(102A+B) CONFIRMATION AS SACRAMENTAL CHRISMATION

INVOCATION. (BISHOP:)   IN THE NAME OF GOD,   +FATHER,    +SON AND   +HOLY GHOST

CONGREGATION:  AMEN

The bishop speaks from the altar to those who shall receive the sacrament of confirmation, e. g:

Dear friend(s), sister(s), (and) brother(s), Let us sing or read and contemplate

PSALM 23. There is the old interreligious parable that our human nature is as a sheep

in the care of our eternal SPIRITUAL SELF who is then as our shepherd.

(Antiphon): The staff and rod of the Lord they comfort me. Blessed is the Name of the Lord

1 The Lord is my Shepherd: therefore can I lack nothing

2 He shall feed me in a green pasture: and lead me beside quiet waters

3 He shall convert my soul: and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness , for His name's sake

.4 Though I may walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me

5 You prepare a table before me… You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me .. and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever

(Antiphon): The staff and rod of the Lord they comfort me. Blessed is the Name of the Lord

CONFIRMATION may be understood as a mental confirming of present religious faith. But mental confirmation is temporal. We grow and reach deeper understanding than what we confirmed. Paul said (Cor 13 11) "When I was a child I reasoned as a child. When I became a man I put childish ways behind me". And Paul mentions himself as " servant of the secret things of God (1 Cor 4 1).

SACRAMENTAL CONFIRMATION is more than mental faith. It means STRENGTHENING a soul with blessing of the Holy Ghost and with help of sacramental CHRISMATION. That is anointing with a blessed oil named Chrism. The word Christ means the one ANOINTED. In the Old Testament and other religions we read about the priest, king and prophet who is anointed by the Holy Ghost and forerunners. Jesus says (Luk 4 18) "The spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me" Christian Churches do ritually anoint all newly baptised as sign of their sharing in the royal priesthood of Christ.

The CHRISM-oil is consecrated by a bishop during the Eucharist at the morning of Maundy Thursday. It is used even at CONFIRMATION, consecration of bishops, chalices and for the blessing of bells and for anointing of hands at the ordination of priests.

YOUR CONFIRMATION means that you are anointed by sacramental CHRISMATION and is blessed by the Holy Ghost to be strengthened in your life as a disciple of Christ Jesus said to riper disciples " when the Spirit of Truth come he will guide you into all truth". (John 16.. 13)In the Bible is Pentecost a new beginning of manifestations of our Spirit-Self in some souls

"I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD" says Jesus (John 10 11). "The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The good shepherd (-ess) fights against wolfs and human robbers. With a long staff and a short rod.

The Bible says your "staff and rod give comfort".  (Ps 23,4). The ancient shepherd's long staff was even help at wandering . It is heirloom in the bishop's crosier. The ancient shepherd(-ess) fighted even with a short rod (equal to a club or baton), hanging from the wrist. That is believed to be one origin of the royal sceptre. The title shepherd was given to the ruler in some ancient countries. The staff and rod are even looked upon as magical. Compare how e g Mose works miracles with his staff.

IN YOUR PRESENT CONFIRMATION-RITE will we now give to you anointing with CHRISM and bless you in the name of the Holy Ghost, our spiritual Self. For a moment do we place the staff in your hands to stress for you the ideal to be a good shepherd. You may not in literal sense be attacked by wolfs or robbers but the world is full of people who are tempted to act as wolfs and robbers. If you can not convert them you may have to defend souls and bodies. Souls are as sheep according to old parables and the good shepherd shall defend them, guide them, make them lie down in green pastures, lead them beside quiet waters(Ps 23.1). Jesus said "take care of my sheep, feed my sheep, feed my lambs. Jesus spoke about somebody who lost a sheep. He did find it. He did then joyful put it on his shoulders and go home (Luke 15 3) .Jesus said " I have other sheep who are not of this sheep pen. Even them must I bring" (John 10 16)                    Let the Good Shepherd be your ideal.

THE INTERROGATION

B: Will you strive to be a helping shepherd (-ess) in the service of the Chief Shepherd, Christ ? Candidates: I will

Bishop: The blessing of the Holy Ghost incarnates more and more upon you. The innermost divine Self will preserves you in all your ways.

All: Amen

VENI CREATOR ( is singed or contemplated: See next page, below)

 CONFIRMATION continued (page 102B) (Each candidate kneels on cushion with hands together,, resting them upon the bishop's knee.

Candidate: I offer myself to be a shepherd in the service of Christ, the Chief Shepherd

Bishop In Christ's most holy Name do I accept Thee. Be a strong holder of the shepherd staff (deliver it) You shall receive and hold the shepherd staff as a servant of the Chief Shepherd,

Receive the Holy Ghost

I sign Thee with the sign of the cross and I confirm Thee with the CHRISM ( B takes CHRISM on right thumb , holds right hand on head of each candidate, makes CHRISM-cross on forehead)

of salvation in the name of the + Father and of the + Son and of the Holy + Ghost

( B makes 3 crosses over the head of the neophyte and lays again right hand upon the head of the neophyte)

Therefore go thou forth my brother (sister) in the Name of the Lord,

the Chief Shepherd for in his Strength thou canst do all things

( B touches the neophyte lightly on left cheek , saying

Peace be with Thee (The neophyte bows and is led back to his seat

All: Amen

(A HYMN e g the affirmative "Veni Creator" or psalm 23 repeated

(Bishop may sit down and say some more words to the newly-confirmed)

Bishop: Our help is in the Name of GOD, our eternal Spirit-Self

Congregation: who has made time and space and soul and body

B: The Spirit-Self is in all, blessing, C: Amen Amen Amen

B: Blessed are the pure in heart

C: For they shall see the divinity in all

B: may add affirmative prayer and final benediction:

God, your holy Spirit-Self comes down on you +

C: Amen ( A final hymn may be added. )

VENI CREATOR (may be singed above)

( Affirmativ translation)

1

Eternal Spirit, Self in all

Creates here space-time, body, soul.

Divinity beyond , does call:

"Perfect in love your Shepherd Role!"

2

"You are all Gods", does Jesus say.

"You are of heavens Light a ray.

You came from highest heaven down.

Now clothed in earthly shepherd gown".

3

Take shepherd-staff and priest-king-rod,

Teach "lamb and wolf" to serve true God

Find water, wisdom, gnosis-scriptures

Agape-love in Godīs green pastures

4

You are a Wind from highest Heaven

With Spirits hidden gifts, the seven

Creating here with Godīs own Word

The perfect incarnated herd

5

Godīs River is eternal art,

It flows through body, mind and heart,

It makes us all " in spirit poor"

Godīs Kingdom waits for all those pure.

6

Godīs fire- tongues will come down,

Give saints from heaven Spirit- crown,

And open in us Spirit- eye

We see then God in man and sky

7

Return from shepherd's pilgrim-path

You find eternal spirit-hearth

Beyond the space-time. Body, soul

Beyond horizons is the Goal

Amen