tvc.dsj.org | February 20, 2018
SPECIAL FEATURE
- CONFIRMATION
11
Reflection on Faith: “Yes, I am Catholic and I am Proud”
By Tiffany Nguyen
Diocesan Committee
for Youth Evangelization
“You’re Catholic?” Two seemingly
simple words which, when put to-
gether and said in a judgmental tone,
form such a question that rattles me to
the core of my faithful heart. Attend-
ing public school as a Catholic student
never used to be a problem for me; I
was never phased by the knowledge
that some students adhere to other
religions and accepted any differences
that surfaced. Recently, however, it has
come to my attention that acceptance
of Catholic faith-perhaps strong fol-
lowings of religion in general – within
public schools seems to be gradually
fading into unease. It is saddening to
consider the possibility of teenagers
being ashamed of their faith and yet,
too many times have I witnessed this
very scene within a public-school
setting.
When asked a participatory ques-
tion about Catholic identity within
my first period class, my Human
Geography instructor witnessed a
wave of “tension and uncertainty”
that engulfed the classroom. I recog-
nized that my peers of whom I knew
to be Catholic hesitated in raising
their hands and at the time, did not
understand the reasoning behind such
doubt in identifying one’s faith. It is
clear now that teenagers, especially
those within an environment lacking
a strong foundational acceptance in
Catholic faith, become hyperaware of
what fellow classmates might assume
about them after discovering their
religious values.
This generation is in desperate
need of the understanding that one’s
faith is not something to be ashamed
of, but rather a quality that deserves
recognition and pride. The most effec-
tive method in my eyes when trying
to bring Catholic students within the
public-school sphere into reconnection
with their faith is to simply accept the
hand that Christ reaches out for them.
Through meetings with the Commit-
tee of Youth Evangelization as well
as countless retreats and faith forma-
tions, I have come to an understanding
that Christ is always with us to guide
us on our journey through life’s never-
ending challenges. Teenagers today
need to recognize this and realize that
harboring shame towards their faith
will only push Christ away.
It is also necessary to consider that
there are too many distractions pull-
ing teenagers away from accepting
Christ – distractions I have personally
experienced. Endless advancements in
technology through social media plat-
forms and a consistency in importance
placed on one’s external image act as
scene-stealers in modern society. Teen-
agers devote too much time and effort
into maintaining the perfect image
of themselves through social media,
constantly self-conscious of how the
world views them.
To teens, allowing something such
as strong religious faith to possibly
hinder or alter the image we work
tirelessly to create for ourselves may
as well be the end of the world. This,
in effect, only goes to show the ab-
solute obligation for self-evaluation
and reflection of one’s faith in Christ.
This crisis that the youth faces today
in religious faith can be overcome for
there is truly only one way to respond
to signs of judgment when asked about
one’s Catholic faith.
Yes, I am Catholic and I am proud.
Confirmation Strengthens our Identity as Children of God
By John C. Cavadini
Catholic News Service
The Sacrament of Confirmation is
perhaps the most mysterious of all the
sacraments. Many Christians find it
difficult to understand what benefit it
brings. Isn’t the Holy Spirit received at
Baptism?
Yes, Baptism makes us “a member of
Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit”
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, No.
1279). Then why do we need to receive
the Holy Spirit again in Confirmation?
And, isn’t Baptism “valid and effica-
cious” without Confirmation? Yes (No.
1306). Then why do we say that “Confir-
mation is necessary for the completion
of Baptismal grace” (No. 1285, 1288) or
that it brings an “increase and deepen-
ing of Baptismal grace” (No. 1303), its
“strengthening” (No. 1289)?
What do we mean when we say Con-
firmation “perfects Baptismal grace”
(No. 1316)? Isn’t Baptismal grace perfect
enough?
Of course, to answer the first ques-
tion, all the sacraments are “actions
of the Holy Spirit” (No. 1116) and all
“’sacramental grace’ is the grace of the
Holy Spirit,” though in a way “proper
to each sacrament” (No. 1129). So, the
Holy Spirit is received in every sacra-
ment, not just Baptism, but in each in a
different way.
We can ask, What is the special rela-
tionship