Here you will find the content and instructions for the Sponsor - Candidates Sessions. These sessions build on and complement those that we are doing in small group at the Church each month. Therefore it is important to complete them in the alloted time given.
Find time to set aside with your Sponsor. Parents too can join these sessions, and you can also get together with a friend or two and their sponsors and create a small group.
Read through the outline provided, engage in some discussion with the questions provided. If the session raises questions of your own, spend time discussing questions you have. If a questions wasn't answered you can submit the question in the form below.
Close with prayer
Fill out the form at the bottom as evidence of doing this session with your Sponsor.
La Confirmación nos llama a ser testigos de fe y nos brinda las gracias para hacerlo.
Ser testigo significa ser un mártir; el martirio no significa necesariamente morir por la fe, sino que requiere estar dispuesto a sacrificarse y sufrir por la ver dad.
Cuando aprendamos a ser mejores testigos, debemos observar los ejemplos de otros miembros de la Iglesia — particularmente María y los santos.
Confirmation calls us to be witnesses of faith and provides us with the graces to do so.
Being a witness means being a martyr; martyrdom does not necessarily mean dying for the faith, but requires a willingness to sacrifice and suffer for truth.
When learning how to become better witnesses, we should look to the examples of other members of the Church — particularly Mary and the saints.
Mártir: Testigo de la verdad en la fe, en el que el mártir sufre incluso la muerte para ser fiel a Cristo.
Santo: El “sagrado” que lleva una vida en unión con Dios a través de la gracia de Cristo y recibe la recompensa de la vida eterna.
ESCRITURAS: 2 Timoteo 1,6-8; Hechos 2,1-11; Mateo 16,24-27
CATECISMO: 954-959, 963-969, 1302-1304, 2471-2474
SCRIPTURE
2 Timothy 1:6-8
Acts 2:1-11
Matthew 16:24-27
CATECHISM
954-959
963-969
1302-1304
2471-2474
Ser un Mártir
La Confirmación es una nueva etapa de nuestras vidas dentro de la Iglesia. Al igual que
con cualquier nuevo capítulo, trae nuevos desafíos. Uno de estos nuevos desafíos es ser
un mejor testigo de la fe.
CIC 1303-1304
Proclama Hechos 2,1-11.
Mientras Jesús estaba en la tierra, los apóstoles fueron testigos de fe. Trajeron a la gente
a Cristo, aprendieron de sus enseñanzas y observaron cómo Él hacía milagros. Pero en
Pentecostés, los apóstoles se convirtieron en testigos de la fe de una manera totalmente
nueva. Recibir el Espíritu Santo convirtió a los apóstoles en líderes en la fe en lugar de
seguidores. Las gracias del Espíritu les permitieron proclamar audazmente el Evangelio.
CIC 1302
La Confirmación nos transforma de la misma manera. Desde nuestro bautismo, hemos
sido testigos de Cristo. Pero en la Confirmación, el Espíritu Santo nos da muchas gracias
nuevas, incluida una nueva fuerza para compartir y defender la fe.
CIC 1303-1304
Cuando alguien es un “testigo de la fe”, comparten la fe en sus palabras y acciones. En
los escritos de los primeros días de la Iglesia, las palabras “testigo” y “mártir” se utilizaron
indistintamente. Los mártires son aquellos que son fieles a Cristo hasta el punto de morir
por su fe.
CIC 2471-2474
Es poco probable (pero no imposible) que se nos pida que muramos por Cristo. Pero hablar
sin temor y vivir nuestra fe nos hará sufrir a veces. Las gracias de la Confirmación nos permiten soportar ese sufrimiento y voluntariamente entregar nuestras vidas por Cristo,
incluso si no se nos pide el martirio.
Sé Mi Padrino o Madrina
Cuando te confirmes, recibirás gracias para hacerte un mejor testigo de la fe. ¿Pero
qué significa eso prácticamente? ¿Cómo vives cada día como testigo de fe? Cuando
aprendemos algo nuevo, cómo andar en bicicleta, ayuda si alguien nos enseña esa
habilidad o nos proporciona un ejemplo que podamos seguir. Al aprender a ser testigos de
la fe, tiene sentido mirar a las personas que han vivido y está n viviendo la fe.
Pide a los jóvenes que identifiquen a alguien que sea un buen testigo de la fe.
