Archdiocese of Liverpool

Rite for the Celebration of Confirmation and First Eucharist

1 March 2013

2

Archdiocese of Liverpool

1 March 2013

The Masses of Confirmation and First Holy Communion will be celebrated

diocesan-wide during the period between the feasts of The Ascension of the

Lord and the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This timing of the Masses of

Confirmation and First Holy Communion emphasises the unity with the Bishop

around the time of Pentecost. The Restored Order of the Sacraments of

Initiation highlights the Eucharist as the source and summit of the Christian

life. The Holy Eucharist completes Christian Initiation.

www.withyoualways.org.uk

www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk

PATRICK

ARCHBISHOP OF LIVERPOOL

Faculties to Administer the Sacrament of Confirmation

In harmony with the current archdiocesan programme of Family Catechesis, With You

Always, and according to the norm of canon 884 §1 of the Code of Canon Law, we hereby

grant to each Parish Priest or Administrator in the Archdiocese of Liverpool the faculty to

Confirm suitably prepared candidates, who are also candidates for First Holy Communion,

according to the following strict conditions:

1. The Confirmations must take place between Saturday 11th

May and Sunday 9th

June 2013

inclusive, except on the Isle of Man, where they must take place between Sunday 5th

May

and Saturday 11th

May 2013 inclusive.

2. The Confirmations must be celebrated during Mass at which First Holy Communions are

also celebrated.

3. While typical candidates will be aged 8-9 years, in Year 4 of their primary school, the

priest may also Confirm at the same ceremony suitably prepared members of the immediate

family of such Candidates, whether or not these members have made their First Holy

Communion.

4. The Confirmations must take place in one of the churches committed to the care of the

celebrating priest.

Furthermore, we determine that this decree should be implemented in conjunction with the

explanatory notes hereunto attached.

Given at Liverpool, at our Curia,

this 8th

day of February, in the year of Our Lord 2013

+ Patrick Kelly Rev. Aidan Prescott

Ordinary Seal of the Curia Chancellor

EXPLANATORY NOTES

1. The Parish Priest or Administrator may exercise this faculty more than once within

the prescribed period, but always within the context of a Mass at which candidates

also receive their First Holy Communion.

2. The Parish Priest or Administrator may invite to assist him in the anointing:

a) Parish Priests of candidates from other parishes who may be sharing the same

celebration.

b) Other Priests, for example Assistant Priests in the celebrating parish, who have

had a special part in the catechetical preparation of the candidates.

c) Vicars General, Episcopal Vicars, Deans.

3. Outside the prescribed period stated in the decree, all other candidates for

Confirmation should be presented for Confirmation by one of the Bishops, or by a

priest specifically authorised for the purpose.

4

Rite for the Celebration of Confirmation and First Eucharist

On solemnities, when Confirmation is celebrated together with First Eucharist, the

Mass text is that of the day with the appropriate coloured vestments. On Sundays

outside Easter Time and on all other days the Ritual Mass for Confirmation is

permitted. The colour of vestment to be used is white or red.

On Sundays and solemnities three scripture readings will always be proclaimed. On

all other days there is no requirement to have more than one reading before the

Gospel. The readings are taken from among the selection found in the lectionary for

the Ritual Mass of Confirmation, or in the case of a solemnity or Sunday, from the

Mass of the Day. Consideration should also be given to retaining the Lectionary of

the day, as much of the period concerned falls during Easter Time and the readings

from the Acts of the Apostles are particularly well suited to the themes of witness

and commitment.

It is important that the Scripture readings are well prepared and well proclaimed.

The Profession of Faith (Creed) is omitted since the Bishop/Priest will lead the

Candidates in the renewal of Baptismal Promises as part of the Rite.

Since the celebration of Confirmation/First Eucharist is a solemn occasion, as much

singing as possible should take place. Although a choir is always appropriate, care

must be taken that the congregation has full opportunity to share in the singing.

