I have given confirmation classes to teenagers for 7 years, ever since I was 19... and each year I've had the feeling I didn't teach them enough. Confirmation here is so much still part of a tradition that many children go through a ritual at 12 or 13 without knowing the true meaning of the sacrament. We try, each time, to teach them enough. To teach them the basics. To at least teach them what Christianity is....
Some of these children come to our meetings not even knowing what is celebrated at christmas or easter. And I mean that literally... they do not know that it even refers to Christ. Each year, however, it is a blessing when we can see them instilled with the Holy Spirit, and see some lives indeed changed forever. I have followed your threads eagerly, finding them a well to refresh my own enthousiasm from.
Here in Belgium, it's a tradition at the day of confirmation to exchange little cards as a memory of this special day. They are kept as keepsakes, almost heirlooms sometimes. In my mothers old massbook, that is here on the shelf next to me, two cards are resting side by side.
One of my mother in 1963 saying:
'All of my life, I will think back with joy and gratitude at the day of my first public confirmation of Faith. By Gods mercy on this day I have forsaken the devil and his works and idleness, and I have confirmed my Faith the way my Godfather and Godmother did in my name at my baptism.'
Mine, a bit more modern dates from 1988 and says:
on the front: 'Send me Your Spirit, and the strength of Your love'.
and on the back: 'Everywhere where love is, turns what is cold into warmth and what is dry becomes fresh. Teach us through Your Spirit, that Your Love, is Life.'
I treasure those cards, and hope that one day the card of my daughter or son may join these two in the massbook.
Anyhow... I do not know if this tradition also lives in other countries, but for this special day, I wanted to give you one. Know that many prayers will go up with you, and that many will be with you in spirit today. If you want something added, a name, or if you want text or picture changed, please just say the word.
Be loved and blessed, BAChristian.
Eva
Some of these children come to our meetings not even knowing what is celebrated at christmas or easter. And I mean that literally... they do not know that it even refers to Christ. Each year, however, it is a blessing when we can see them instilled with the Holy Spirit, and see some lives indeed changed forever. I have followed your threads eagerly, finding them a well to refresh my own enthousiasm from.
Here in Belgium, it's a tradition at the day of confirmation to exchange little cards as a memory of this special day. They are kept as keepsakes, almost heirlooms sometimes. In my mothers old massbook, that is here on the shelf next to me, two cards are resting side by side.
One of my mother in 1963 saying:
'All of my life, I will think back with joy and gratitude at the day of my first public confirmation of Faith. By Gods mercy on this day I have forsaken the devil and his works and idleness, and I have confirmed my Faith the way my Godfather and Godmother did in my name at my baptism.'
Mine, a bit more modern dates from 1988 and says:
on the front: 'Send me Your Spirit, and the strength of Your love'.
and on the back: 'Everywhere where love is, turns what is cold into warmth and what is dry becomes fresh. Teach us through Your Spirit, that Your Love, is Life.'
I treasure those cards, and hope that one day the card of my daughter or son may join these two in the massbook.
Anyhow... I do not know if this tradition also lives in other countries, but for this special day, I wanted to give you one. Know that many prayers will go up with you, and that many will be with you in spirit today. If you want something added, a name, or if you want text or picture changed, please just say the word.
Be loved and blessed, BAChristian.
Eva
very nice!