Cristo sabía que no podíamos vivir la fe por nuestra cuenta, así que estableció la Iglesia
para unir a todos los fieles y permitirnos apoyarnos unos a otros a medida que crecemos
en santidad. Para que nuestra fe florezca, es vital que nos rodeemos de personas que
viven bien la fe Católica.
En la Confirmación, elegimos un padrino que nos muestra cómo ser testigos de fe. A diferencia
de otros modelos a seguir en nuestras vidas, no elegimos a nuestros padrinos de Confirmación
simplemente porque admiramos sus personalidades o talentos. Un padrino de confirmación
debe comprometerse a acompañarte a medida que los dos crecen juntos en la fe.
Cristo y la Iglesia han establecido el marco para vivir una auténtica vida Católica. Pero
incluso dentro de ese marco, ser testigo de fe se ve un poco diferente para cada persona.
Los padrinos de la Confirmación deben comprender los desafíos que enfrentas en tu fe y
el llamarte a la santidad a través de esas luchas.
Cuéntales a los jóvenes a quién elegiste ser tu padrino o madrina de Confirmación, por qué
lo elegiste y cómo te hayan ayudado.
Al buscar testigos de fe, es fácil pensar automáticamente en quienes nos rodean. Es
drásticamente importante para nosotros tener personas en nuestra vida que sean buenos
ejemplos de fe, pero no debemos olvidar que hay tres grupos en la Iglesia que pueden
ayudarnos mientras seguimos a Cristo.
Amigos Bien Conectados
Como Católicos, sabemos que la muerte no es el final. Cuando morimos, esperamos estar
con Cristo en el cielo; así que la Iglesia no es sólo aquellos en la Tierra, sino también
aquellos que están en el purgatorio y en el cielo.
Cada una de las tres etapas de la Iglesia puede ayudarnos de diferentes maneras. Los
miembros de la Iglesia en la Tierra, como nuestros padrinos de Confirmación, obviamente
están con nosotros aquí y ahora. Es fácil comunicarse con ellos y recibir su ayuda cuando
necesitamos apoyo en nuestra fe. Tienen ideas y consejos especiales sobre cómo
testimoniar bien la fe en medio de los desafíos de nuestra sociedad moderna.
Los que están en el cielo, es decir, los santos, nos ofrecen algo increíblemente precioso.
Los santos son los mejores testigos de la fe. Han enfrentado los desafíos de esta vida y
se han mantenido fieles a Cristo y a la Iglesia a través de todo esto. Pero los santos nos
ofrecen mucho más que su ejemplo. De todos los miembros de la Iglesia, los santos son
los más unidos a Cristo, ya que están unidos a Él en el cielo. Quieren pasar la eternidad
alabando a Dios y ayudando a la Iglesia en la Tierra.
CIC 956-957
Constantemente presentes ante Dios en el cielo los santos continuamente interceden por
nosotros y comparten las gracias de Dios con nosotros cuando enfrentamos nuestras
luchas diarias. Así como los miembros de la Iglesia en la Tierra pueden ayudarnos a
acercarnos más a Cristo, los santos (por su conexión aún más profunda con Dios) quieren
ayudarnos a crecer en amistad con el Señor.
CIC 956-957
En la Confirmación, traemos dos testigos de fe a nuestras vidas de nuevas maneras. No
sólo elegimos un padrino de Confirmación, sino que también elegimos un nombre nuevo
— el nombre de un santo al que buscamos imitar y cuya intercesión por nosotros se vuelve
mucho más personal. Cuando busques un santo de Confirmación, pregúntale al Señor qué
santo quiere que conozcas mejor. Mantén tus ojos y oídos abiertos para escuchar a los
santos que puedan estar intentando agarrar tu atención.
Cuando buscamos un padrino o una madrina, mencionamos la importancia de alguien que
te conoce bien y puede llamarle a la santidad de maneras específicas. ¡Lo mismo es cierto
de un santo de confirmación! Busca un santo con quien tengas cosas en común. Tenemos
muchos santos en la Iglesia, por lo que tienes gran posibilidad de tener cosas en común
con la vida y circunstancias con alguno de ellos.
