation
    • Students will be introduced (if they have not already) to Adoration and Benediction
    • Learn and memorize the prayers: Angelus, Memorare
    • Students will learn to pray the Stations of the Cross
    • Review the Liturgical Year, beginning in Advent, and ending with the Feast of Christ the King

There are prayers that the students will need to memorize over the course of the year in 7th Grade:

The Angelus

The Memorare

The names of the Stations of the Cross

In 8th Grade:

Students will expand their learning of the Creed:

  • Sacred Scripture and Tradition
  • Catholic Beliefs and traditions are rooted in Scripture and Tradition
  • The Church safeguards, interprets and teaches the Word of God for all people and all times
  • The truths revealed by God are chiefly those summarized in the Apostles’ Creed.
  • Review of Jesus as the Savior, the Christ
  • The Ascension of Jesus is the entry of Jesus’ humanity into God’s Heavenly domain
  • Review/Teach the Marian Dogmas
  • Review Jesus as the Judge (both immediate and general judgement)
  • Jesus founded the Catholic Church
  • Review of the four marks of the Catholic Church
  • The authority of the Catholic Church
  • The Holy Spirit, the Third Divine Person of the Blessed Trinity
  • Who we are as members of the Catholic Church

The Sacraments

  • Review the definition of a Sacrament
  • Review the different kinds of grace
  • Review the Sacraments and focus on the Sacraments of Initiation
  • Students are provided with several opportunities for Confession, one during Lent

Moral Life

  • The Church was founded for the salvation of souls
  • The cardinal virtues
  • Review the Ten Commandments
  • Review the Beatitudes
  • Review and memorize the Precepts of the Church
  • Memorize the Coporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
  • Works of Mercy Service Project
  • Review how to live the Sacramental Life: to participate in the Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation and to receive the Eucharist when worthily prepared, to receive the Sacrament of Confession when in the state of mortal sin and annually in preparation for Easter communion.

Prayer

  • Students must choose a Patron Saint for their Confirmation.
  • Students learn that the Eucharistic presence remains as long as the species remain, and is kept in a tabernacle.
  • Students learn Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Students will memorize many prayers, including:

Come Holy Spirit

The Divine Praises