STUFF TO KNOW
This is the head-knowledge we should have for tonight's topic. These questions are based on Diocese of Rockford Confirmation guidelines, and you'll probably recognize them from the Confirmation Quizzes we do during some of our Confirmation sessions.
- Who is God?
- What is the “central mystery” of our faith?
- What does it teach us about ourselves knowing that God is a Trinity of Divine Persons?
- Why do we think of God as a Father?
- Why did Jesus come down to earth only to suffer and die a terrible death?
- Why was Jesus’ Resurrection so important for us?
STUFF TO watch
Here's a video that takes a different angle on tonight's topic. Feel free to check it out, if you're interested.
STUFF TO TALK ABOUT
Our faith shouldn't just stay in our heads, but we should also let this knowledge sink into our hearts. After the Confirmation session is over, we encourage confirmandi and their parents and/or sponsor to discuss the following questions. These questions will help you reflect on and apply what you learned tonight to your life.
- What stuck out to you most from the Confirmation session? Why?
- We can't ever fully comprehend the Mystery of the Trinity because our brains would explode. But we can come to a greater understanding. In your own words, what do you think is the easiest way to understand or describe the Trinity?
- Knowing that God is -- in His very nature -- a relationship means we were created to be in relationship with God and with others. So how does this understanding of the Trinity change the way you view yourself? Others? Your relationships with others?
- God is a relationship in and of Himself, and He created us to be in a relationship with Him. How does this knowledge help to improve your relationship with the Lord? How might it change the way you pray?
STUFF TO DO
Our faith shouldn't just stay in our heads and hearts, but it should also significantly affect the way we live our lives. Here are some suggestions for how you could live out tonight's topic. We encourage you to pick at least one suggestion and commit to implementing it in your life. We also encourage parents and/or sponsors to make a commitment with their confirmandi.
- Glory Be. Do you know the "Glory Be" prayer? It invokes all three Persons of the Trinity. Consider saying this brief prayer every day. Pick a time of day, like while you're in the shower or while you're brushing your teeth before bed.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. - Social Media. Knowing that we are all brothers and sisters in the Lord, we are responsible for showing others kindness and love. This month, decide how you can show greater kindness and love to people on social media. For example, maybe you can make a point to comment on others' posts with encouraging words when they're having a bad day. Or maybe you could avoid posting negative content about others.
- Pray with Carpe Verbum. Knowing that you were created to be in relationship with the Lord, the best way to deepen your relationship with Him is to pray... every single day. We know that can be a challenge, and so we encourage you to try out this free, daily, step-by-step prayer resource called Carpe Verbum ("seize the word"). Carpe Verbum texts a new prayer and lock screen graphic to your phone every morning. See details below...