Entre los santos hay un santo en particular que es el testigo perfecto de la fe. Alguien
que, a diferencia de los otros santos, vivió una vida perfecta mientras estuvo en la Tierra,
dándonos un ejemplo perfecto de cómo seguir a Cristo. Alguien cuya intercesión por
nosotros y amistad con nosotros es totalmente única.
CIC 967-968
María no sólo es la madre de Jesús, también es nuestra madre. Ella siguió a Cristo cuando
estableció la Iglesia, permaneció con los apóstoles mientras continuaban compartiendo
el Evangelio y continúa cuidando de la Iglesia incluso después de su Asunción al cielo.
La perfección de María puede parecer intimidante, pero nos ama a la perfección, ama a
Cristo a la perfección y no quiere nada más que llevarnos a su amor perfecto. A medida
que aprendemos a ser mejores testigos de la fe, María es nuestra mejor aliada.
CIC 963-966, 969
Mientras te preparas y recibes la Confirmación, y comienzas a vivir tu papel en la Iglesia de
una manera nueva, siempre mira a aquellos que nos han precedido con fe: nuestra Madre
Santísima, los santos en el cielo, las almas en el purgatorio y los que están en Tierra. La
Iglesia es una familia; todos existimos para apoyarnos unos a otros. Todos en la Iglesia
necesitan tu testimonio de fe tanto como tú necesitas el de ellos.
CIC 959
Confirmation is a brand new stage of our lives within the Church. As with any new chapter, it brings new challenges. One of these new challenges is being a better witness of faith.
CCC 1303-1304
Read Acts 2:1-11.
While Jesus was on Earth, the apostles were witnesses of faith. They brought people to Christ, learned from His teachings, and watched as He performed miracles. But at Pentecost, the apostles became witnesses of faith in a totally new way. Receiving the Holy Spirit turned the apostles into leaders in faith rather than followers. The Spirit’s graces enabled them to boldly proclaim the Gospel themselves.
CCC 1302
Confirmation transforms us in the same way. Since our baptism, we have been witnesses of Christ. But in Confirmation, the Holy Spirit gives us many new graces, including new strength to share and defend the faith.
CCC 1303-1304
When someone is a “witness of faith,” they share the faith in their words and actions. In writings from the earliest days of the Church, the words “witness” and “martyr” were used interchangeably. Martyrs are those who are faithful to Christ to the point of dying for their faith. CCC 2471-2474
Read Matthew 16:24-27.
It is unlikely — though not impossible — that we will be asked to die for Christ. But fearlessly speaking about and living our faith will cause us to suffer at times. The graces from Confirmation enable us to endure that suffering and willingly lay down our lives for Christ, even if martyrdom is not asked of us.
Sponsor Me
When you get confirmed, you will receive graces to make you a better witness of faith. But what does that practically mean? How do you live every day as a witness of faith? When learning anything new — like how to ride a bike, for example — it helps if someone teaches us that skill or provides an example we can follow. In learning how to be witnesses of faith, it makes sense to look to people who have lived and are living the faith.
Christ knew we could not live the faith on our own, so He established the Church to unite all of the faithful and enable us to support one another as we grow in holiness. For our faith to flourish, it is vital that we surround ourselves with people who live the Catholic faith well.
In Confirmation, we choose a sponsor who shows us how to be a witness of faith. Unlike other role models in our lives, we do not choose our Confirmation sponsors simply because we admire their personalities or talents. A confirmation sponsor must be committed to accompanying you as you both grow in faith together.
Christ and the Church have established the framework for living an authentic Catholic life. But even within that framework, being a witness of faith looks slightly different for each person. Confirmation sponsors should understand the challenges you face in your faith and call you to holiness through those struggles.
Tell your Candidate about whom you chose as your Confirmation sponsor, why you chose them, and how they have helped you.
When looking for witnesses of faith, it is easy to automatically think of those around us. It is drastically important for us to have people in our lives who are good examples of faith, but we should not forget that there are three stages of the Church — three groups who can help us as we follow Christ.
CCC 954
Friends In High Places
As Catholics, we know that death is not the end. When we die, we hope to be with Christ in heaven; so the Church is not just those on Earth, but also those who are in purgatory and in heaven.
CCC 954-955
Each of the three stages of the Church can help us in different ways. Members of the Church on Earth — like our Confirmation sponsors — are obviously with us here and now. It is easy to communicate with them and receive their help when we need support in our faith. They have special insights and advice on how to witness to the faith well amid the challenges of our modern society.
