Getting Started

Part One: The Beginnings of Christian Life

As you begin using "Be Sealed," consider using the text to pray a lesson, rather than simply learn it. This can help the candidates learn to use the events and experiences of "real life" to see and hear God. (Be sure to use the prayer on the back of the student book, too.)

Urgent Notice:

If you have copies from the first printing of Be Sealed, get your correction fluid out. Go to page 11, "Choosing a Confirmation Sponsor." You'll need to cover over the words "one of your parents or" in that paragraph. Parents cannot serve as godparents or Confirmation sponsors. Somehow, that got past us (and all our reviewers), but it didn't get past Linda Prew, DRE at St. Leo's in Pawtucket, RI. (Thanks, Linda!) We've already got the correction lined up for the next printing.

Part Two: The Sacrament of Confirmation

Extra Notes!

Lord and Giver of Life

The Creed uses the title "Lord and giver of life" to affirm the divinity of the Holy Spirit. The title brings us back to the understanding of the Spirit as Creator (briefly touched upon in Part One). In the New Testament, grace is spoken of in terms of creation. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit, we become a "new creation."

Invite the candidates to come up with images expressing some aspects of the Spirit as "giver of life" in this fuller sense.

Footnote Deciphering

*CCC 1212, quoting Paul VI, apostolic constitution, Divinae consortium naturae: AAS 63 (1971) 657; cf. RCIA Introduction 1-2.

This lengthy footnote was required in order for us to cite the Catechism, which cites another document. The Latin refers to the document by Pope Paul VI which promulgated the revised Rite of Confirmation and established the new form for conferring the sacrament.

AAS stands for "Acta Apostolica Sedis" (more Latin!), the Vatican's official log book. The footnote specifies not only the document the Catechism is quoting, but the log book for the year (1971) and the page number in the log book under which the document appears! It also references the RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), the liturgical book the Church follows in welcoming new believers into the communion of the Church.

Relevant Resources

Dorothy Day

For material on this remarkable woman, your manual suggests the movie, "Entertaining Angels," by Paulist Productions. A number of valuable books are also available. Here are a few:

Coles, Dr. Robert. Dorothy Day: A Radical Devotion, Addison Wesley: New York, 1987.

Collins, David R. Got a Penny? The Story of Dorothy Day, Pauline Books & Media: Boston, 1996. (For young people.)

Day, Dorothy. The Long Loneliness, Harper Collins: San Francisco, 1952.

Part Three: Confirmation Yesterday: the History of Confirmation

Footnote Deciphering

*Cf. CCEO, can. 695 § 1, 696 § 1.

This footnote refers to the Code of Canon Law for the Eastern Churches (the initials are for the Latin edition).

Part Four: A Closer Look at Confirmation

Footnote Deciphering

*Cf. CIC, can 882

This footnote refers to the Code of Canon Law (the initials are for the Latin edition), canon number 882.

Part Five: An Overview of the Rite of Confirmation

Relevant Resources
Copy Pope John Paul's prayer for the 1998 World Day of Prayer for Vocations as a help for young people in discerning their own call from God, while interceding for the needs of the Church.