Music and singing may be included at every proper place in the Liturgy, but the

following parts of the Mass should always be sung;

Gloria (where applicable)

Alleluia/Gospel Acclamation

Acclamations at the Eucharistic Prayer: Sanctus/Holy Holy, Memorial

Acclamation and the Great Amen.

Agnus Dei/Lamb of God

Hymn to accompany the Communion Procession

Regarding dress for the Candidates, this can be a suitable occasion to remind that

ostentation is to be avoided. Perhaps white shirt and red tie for the boys and modest

white dress for the girls.

The community should be encouraged to refrain from taking flash photography

during the liturgies. Where appropriate the services of a professional photographer

might be considered. If there is a video being taken, please remind those concerned

of the requirements of copyright law.

5

Check List of Items to be prepared beforehand:

Everything normally needed for Mass

Bread and wine prepared for the Procession of the Gifts

A jug of water (sliced lemon/wet wipes if needed) and towel for the washing of

hands after the Anointing

The Roman Missal and the Lectionary – open at the correct pages and arranged for

the proper texts

Chrism and sufficient containers if the Bishop/Priest is to be assisted by others (cf

Archbishop’s Decree note 2) for the Anointing

THE RITE

The Rite as presented in the Roman Pontifical will be followed. The Gospel is proclaimed by a

Deacon or one of the concelebrating Priests.

If the Bishop is presiding, either the Deacon or the Priest goes to the Bishop to ask a

blessing before going to proclaim the Gospel, using the formula.

Your blessing, Father.

And the Bishop says in a low voice

May the Lord be in your heart and on your lips that you may proclaim his Gospel

worthily and well, In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.

The Deacon or Priest signs himself with the Sign of the Cross and says

Amen.

After the Gospel the Celebrant (Bishop/Parish Priest) sits at the seat prepared for him. The

Candidates for Confirmation are presented by the Parish Priest or another Priest, the

Deacon, or a catechist; upon being called each Candidate stands up in their place.

The Celebrant then gives a brief homily, leading those to be confirmed, their sponsors and

parents and indeed the whole gathering of the faithful to a deeper understanding of the

mystery of Confirmation. He may do so in these or similar words;

The Apostles, who had received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost in fulfilment of the

Lord’s promise, had power to complete the work of Baptism by the giving of the Holy Spirit,

as we read in the Acts of the Apostles. When Saint Paul had laid his hands on certain people

who had been baptised, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and

prophesied.

6

The Bishops, as successors of the Apostles, possess the same power and, whether in their

own right or through Priests lawfully appointed to fulfil this ministry, they confer the Holy

Spirit on those who have already been born again in Baptism.

Even if today the coming of the Holy Spirit is no longer widely made manifest by the gift of

tongues, we know by faith that the Spirit, through whom the love of God has been poured

into our hearts and through whom we are gathered in unity of faith and in a diversity of

callings, is received by us and is working invisibly to make the Church holy and one.

Dearly beloved, the gift of the Holy Spirit which you are about to receive will be a spiritual

seal by which you will be conformed to Christ and will be made more fully members of his

Church. For Christ himself, anointed by the Holy Spirit, in the baptism he received from

John, was sent forth for the work of his ministry, to pour out on the earth the fire of the

same Spirit.

Therefore, you who are already baptised, will now receive the power of his Spirit and be

signed with his Cross on your foreheads. And so, you must always bear witness to his

Passion and Resurrection before the world, so that your manner of life, as the Apostle says,

may be in every place the pleasing fragrance of Christ. His mystical Body, which is the

Church, the People of God, receives from him diverse graces, which the same Holy Spirit

distributes to individuals for the building up of the Body in unity and love.

Be living members of this Church, therefore, and, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, seek

to serve all people like Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.

And now, before you receive the Spirit, call to mind the faith which you professed in

Baptism or which your parents and godparents professed with the Church.

Renewal of Baptismal Promises

The Candidates are invited to stand and the Celebrant addresses them

Do you reject Satan and all his works and all his empty promises?

I do.

Do you believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?

I do.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was

crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of

the Father?

I do.

7

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who came upon the apostles at

Pentecost and today is given to you sacramentally in Confirmation?

I do.

