His Strength Will Make Your Different - Part 1 (Lesson 14)

 I - God continues to give us gifts through the Sacraments, most especially the Sacrament of Confirmation. There is a set of gifts that the Spirit of God puts into our soul - they are called the SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. In this lesson, we will discuss four of the gifts, followed by the last three gifts. Let's begin!

1. As we mentioned before, the Holy Spirit gives us ACTUAL GRACE (CLICK for the past notes). 

a. Along with this Grace, the Holy Spirit gives to you SEVEN powerful GIFTS to help you through the Spiritual Journey. 

b. The Gospel of St John teaches us what Jesus intended for these Gifts can, and should do through us. He speaks of it as Love In Action - something we have been craving or wanting to see, to give us reason to believe in Him and what He can do in our lives. Jesus says, 

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him. (John 14: 15-21)

2. How does this look when my life is connected to the Holy Spirit? 

Think of it like the Coach in this film. The Holy Spirit is our Coach, using the human coach to motivate us to complete tasks or actions that may seem incredibly hard to accomplish. The spirit of the team has beaten. Listen how the Coach pushes a strong football player to find his strength. 

II - The 7 Gifts make us into Saints for many to see and believe in God.

1. The Gift of Wisdom - This Gift helps us to make God the Center of your life. Should we lose our way, should we be distracted with the things in life, or should we be knocked off the Journey, God will make His presence known by urging us to turn to Him in prayer, and to wake us RISE - to get back on that road. Life will trip us up - God knows that, but He's not going to let you stay there. Wisdom will help you to find God, to hear Him even during the painful moments of your life. Like the Coach, He will push you beyond your limits, because God sees your potential when some may not see it. Here, your relationship with God will grow - you will slowly love what He is doing for you, and trust Him. 

Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, “Master, [then] what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you. (John 14:22-26)

2. The Gift of Understanding - This Gift is given to us so that you can know and love God. He  will teach you through faith, so that you can live His teachings and blessing each day. God will strengthen your mind by experience and practice - He will urge you to read and study. This is why you are taking Confirmation Class, not because your parents put you here to receive the Sacrament only, but to understand that God wants a relationship with you. He wants to transform you by this relationship. 

a. God wants you to be His Witness - John 15:18-25

b. Our Lord teaches us how the Holy Spirit will Act through you - John 16:5-15 

3. The Gift of Counsel - This Gift is given to you for Spiritual Direction, as the Holy Spirit will guide you in all your actions. The Holy Spirit uses this Gift to make sure you know God's will in your life, which is to be HOLY first. This is why you pick a Saint name, so that you stay connected to this person who has lived for God before you. You become an apprentice of the Saint, like an apprentice of the Coach, or a Teacher. He also leads you to people who will mentor you through the Spiritual Journey.

4. The Gift of Fortitude - This Gift strengthens your soul to face tests, or what we call TEMPTATIONS. Remember, we spoke of moments in our lives that can trip us along our Spiritual Journey. It's impossible to avoid these tests, but possible to choose the right over the wrong. This Gift also gives us spiritual confidence in God. If our relationship is strong with God, we can know what God is doing through us. This Gift also helps us to answer for ourselves, whether we have sinned or not. It is very hard to shake a person whose fortitude is strong in God. 

Let us pray:

O good Jesus: Word of  Eternal Father, convert me.

Son of Mary, take me as her child.

My Master, teach me. 

Prince of Peace, give me peace. 

My Refuge, receive me. 

My Shepherd, feed my soul.

Model of patience, comfort me. 

Meek and humble of Heart, help me to become like you.

My redeemer, save me. 

My God and my All, possess me.

The true Way, direct me. 

Life of the saints, make me live in you. 

My Support, strengthen me. 

My Justice, justify me. 

My Mediator with your Father, reconcile me.

Physician of my soul, heal me. 

My Judge, pardon me. 

My King, rule me. 

My Sanctification, sanctify me. 

Abyss of goodness, pardon me.

Living Bread from Heaven, nourish me. 

Father of the prodigal, receive me. 

Joy of my soul, be my only happiness. 

My Helper, assist me. 

My Protector, defend me 

My Hope, sustain me. 

Object of my love, refresh me. 

My Divine Victim, atone for me. 

My Last End, let me possess you. 

My Glory, glorify me. Amen.

Our Father...

Hail Mary...

Glory Be...

Queen of Angels, pray for us. 

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HOMEWORK # 13 - Due Sunday

I - Reflection Question

1. Using the video, choose 1 of the four Gifts of the Holy Spirit that best describes the Coaches lesson to the Football player? Why? 

