Lectio: Confirmation
9 Episodes
Confirmation is mysterious.
Is Confirmation really necessary if we’ve been baptized? What is the connection between the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the graces bestowed at Confirmation? What does the Bible have to say about the meanings of the actions and prayers found in the Rite of Confirmation? Why are there different practices in the Church about the proper age to receive Confirmation? How does Confirmation strengthen us to endure persecution as we witness to Jesus? Discover the answers to these questions and more in this Lectio series on the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Join renowned biblical scholar Dr. Brant Pitre as he delves into the riches of Scripture and Tradition to shed light on this all too often misunderstood sacrament. Gain a deeper understanding of the gifts the Holy Spirit gives us in Confirmation and how we might live them out more fully as we take up our crosses and follow Christ.
With the hallmark artistry of the Augustine Institute, this dynamic video program and accompanying workbook combine an in-depth biblical study with insightful questions, clarifications of the many misconceptions about Confirmation, and personal reflections that will strengthen your faith as you seek to bear witness to the good news in your own life.
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38:41Episode 1The Misunderstood Sacrament
Episode 1
Why is Confirmation so mysterious? Dr. Pitre opens this study by considering the various ways that the Sacrament of Confirmation is understood today along with common misconceptions that surround it. He then explores the close connection between Confirmation and the person of the Holy Spirit.
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36:03Episode 2The Grace of Pentecost
Episode 2
Dr. Pitre looks at both the Old and New Testaments to unpack the Jewish roots of the feast of Pentecost and how the Holy Spirit’s decent upon the disciples at Pentecost came to be associated with the sacrament of Confirmation.
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39:43Episode 3The Sacrament of Evangelization
Episode 3
What does it mean to call Confirmation the “sacrament of evangelization”? In this session, Dr. Pitre unpacks how the anointing of Apostles at Pentecost empowered them to proclaim the good news to all nations. In like manner, Confirmation gives us the grace to spread the Gospel.
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39:40Episode 4The Rite of Confirmation
Episode 4
To understand the rich symbolism of the Church’s celebration of Confirmation, we must turn to the Scriptures. Working through the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Pitre identifies the scriptural roots of the three essential elements of the Rite: anointing with oil, laying on of hands, and being “seale...
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37:00Episode 5The Completion of Baptism
Episode 5
Dr. Pitre draws on the Scriptures and writings of the early Church Fathers to reveal the close connection between the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. He shows how Confirmation increases and deepens the graces of Baptism and strengthens us for spiritual warfare.
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39:09Episode 6The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Episode 6
How do the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit named by the prophet Isaiah relate to the graces of Confirmation? By looking closely at the New Testament’s portrait of Jesus, Dr. Pitre details how the gifts of the Holy Spirit enable Christians to share in Jesus’s Messianic mission.
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39:45Episode 7The Sacrament of Martyrdom
Episode 7
In the Gospels, we find Jesus warning his disciples that all who follow him will face suffering and opposition. In this session, Dr. Pitre turns his attention to the ways the Confirmation equips disciples to bear witness to Christ in the face of persecution, even to the point of death.
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39:47Episode 8The Timing of Confirmation
Episode 8
When should a person be confirmed? Dr. Pitre explores the diverse practices within the Church regarding the age of Confirmation. He emphasizes that a clear grasp of what the graces of Confirmation are ordered toward is essential to considering how best to prepare for receiving it.
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34:15Episode 9Question and Answer
Episode 9
Dr. Pitre takes time to answer numerous questions about the sacrament of Confirmation and material covered over the course of the study.