Do you believe in the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

I do.

This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it in Christ Jesus our

Lord.

Amen.

The Laying on of Hands

The Celebrant, standing, faces the people with hands joined, sings or says

Dear Friends:

In Baptism God our Father gave the new birth of eternal life to his chosen sons and

daughters. Let us pray to our Father that he will pour out the Holy Spirit to strengthen his

sons and daughters with his gifts and anoint them to be more like Christ the Son of God.

All pray in silence for a short time.

Then the Bishop extends his hands over those to be confirmed (as do the Priests who are

assisting him.) Then the Celebrant says

All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed

your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life. Send you Holy Spirit upon them

to be their Helper and Guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit

of right judgement and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the

spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Anointing with Chrism

The Chrism is brought to the Bishop/Parish Priest by the Deacon. Each of the Priests comes to

the Bishop, and he gives to each a vessel of Chrism.

If the Bishop is not present, the priests collect the vessels of Sacred Chrism from the

Celebrant. The Celebrant may wish to make mention of the fact that the sacred oil is blessed

8

by the Archbishop at the Mass of Chrism and then sent to all the parishes of the Archdiocese

for the administration of the Sacrament throughout the year.

Each of those to be confirmed goes to the Celebrant; or if appropriate, the Celebrant goes to

each of those to be confirmed.* The Celebrant will indicate whether the candidate coming

forward for anointing is accompanied by a Sponsor only or by others as well. Family

members would more appropriately accompany their children when it comes time to receive

Holy Communion. The one who presented the person to be confirmed (the Sponsor) places

his (her) right hand on the Candidate’s shoulder.

The Celebrant dips the tip of this right-hand thumb in the Chrism and, with the thumb,

makes the Sign of the Cross on the forehead of the one to be confirmed, as he says

N BE SEALED WITH THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The newly confirmed responds

Amen.

The Celebrant says

Peace be with you.

The newly confirmed responds

And with your spirit.

During the anointing a suitable chant may be sung.

After the anointing the Celebrants wash their hands

*Note for organisers: It is helpful to remind catechists/organisers that the candidate’s card

should be ready to present promptly to the person assisting the celebrant (not to the

celebrant directly). There should be written three names on the same side of the card: the

candidate’s full (baptismal) name, Confirmation name, and Sponsor’s name.

9

The Universal Prayer

My dear brothers and sisters let us humbly pray to God the almighty Father and be of one

mind in our prayer just as faith, hope and charity which proceed from his Holy Spirit, are

one.

If you are writing your own intentions, please see Appendix 1 for guidelines. Otherwise the

following intentions may be used.

Deacon or Minister

For these servants whom the gift of the Holy Spirit has confirmed: (pause to give people

time to pray silently) that rooted in faith and grounded in love, they may bear witness to

Christ the Lord by their way of life, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.

Deacon or Minister

For their parents and sponsors: (pause) that by word and example they may continue to

encourage those whom they have sponsored in the faith to follow in the footsteps of Christ,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.

Deacon or Minister

For the holy Church of God, together with N. our Pope, N. our Bishop and all the Bishops:

(pause) that, gathered by the Holy Spirit, the Church may grow and increase in unity of faith

and love until the coming of the Lord, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.

Deacon or Minister

For the whole world: (pause) that all people, who have one Maker and Father, will

acknowledge one another as brothers and sisters, without discrimination of race or nation,

and with sincere hearts will seek the Kingdom of God which is peace and joy in the Holy

Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.

Presider

O God, who gave the Holy Spirit to your Apostles and willed that through them and their

successors, the same Spirit be handed on to the rest of the faithful, listen favourably to our

10

prayer, and grant that your divine grace which was at work when the Gospel was first

proclaimed, may now spread through the hearts of those who believe in you. Through Christ

our Lord.

Amen.

After the Universal Prayer the Liturgy of the Eucharist is celebrated according to the Order of

Mass. Some of the confirmed may join those who bring forward the offerings. (If items of

their work, school life etc, are to be presented; this may be more appropriately done during

the Entrance Procession.)