II - Read Acts of the Apostles Chapter 27 - Answer these questions

1. In the beginning verses, who was kind to St Paul, allowing him to visit his friends? 

2. On the second ship that St Paul boarded, what did he warn the ship crew? What was their response?

3. What did the ship run into during their voyage? What did St Paul tell the ship crew when they became scared at their situation at sea?

4. Who wanted to abandon the ship? What did St Paul tell them?

5. What verse did St. Paul give thanks to God? What did St. Paul celebrate?

6. What happened to the ship after the storm? What were the soldiers going to do to the prisoners? 

Let Christ be Seen - The Gift of Love (Lesson 13)

 I - The Gift of Love - otherwise known as CHARITY - is a Divine VIRTUE that God gives to us to Love Him above all things, and our neighbor as ourselves. 

1. We believe this to be the Truth. Jesus brings these words to reality, by showing us how to love as an important part in our journey to become saints. 

2. Jesus begins by teaching a summary of the Commandments to the Scribes. From generation to generation, the Scribes studied these words from Moses. It was a summary of the Ten Commandments, broken down into two sentences, quoting the Book of Deuteronomy 6:4. 

“The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

3. The authors of Sacred Scripture teach us how the Virtue of CHARITY is seen in action:

1. The action of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
2. Christ calls us to live in His Love (John 15:7-11)
3. Jesus also teaches us to Love One Another (John 15:12-17)

4. If you have forgotten the 10 Commandments, here is the full list:

1st - Love of God focuses on these three Commandments:

1. I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain. 
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day. 

2nd - Love of Neighbor focuses on these seven Commandments

4. Honor your father and mother.  
5. You shall not kill
6. You shall not commit adultery
7. You shall not steal
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.

II - With this Virtue of Charity, the Holy Spirit gives you graces that strengthen your spiritual journey towards sainthood. 

1. He gives to you actual graces to know what you must do, and act with love that will please God. But if you do not know God, and speak to Him, then your connection with God will be a struggle, a turning away, and a rejection of God's Love. It is about the Spiritual Journey in developing your relationship with Him during your preparation for Confirmation. 

2. The Holy Spirit, which you will receive in Confirmation, will strengthen your mind by giving you the Light of His Understanding, as well as the will power to do good and avoid evil. That includes your personal rejection to not sin. Should you struggle or fall, the Sacrament of Confession will help you in to get back to God. He will even give you strength to come to Confession, knowing you need of Him. 

a. Actual Grace stays with you all your life, so long as you need it to do good, and to avoid evil. 

b. Along with this grace, the Holy Spirit gives to you Seven Gifts that will make you into an amazing person. 

Think of it like Superman. What makes him amazing? The power of the Sun. For us, it's not just the Sun that gives us natural strengths (like Vitamin D), it is the Son who provides the Physical and Spiritual Strength to become Holy. 

Kal-El, or Clark Kent is taught by his father about his strength and power. Putting on the SUIT is like receiving the Mark of the Holy Spirit. The SYMBOL on his chest is of Hope - it is the same with us a Christians - the symbol is the Cross. After receiving it, Clark has to teach himself how to fly, and to control his gifts. He will fall, here and there, but he has to get up again. This is our Christian experience - we are given Spiritual Gifts that we must learn to adapt to, use them for good, and to become extraordinary - a Saint. 

Let us pray:

COME, O Creator Spirit blest,
And in our souls take up Your rest,
Come with Your grace and Heavenly aid,
And fill the hearts which You have made.

Great Paraclete! To You we cry,
O highest gift of God most high!
O fount of life! O fire of love!
And sweet anointing from above.

You in Your sevenfold gifts art known,
The finger of God's hand we own;
The promise of the Father, You!
Who dost the tongue with power endow.

Kindle our senses from above,
And make our hearts o'erflow with love;
With patience firm and virtue high,
The weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
And grant us, Your true peace instead;
So shall we not, with You for guide,
Turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Your grace on us bestow
The Father and the Son to know,
And You through endless times confessed
Of both the Eternal Spirit blest.

All glory while the ages run
Be to the Father and the Son
Who rose from death; the same to You,
O Holy Spirit, eternally. Amen.

Our Father...

Hail Mary...

Glory Be...

Queen of Angels, pray for us. 

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HOMEWORK # 12 - Due Sunday

I - Reflection Question

1. Choose one of the Scripture Passages in "I, 3.": How was love shown?  

2. Which Commandment do you struggle with? How do you want the Holy Spirit to help you?

   

II - Read Acts of the Apostles Chapter 25 & 26 - Answer these questions

1.       Who does St. Paul appeal to?

2.       Who was the King that wanted to hear from St. Paul? Why? 

3.       What did St. Paul say to the King about the dead?

4.       When speaking the King who did  St. Paul mention about imprisoning? Why? What changed his mind?

5.       In St. Paul’s testimony to the King, what event made him change his ways?

6.       What were the words of the King about setting St. Paul free? Could he have done it? What did he                 say? 