Those in heaven — the saints — offer us something incredibly precious. The saints are the ultimate witnesses of faith. They have faced the challenges of this life and remained faithful to Christ and the Church through it all. But the saints offer us much more than just their example. Of all of the members of the Church, the saints are the most united to Christ, as they are joined with Him in heaven. They want to spend eternity praising God and helping the Church on Earth.
CCC 956-957
Constantly present before God in heaven, the saints continually intercede for us and share God’s graces with us as we face our daily struggles. Just as the members of the Church on Earth can help us grow closer to Christ, the saints — who have an even deeper connection to God — want to help us grow in friendship with the Lord.
CCC 956-957
In Confirmation, we bring two witnesses of faith into our lives in new ways. We not only choose a Confirmation sponsor, but we also choose a new name — a saint whom we seek to imitate and whose intercession for us becomes that much more personal. As you look for a Confirmation saint, ask the Lord which saints He wants you to know better. Keep your eyes and ears open for saints who may be reaching out to you.
When looking for a sponsor, we mentioned the importance of someone who knows you well and can call you on to holiness in specific ways. The same is true of a confirmation saint! Look for a saint with whom you hold things in common. We have many saints in the Church, so you are bound to share similar hobbies and life circumstances with someone.
Among the saints is one particular saint who is the perfect witness of faith. Someone who, unlike the other saints, lived a perfect life while on Earth, giving us a perfect example of how to follow Christ. Someone whose intercession for us and friendship with us is totally unique.
Mary is not only Jesus’ mother, she is our mother, too. She followed Christ as He established the Church, remained with the apostles as they continued to share the Gospel, and continues to care for the Church even after her Assumption into heaven. Mary’s perfection may seem intimidating, but she loves us perfectly, loves Christ perfectly, and wants nothing more than to bring us into her perfect love. As we learn to be better witnesses of faith, Mary is our greatest ally.
CCC 963-966, 969
As you prepare for and receive Confirmation, and begin living your role in the Church in a new way, always look to those who have gone before you in faith like the Blessed Mother and the saints in heaven. We need to continue to pray for those seeking heaven like the souls in purgatory and those on Earth. The Church is a family; we all exist to support one another. Everyone in the Church needs your witness of faith as much as you need theirs.
CCC 959
1. ¿Cuál es tu historia familiar favorita?
2. ¿Hay algún santo al que admires o con quien te relaciones? ¿Cómo puede su ejemplo fortalecer tu testimonio de fe?
1. What is your favorite family story?
2. What role has Mary played in your faith journey? How can she help you as you continue on this journey?
3. Are there any saints you look up to or relate to? How can their example strengthen your witness of faith?
Litany of Saints
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy virgin of virgins, pray for us.
St. Michael, pray for us.
St. Gabriel, pray for us.
St. Raphael, pray for us.
All you holy angels and archangels, pray for us.
St. Blaise, pray for us.
St. Agatha, pray for us.
St. Lucy, pray for us.
St. Leo of Patara, pray for us.
St. Ignatius of Antioch, pray for us.
All you holy men and women, pray for us.
All you holy saints of God, pray for us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer. Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
If we look at the example of the disciples, we see that we must first get to know Jesus by spending time with Him. It is through time spent with Him that the disciples learned His teachings and built an intimate friendship with Him, which allowed them to love and worship Him.
The Church has given us the tools we need to live out our call to discipleship. We find our strength and courage in the Sacraments of Confirmation, Reconciliation, and the Eucharist.
Jesus is calling each of us to be a disciple. By spending time in prayer, frequenting the sacraments, and using our gifts to glorify God, we can become the disciples we are called to be.
Si miramos el ejemplo de los discípulos, vemos que primero debemos conocer a Jesús al pasando tiempo con él. Es a través del tiempo que pasaron con Él que los discípulos aprendieron Sus enseñanzas y construyeron una amistad íntima con Él, lo que les permitió amarlo y adorarlo.
La Iglesia nos ha dado las herramientas que necesitamos para vivir nuestro llamado al discipulado. Encontramos nuestra fuerza y valor en los Sacramentos de Confirmación, Reconciliación y Eucaristía.
