Confirming one’s faith

“The ‘door of faith’ (Acts 14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church. (…) To enter through that door is to set out on a journey that lasts a lifetime.” (Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei, no. 1)

The image of a door through which we have to enter aptly describes the beginning of the Christian’s spiritual life. We do not enter through this door alone, nor do we find ourselves alone after entering it. We were accompanied by our parents, godparents and we found ourselves both spiritually and humanly within the all nourishing and fruitful bosom of our Mother the Church.

A door is a rather strange structure. They aren’t really necessary because they don’t contribute any practical support to a building. But due to man’s fallen nature, –that is, his disordered capacity to step upon his neighbor’s rights and possessions– doors and gates have become an integral part of every dwelling place.

Thus, a door has two vital functions: first, as a welcoming point into our homes that cradles family intimacy; second, as protective structures to prevent any evil- intentioned person or animal from trespassing into our homes.

The door of our faith behaves in a similar way. It welcomes us into the Church and allows access to Her spiritual blessings (i.e. the other Sacraments and the shared gifts through the Communion of the Saints). But this door is also our defense against the ‘wiles of the enemy’, the devil who will not stop from tempting and leading us astray from the Church and the door of our faith.

This might be a childish digression, but the example of our favorite Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf holds an important lesson. The first two pigs thought it would be easier to build houses out of straw and sticks. These materials, however, proved weak and useless against the wolf’s ‘huff and puff’. The third pig was wiser. He made a house of brick. And do you remember how the wolf was killed? He entered the chimney instead and the pigs readied a pot of boiling water that ended the wolf’s hunger and life as well.

This detail of the chimney is essential. It meant that the wolf could not enter through the door! Obviously it wasn’t a brick door –fairy tales don’t go to this extent of explaining the obvious– but a solid and sturdy door that protected the inhabitants. The enemy had to improvise an entry point which eventually led to his defeat.

In this story, there is another lesson that we can casually ignore: that pigs seem to have a lot more common sense than men [OUCH!] when it comes to surviving the onslaughts of the wolf (the devil). Of course, the first two were quite impractical. The third must have considered the cost of a brick house (given a pig’s short lifespan) quite a feat, but his sacrifice paid off.

How many of us fail to really value and invest on the ‘door of our faith’ and reinforce it so that it will prevent any stray winds, storms or robbers from entering the house of our soul?

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Now back to the image of the ‘door’. Did you ever enter a friend’s house and remain right underneath the doorframe? I guess not. Doors, even though how ornate they may be, are only transient passageways which we walk through. They ‘introduce’ us to the more important parts of the house (i.e. living room, bedroom, kitchen, etc.)

However, when we enter a gothic Cathedral or any ancient church for that matter, we are slowed down by the intricate and beautiful artwork and whatever ancient dedications inscribed on every part of the door and arch. Just going through it seems like journeying through time.

When we enter the door of the faith, it is as if that the door moves with us. In fact, the door itself is like a vehicle that introduces us each time to the greater realities of prayer, sacrifice, virtues, fraternity, etc., in the spiritual and ascetical life. This is the reason that the door of faith has to be further reinforced by another Sacrament called Confirmation.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that, “Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the sacraments of Christian initiation, whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For ‘by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.’(no. 1285)”

From this reality, the Catechism continues in no. 1303: “Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: (a) it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, ‘Abba! Father!’; (b) it unites us more firmly to Christ; (c) it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us; (d) it renders our bond with the Church more perfect; (e) it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.”

Thus, confirmation gives us a grace-filled mission, of being witnesses of the faith as the early Church on the day of Pentecost. Benedict XVI says, “A Christian may never think of belief as a private act. Faith is choosing to stand with the Lord so as to live with him. This ‘standing with him’ points towards an understanding of the reasons for believing. Faith, precisely because it is a free act, also demands social responsibility for what one believes. The Church on the day of Pentecost demonstrates with utter clarity this public dimension of believing and proclaiming one’s faith fearlessly to every person. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit that makes us fit for mission and strengthens our witness, making it frank and courageous.” (Porta fidei, no. 10)

Here are some ways to re-live the effective graces of our Confirmation:

• acquire the habit of dealing more often with the Holy Spirit (e.g. learn by heart the prayer ‘Come Holy Spirit’);

• spend some time during the week to study the different gifts of the Holy Spirit and their role in the growth of our spiritual life and apostolate;

• consider how to give a daily witness –in a hidden, silent and ordinary manner– of our faith, (e.g. finishing one’s work well, serving the others, not complaining, etc.)

• spread and defend the faith by either teaching catechism or charitably enlightening with the truth those who attack the Church, the Pope, and all those who believe and serve God;

• pray and offer sacrifices, and volunteer if one may, in the various charitable institutions in the Church, according to each one’s sincere capacity;

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St. Ambrose, writing about Confirmation, was moved to write: “Recall then that you have received the spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear in God’s presence. Guard what you have received. God the Father has marked you with his sign; Christ the Lord has confirmed you and has placed his pledge, the Spirit, in your hearts.” (De myst. 7, 42 PL 16, 402-403.)