Never Surrender: The Gift of Hope (Lesson 12)

 The saints have written to us about HOPE:

I - What is HOPE? 

1. HOPE is the divine virtue:

a. It is part of God's strength, which He gives to you in Baptism. This VIRTUE grows during your Spiritual Journey in Confirmation, till you receive the Sacrament. Think of it like Neo in the Matrix:

Neo is given the ability to defend himself through a software download of Martial Arts. It is similar to how God puts in us His Grace, and Virtues, like HOPE, into our very being. Afterwards, Neo is tested. He needs to practice with Morphius, to learn how this gift works within life. Here, Confirmation is the SEAL that marks you with HOPE, and continues to strengthen you. In the video, Morphius explains the rules of the environment, but Neo cannot see past the program of the Matrix. He has to control his gifts within the Matrix, like we have to learn & exercise our spiritual gift of HOPE through life. Morphius finishes the lesson with, "Is that air you're breathing?" In the mind of Neo, he believes that Matrix controls His very being. In Truth, God does control our destiny, but it is mystery that God allows us to learn it, explore it, and experience it. 

b. God gives us this gift of HOPE, so that we may know Him as our True Eternal Happiness.

c. In times of struggle, hardship, or doubt, God will remind us about our HOPE in HIM, which will draw us to God for what we truly need. Read the Gospel of St Matthew 1:18-25, St Joseph is given HOPE by the message of an Angel.)

II - What does Scripture tell us about HOPE? 

1. Jesus heals the son of an Official who HOPES - Gospel of St. John 4:46-54

2. A woman's HOPE saves her from suffering - Gospel of St Luke 8:42-48

3. The HOPE to see - Gospel of St. Matthew 9:27-31

4. HOPE to all that Christ will liberate us from evil - Gospel of St. Mark 9:14-29

5. Ask Our Father in the Name of Jesus - Gospel of St John 14:7-14

6. Our experience living in the Love of Christ - Gospel of St. John 15:7-11

                               

Let us pray to the Holy Spirit...

COME, O Creator Spirit blest,
And in our souls take up Your rest,
Come with Your grace and Heavenly aid,
And fill the hearts which You have made.

Great Paraclete! To You we cry,
O highest gift of God most high!
O fount of life! O fire of love!
And sweet anointing from above.

You in Your sevenfold gifts art known,
The finger of God's hand we own;
The promise of the Father, You!
Who dost the tongue with power endow.

Kindle our senses from above,
And make our hearts o'erflow with love;
With patience firm and virtue high,
The weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
And grant us, Your true peace instead;
So shall we not, with You for guide,
Turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Your grace on us bestow
The Father and the Son to know,
And You through endless times confessed
Of both the Eternal Spirit blest.

All glory while the ages run
Be to the Father and the Son
Who rose from death; the same to You,
O Holy Spirit, eternally. Amen.

Send us your Spirit and we will be created. And you will renew the face of the earth. 

The Act of Hope...

O my God, trusting in your promises, and because you are faithful, powerful, and merciful, I hope, through the merits of Christ, for the pardon of my sins, final perseverance, and the blessed glory of heaven. Amen

Our Father...

Hail Mary...

Glory Be...

Queen of Angels, pray for us. 

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HOMEWORK # 11 - Due Sunday

I - Reflection Question

1. In Line #2; Which of the 5 Scripture Passages represents your experience today? Which character are you in the in the passage? Why? 

II - Read Acts of the Apostles Chapter 23 & 24 - Answer these questions 

1.       Who was St. Paul speaking to at the Sanhedrin when he was confronting the High Priests?

2.       What did St. Paul say he was on Trial for? 

3.       How many people wanted to conspire in killing St. Paul?

4.       Who escorted St. Paul to safety?

5.       What was the Hope St. Paul was talking about?

6.       What city was St. Paul a captive?

I Believe - The Gift of Faith (Lesson 11)

 1. In your spiriual journey towards receiving Confirmation, Our Father and Our Lord have sent us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives within us, like He lives in the Church. 

a. The Holy Spirit is the one that makes me Holy. The word Holy comes from the Latin word "Sanctus", which means "set apart". It is God's Grace in your life that makes you Holy. We call this Sanctifying Grace. Think of it like a electricity flowing through wires to activate a light fixture, or to charge your devices through an outlet. Once plugged into the outlet, the device responds to the electricity. 

b. The Holy Spirit came to us during our Baptism, when your parents brought you to the Trinity. Your parents spoke for you, and made a promise with your sponsors to walk with you in your spiritual journey. Here begins your personal journey to FAITH.