Jesús nos llama a cada uno de nosotros a ser discípulos. Al pasar tiempo en oración, frecuentar los sacramentos y usar nuestros dones para glorificar a Dios, podemos convertirnos en los discípulos que estamos llamados a ser.
Disciples: Those who accepted Jesus’ message to follow Him. Jesus associated His disciples with His own life, revealed the mystery of the Kingdom to the disciples, and gave them a share in His mission, His joy, and His sufferings.
Sacrament: An efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Discípulos: Los que aceptaron el mensaje de Jesús para seguirlo. Jesús asoció a sus discípulos con Su propia vida, reveló el misterio del Reino a los discípulos y les dio una participación en Su misión, Su alegría y Sus sufrimientos.
Sacramento: Un signo de gracia eficaz, instituido por Cristo y confiado a la Iglesia, mediante el cual la vida divina se nos entrega a través de la obra del Espíritu Santo.
SCRIPTURE
Mark 1:16-20
Mark 3:13-19
Matthew 10
CATECHISM
562
1303-1305
Calling of the Disciples
Sometimes as we read the Bible, we think about the people as storybook characters. It can be hard to imagine them as real men and women, but the truth is that when we read the Gospels, we are reading about people who lived and walked this Earth. However, we do not take this simply on faith, as there is historical evidence that Jesus and His disciples walked and preached over 2,000 years ago.
The men and women we read about in the Bible are just as real as you and I. If you visit Rome, you will walk the streets where Sts. Peter and Paul walked. As I read the following passage from the Gospel of Mark, imagine you are one of the disciples; not simply story book characters, but normal human beings.
Read Mark 1:16-20
What do you notice about these men? What makes these seemingly ordinary fishermen extraordinary?
As you were imagining yourself in that story did you think, “That is crazy! They do not even know this man”? Did you think about the fact that fishing was their livelihood, that they had families and friends, that there were things they loved about where they lived? And yet, “immediately they left their nets and followed Him.”
Mark 1:18
We learn later in the Gospel that these men were far from perfect. But in this encounter, these imperfect men immediately followed Jesus. Their haste is the start of their discipleship. Although they would continue to stumble on their walk with Jesus, these imperfect, searching men were the ones Jesus called to be His disciples, His most intimate friends.
Mark 10:35-40, 14:66-72
Becoming a Disciple
We are each called to be disciples, just like Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, and the other apostles. As you read the Gospels, it is clear that people knew of Jesus. Lots of people gathered to hear Him preach or waited among the crowd in the hope of catching a glimpse of Him. It would be hard to find somebody in the United States who has never heard of Jesus, but simply knowing of Jesus does not make you a disciple.
Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John immediately followed Jesus, even though they did not know Him well. They did not have that intimate friendship with Him that they would later have. And yet, they went with Him. They spent time with Him and got to know Him. This is how all relationships begin.
Think about your best friend. You most likely did not become best friends at first sight, as deep friendships take time to form. We are also called to spend time with the Lord, especially through prayer — putting ourselves in the presence of the Lord. That is what prayer is, putting ourselves in the presence of the Lord. A regular prayer life is one of the most essential elements of discipleship. Our discipleship must begin with this time with the Lord. As we get to know Him more, we will become more like Him. Our hearts and lives will be converted to His own.
CCC 1248, 2558-2559, 2565, 2626-2643, 2705-2719
As the disciples got to know Jesus, they heard His teachings, asked questions, and ultimately, had to decide if they believed Him. Some of Jesus’ teaching were hard for the disciples to accept, but ultimately, they believed He spoke the truth.
John 6:60-69
The disciples continued to grow in their relationship with Jesus. They were no longer following a strange man, but their intimate friend. The more Jesus taught them, the more they learned what it meant to love and worship God.
Share a short testimony about how you went from vaguely knowing of Jesus, to spending time with Him, to learning about His teachings, and ultimately, coming to worship and love Him.
The Tools for Discipleship
As we see in the Gospel of Mark, discipleship is not easy. The fishermen had to cast down their nets; they had to leave their livelihood, families, and everything they knew to follow Jesus. However, Jesus left us the Church and the sacraments to give us the strength and courage to follow Him.
The Sacrament of Confirmation is a great tool that will help you live out your call to discipleship. The graces of Confirmation will allow you to know Jesus more deeply.
Read CCC 1303.