When the Roman Canon, or Eucharistic Prayer II or III are used, the following interpolations

are used;

Roman Canon: the proper form of the Hanc Igitur (Therefore, Lord, we pray) is used

Therefore, Lord, we pray: graciously accept this oblation of our service, that of your whole

family, which we offer you also for those reborn in Baptism, whom you have been pleased

to confirm by bestowing the Holy Spirit, and in your mercy, keep safe in them your grace.

(Through Christ our Lord, Amen.)

Eucharistic Prayer II: after the words and all the clergy, the following is added

Remember also, Lord, your servants whom you have been pleased to confirm today by

bestowing the Holy Spirit, and keep them in your grace.

When Eucharistic Prayer III is used, after the words the entire people you have gained for

your own, the following is added

Remember also Lord, your servants reborn in Baptism whom you have been pleased to

confirm by bestowing the Holy Spirit, and in your mercy keep safe in them your grace.

It is most appropriate that those receiving Holy Communion for the first time,

together with their families and indeed the whole gathered Community, do so under

both kinds.

The distribution of certificates may be more appropriately done after the post-

Communion prayer or if possible, at a later date, or at the Thanksgiving Celebration

to mark the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles.

11

The Blessing

The Deacon, or in his absence the Celebrant himself says the invitation

Bow down for the blessing.

With hands extended over the newly confirmed, the Bishop or Priest says

May God the Father almighty bless you, whom he has made his adopted sons and daughters

reborn from water and the Holy Spirit, and may he keep you worthy of his fatherly love.

Amen.

May his Only Begotten Son, who promised that the Spirit of truth would abide in his Church,

bless you and confirm you by his power in the confession of the true faith.

Amen.

May the Holy Spirit, who kindles the fire of charity in the hearts of disciples, bless you and

lead you blameless and gathered as one into the joy of the Kingdom of God.

Amen.

And may almighty God bless all of you who are gathered here, the Father and the Son + and

the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Alternatively, the Prayer over the People may be used.

Confirm, O God, what you have brought about in us, and preserve in the hearts of your

faithful the gifts of the Holy Spirit; may they never be ashamed to confess Christ crucified

before the world and by devoted charity, may they ever fulfil his commands. Who lives and

reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.

And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father and the Son + and the Holy Spirit come

down on you and remain with you forever.

Amen.

Deacon (or in his absence, the Celebrant)

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

Thanks be to God.

12

Appendix 1

Rite for the Celebration of Confirmation and First Eucharist

Some things to keep in mind if you are composing your own Intentions:

The introduction to the Prayer of the Faithful is given by the priest from the Chair and it is addressed to the people announcing why we are going to pray.

If there is a Deacon present, it is most suitable that he announces the Intentions for prayer. If there is no Deacon, the Reader announces the Intention.

Each petition is addressed to the people inviting them to pray for a particular intention or cause such as: the local Church, those assembled at Mass, the Confirmation and Holy Communion Candidates and their families, for needs of the world, for leaders and governments, for the universal Church, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the sick, for those who suffer pain and injustice, for our own needs, for the dead.

After announcing each intention time should be given for the congregation to pray before the reader gives the ‘cue-line’, such as ‘Lord, hear us’, ‘Let us pray to the Lord’, or ‘Lord in your mercy’ – and the people give their response.

At the end of the petitions it has been customary in England (traditionally known as the dowry of the Blessed Virgin Mary) to look to Mary, the perfect disciple, and join our prayers with hers in the recitation of a traditional Marian prayer such as the ‘Hail Mary.’

What is important is that, if the Marian prayer has been said, we should not add another petition, as some do when they say, ‘let us pray for a moment in silence for our own needs.’ A petition should have already been formulated that covers the need of those gathered.

If the Marian prayer has been recited the priest should conclude the Prayer of the Faithful. It is this concluding prayer that gives the ‘Bidding Prayer’ its name. The prayer is addressed to the Father asking that, through the power of the holy and ever abiding Spirit these petitions be granted in the name of Jesus in whose name all Christian prayer is made.