I - What is Faith?

1. We experience FAITH in ordinary ways. One way close to home is when you are asked to do a task - Let's say at home: Like a chore you are given every week to do. - You are reminded of doing the chore each week, until you remember doing it, and practicing it. When you have memorized the time, and practice of it, you do it without being told. It comes natural, meaning, "I do it because I am helping out my family maintain the house."

a. FAITH comes in - you know that the good you do will be recognized, acknowledged, and possibly rewarded. By experience, your parent, or a family member will respond to your work. 

i. FAITH goes as far as how you interact with your teachers, your employer, or your mentors. 

ii. It is what we call a Human Faith, which comes from this Spiritual FAITH that helps us to trust in God, and those He has sent to help us. 

2. FAITH is the divine VIRTUE by which we firmly believe, on the word of God, all the truths He has made known. 

In Sacred Scripture we learn about FAITH:

Our Lord Walks on Water. (Matthew 14:22-33) 

Our Lord calls us to believe. (John 6:60-71)

Jesus cures a little girl through the pleading of her mother (Matthew 15:21-28)

Jesus cures the man who cannot hear and speak. (Mark 7:31-37)

St. Peter cures a man who wants to walk (Act 3:1-10)

a. A VIRTUE is a habit which comes with God's grace and helps us to do good, more easily, because we have practiced them through maturing. 

Jesus tell us how the Holy Spirit will Act in us. (John 16:5-15)

i. The word VIRTUE comes from the Latin word VIRTŪS which means, "Maleness, & worth". In other words, it means STRENGTH. 

ii. This STRENGTH is spiritual, which God blesses you through SANCTIFYING GRACE. God gives you new life. With this life, you share in the life and love of God. You also have His STRENGTH to 'Make it in life". Spiritual FAITH means you have Trust in Him. 

b. There are three important VIRTUES that He gives to us for our Holiness - FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE (which we sometimes call CHARITY). 

i. CHARITY is love that is shown to others, or we say, Love in Action.

Let us pray to the Holy Spirit...

COME, O Creator Spirit blest, And in our souls take up Your rest, Come with Your grace and Heavenly aid, And fill the hearts which You have made. Great Paraclete! To You we cry, O highest gift of God most high! O fount of life! O fire of love! And sweet anointing from above. You in Your Sevenfold gifts are known, The finger of God's hand we own; The promise of the Father, You! Who do the tongue with power endow. Kindle our senses from above, And make our hearts over flow with love; with patience firm and virtue high, the weakness of our flesh supply. Far from us drive the foe we dread, And grant us Your true peace instead; So shall we not, with You for guide, Turn from the path of life aside. Oh, may Your grace on us bestow the Father and the Son to know, and You through endless times confessed of both the Eternal Spirit blest. All glory while the ages run, be to the Father and the Son, who rose from death; and glory, too, O Holy Spirit, given to me. Amen. 

Send us your Spirit and we will be created. And you will renew the face of the earth. 

The Act of Faith...

O my God, I firmly believe all the truths that the holy Catholic Church believes and teaches; I believe these truths, O Lord, because of You, the infallible Truth, have revealed them to her; in this faith I am resolved to live and die. Amen

Our Father...

Hail Mary...

Glory Be...

Queen of Angels, pray for us. 

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HOMEWORK # 11 - Due Sunday

I - Reflection Question

1. In Line #2; Which of the 5 Scripture Passages represents your experience today? Which character in the passage reminds you of yourself? Why? 

II - Read Acts of the Apostles Chapter 21 & 22 - Answer these questions

1. Who told Paul not to go to the City of Jerusalem? 

2. Paul went to the House of Philip - what did the author mean that Philip was "one of the seven"? What was the gift that Philip's daughters have? 

3. Who came to visit Paul during his time with Philip? What did Philip tell and show Paul, if he went to Jerusalem? What was Paul's response to the people?

4. When Paul was arrested. what did he say to the Commander that convinced him to grant permission to speak before the Jewish crowd?

5. Who did Paul mention as his teacher of the law and his zeal for God?

6. What did Paul say to the Commander when he threatened to scourge him (Acts 22:24-29)?

This Is My Desire: To Be You (Lesson 10)

 What does it mean to be a WITNESS?