Through the Sacrament of Confirmation, you will be united more firmly to Christ, your bond with the Church will be more perfect, and your baptismal graces will be increased and deepened.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is another great tool the Church gives us. We are imperfect, just like the men Jesus called to follow Him, but the Sacrament of Reconciliation allows us to confess our sins and be made new. Just as Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John had to cast down their nets, we too have to cast down our sins and vices so we are able to truly be in the Lord’s presence and become more like Him.
The Mass is the greatest of all of the tools the Lord has given us to become disciples. It is in the Mass that we receive our Lord in the Eucharist. As we consume Him — Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity — we are transformed into Christ Himself. The Mass is the highest form of prayer. At the Mass, heaven reaches down to Earth and we are invited into the worship of God that is happening in heaven.
CCC 1324-1327, 1374, 2177
Through the Mass, we also encounter the communion of saints. These men and women are present with us during the liturgy. When Jesus calls us to be His disciples, He does not expect us to be exactly the same. In the communion of saints, we see that the call to be a disciple is not simply for one type of person. The saints make up a diverse crowd: people of all races and nationalities, rich and poor. There are scholars like St. Thomas Aquinas, lawyers like St. Thomas More, teachers like St. John Bosco, fathers and mothers like Sts. Louis and Marie Zelie Martin.
Include other saints who have impacted your life or the life of your parish.
God gave each of these saints different gifts to live out their discipleship. As they became more like Christ, they became more fully who they were created to be. They were able to use their gifts to worship and glorify God in their own unique ways.
What Does This Mean for You, Right Now?
So, how do you start living out your call to discipleship? First, you must lay down your nets. What is stopping you from following Jesus? What sins are making it hard for you to respond to His call? What relationships are preventing you from giving yourself to the Lord?
Share about how you cast down a couple of the nets in your life in order to follow Jesus.
Second, you must make prayer a part of your daily life. In order to hear the Lord’s call, you must quiet yourself. Spend time in prayer each day. Turn off your cell phone and sit in silence, read your Bible, or pray the rosary. It does not matter what your prayer looks like as long as you put yourself in the presence of God. As you commit to prayer, you will come to know Jesus more intimately. You will develop a greater understanding of His teachings, learn to listen to what He says, and begin to see Him not just as a historical man, but as a man alive and calling you.
Third, you must frequent the sacraments. Call on the graces of your baptism and confirmation. Purify your heart through Reconciliation. Receive the Eucharist regularly. As you enter into prayer and the sacraments, you will become conformed to Christ, which will allow you to love Jesus as He loved the Father. As you become conformed to Christ, you will see the gifts He gave you more clearly. You will see how your uniqueness can allow you to glorify Him — whether it is serving Him through your school work, sports, artwork, or in the way you treat your family and friends. He made you specifically who you are; He made you to be a disciple. He wants you to drop your nets and follow Him so you can be the disciple you are meant to be.
CCC 562
Llamada de los Discípulos
A veces, mientras leemos la Biblia, pensamos en las personas como personajes de los libros de cuentos. Puede ser difícil imaginarlos como hombres y mujeres reales, pero la verdad es que cuando leemos los Evangelios, estamos leyendo sobre las personas que vivieron y caminaron en esta Tierra. Sin embargo, no tomamos esto simplemente por fe, ya que hay evidencia histórica de que Jesús y sus discípulos caminaron y predicaron hace más de 2.000 años.
Los hombres y mujeres sobre los que leemos en la Biblia son tan reales como tú y yo. Si visitas Roma, caminarás por las calles donde caminaron Pedro y Pablo. Mientras lees el siguiente pasaje del Evangelio de Marcos, imagina que eres uno de los discípulos; no simplemente personajes de cuentos, sino seres humanos normales.
Proclama Marcos 1,16-20 y hazles las siguientes preguntas a los jóvenes: ¿Qué observas acerca de estos hombres? ¿Qué hace que estos pescadores aparentemente ordinarios sean extraordinarios?