The word WITNESS comes from the Latin word Testimonium, which means to see, hear, or know by personal presence or my perception. To be present at an event, a spectator or bystander. From a religious perspective, it is towards a person, or an event(s) of where and what that person did that has affected your life. We call this a MARTYR. 

A MARTYR is a WITNESS who surrenders his or her life, like Christ did on the Cross. The Latin word for MARTYR is Martyris For the MARTYR, if  "Christ died to save me, I will do the same out of love, for Him." We've read an example of a Martyr named St. Stephen, who is the First Martyr of the Church. (Acts of the Apostles Chapter 6, & Chapter 7)

I - Confirmation Makes You A Witness.

1. When we receive Confirmation, the sacrament IMPRINTS on us the power of Christ to speak about your reason for following Him, to our family, our friends, our neighbors, community, our Church, and the world; of how He has made you AWESOME. Your attitude, your feelings, the way you look at life and live it, will make a deep impression on those around you. 

a. You become fearless in your journey to live your vocation in Christ. 

b. Your loyalty to Him is not out of force, but out of a genuine love for Him who made you a different person. Click on this link: OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS CATHOLICS

c. You Trust in Him out of love, and you are more willing to know Him, learn from Him, and His teachings, by way of the Scriptures, through the lives of the Saints, through preaching of the Priests or Deacons at Mass, your spiritual formation, and continual formation for the journey. 

2. You are not in this alone - your classmates are in this Journey with you - as you bond together through prayer and service, your spirituality will deepen with Christ. 

a. Confirmation is a Catholic Action - A choice you make that will transform your life and the lives you serve. 

b. In Baptism, the Spirit of God will bless you as His child. In Confirmation, the Spirit of God confirms your Mission to bring others to Christ. You have His Power to make this world a better place.

II - The Sacraments of Initiation Strengthen Your Desire To Be Like Him

1. Before my Confirmation, I renew my Baptismal Promises - the ones my Parents and Godparents said for me. Why? Because it is my choice to live for Christ, and I urged by Him to grown in His Divine Strength. 

2. Like our bodies need food, water, exercise, air, the sun, contact with people - you need spirituality: the sacraments, prayer, hearing the word of God, studying His teachings, the practice of your faith in the service of others. 

3. Our Lord gives us the Eucharist - His Body and Blood on Sunday, and everyday - to give us strength to talk about Him. 

4. Other strengths He gives us:

a. Praying for people.

b. Being a good example - Imitating Christ in your Life.

c. To suffer bravely when you have to. 

d. By doing works of kindness (Works of Mercy)

e. Helping in the Mission of Christ. 

f. Encourage Life Vocations (Single Life, Marriage, Diaconate, the Priesthood, Religious Life.)

g. Joining in the Apostolic work of the Parish.

h. Receiving the Body of Christ on Sunday, and possibly daily, as well as going to Confession. 

5. One does not need Confirmation to make it to Heaven, but it can give tremendous strength to us to reach for God in Heaven. 

a. If you received Baptism, you should receive Confirmation. 

b. Like Communion, we must be in a state of grace. So we need to Make a Good Confession, like the one we did before receiving our Communion. Click on the video. 

6. To help you along your Spiritual Journey in receiving a Confirmation and living it, you need a Sponsor. He or she must have

a. Received Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation

b. Be 16 years or older

c. Be a practicing Catholic (Going to Sunday Mass, and able to receive Communion)

d. Can be Single, or Married by Church

This is a great example of a Sponsor who helps a teen in their struggle to grow. As part of the Journey, he calls the Teen's father to participate in this Spiritual Journey. 

NOTE: You can pick your Sponsor from Baptism, to be your Sponsor for Confirmation. 

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HOMEWORK # 11 - Due Sunday

I - Reflection Question

1. What is stands out about this image of Superman? In your Journey with Christ, what do you think Christ is asking from you? 

II - Read Acts of the Apostles Chapter 19 & 20 - Answer these questions

Chapter 19 & 20

1.       St. Paul encountered people who baptized differently – who baptized them? What did St. Paul do to these people?

2.    St. Paul did mighty works in the hands of the Lord; what were the two of things that touched Paul’s skin and were used to heal people?

3.       What happened to a Jewish High Priest who tried to use the name of Jesus in an exorcism?

4.       What was the issue with the Silversmiths? Who stopped the riot?

5.       When St. Paul was about to set sail to Syria, who tried to get plot against him?

6.       Who fell asleep while St. Paul was speaking? What did St. Paul do?

7.       Why was St. Paul hurrying to Jerusalem? What was that feast day about? (See notes – History of Confirmation)

8.       In Paul’s farewell speech, why did the Christian’s cried and hugged St. Paul? In your own words, what did Paul tell them?