Cuando te imaginabas a ti mismo en esa historia, pensaste: “¡Eso es una locura! ¿Ni siquiera conocen a ese hombre”? ¿Pensaste en el hecho de que la pesca era su medio de vida, que tenían familiares y amigos, que había cosas que les encantaban de donde vivían? Y, sin embargo, “de inmediato dejaron sus redes y le siguieron”. Marcos 1,18
Más adelante aprendemos en el Evangelio que estos hombres estaban lejos de ser perfectos. Pero en este encuentro, estos hombres imperfectos siguieron inmediatamente a Jesús. Su prisa es el comienzo de su discipulado. Aunque continuarían tropezando en su caminar con Jesús, estos hombres imperfectos y buscadores eran aquellos a quienes Jesús llamó para que fueran sus discípulos, sus amigos más ínti mos. Marcos 10,35-40 y 14,66-72
Convertirse en un Discípulo
Todos estamos llamados a ser discípulos, al igual que Simón Pedro, Andrés, Santiago, Juan y los demás apóstoles. Al leer los evangelios, está claro que la gente sabía de Jesús. Muchas personas se reunieron para escucharlo predicar o esperaron entre la multitud con la esperanza de verlo, aunque fuera de lejos. Sería difícil encontrar a alguien en los Estados Unidos que nunca haya oído hablar de Jesús, pero el simple hecho de conocer a Jesús no lo convierte en un discípulo.
Simón Pedro, Andrés, Santiago y Juan inmediatamente siguieron a Jesús, aunque no lo conocían bien. No tenían esa amistad íntima con Él que más tarde tendrían. Y, sin embargo, fueron con Él. Pasaron tiempo con él y lo conocieron. Así es como comienzan todas las relaciones.
Piensa en tu mejor amigo. Lo más probable es que no se convirtieron en mejores amigos a primera vista, ya que las amistades profundas toman tiempo para formarse. También estamos llamados a pasar tiempo con el Señor, especialmente a través de la oración, poniéndonos en la presencia del Señor. Eso es la oración, ponernos en la presencia del Señor. Una vida de oración regular es uno de los elementos más esenciales del discipulado. Nuestro discipulado debe comenzar con este tiempo con el Señor. A medida que lo conozcamos más, nos volveremos más como Él. Nuestros corazones y vidas se convertirán en los Suyos. CIC 1248, 2558-2559, 2565, 2626-2643, 2705-2719
Cuando los discípulos llegaron a conocer a Jesús, escucharon Sus enseñanzas, hicieron preguntas y tuvieron que decidir si le creyeron. Algunas de las enseñanzas de Jesús fueron difíciles de aceptar para los discípulos, pero al final creyeron que Él decía la verdad. Juan 6,60-69
Los discípulos continuaron creciendo en su relación con Jesús. Ya no seguían a un hombre extraño, sino a su amigo íntimo. Cuanto más les enseñó Jesús, más aprendieron lo que significaba amar y adorar a Dios.
Comparte un breve testimonio acerca de cómo pasaste de conocer vagamente a Jesús, de pasar tiempo con Él, de aprender acerca de Sus enseñanzas y, por último, de adorarlo y amarlo.
Las Herramientas para el Discipulado
Como vemos en el Evangelio de Marcos, el discipulado no es fácil. Los pescadores tuvieron que arrojar sus redes; tuvieron que abandonar sus medios de subsistencia, sus familias y todo lo que sabían para seguir a Jesús. Sin embargo, Jesús nos dejó la Iglesia y los sacramentos para darnos la fuerza y el coraje para seguirlo. El Sacramento de la Confirmación es una gran herramienta que te ayudará a vivir tu llamado al discipulado. Las gracias de la Confirmación te permitirán conocer a Jesús más
profundamente.
Leer CIC 1303.
A través del Sacramento de la Confirmación, se unirán más firmemente a Cristo, su vínculo con la Iglesia será más perfecto y sus gracias bautismales se incrementarán y profundizarán. El Sacramento de la Reconciliación es otra gran herramienta que la Iglesia nos da. Somos imperfectos, al igual que los hombres que Jesús llamó para seguirlo, pero el Sacramento de la Reconciliación nos permite confesar nuestros pecados y ser renovados. Así como Simón Pedro, Andrés, Santiago y Juan tuvieron que arrojar sus redes, nosotros también tenemos que desechar nuestros pecados y vicios para poder estar verdaderamente en la presencia del Señor y llegar a ser más como Él.
La Misa es la más grande de todas las herramientas que el Señor nos ha dado para convertirnos en discípulos. Es en la Misa que recibimos a nuestro Señor en la Eucaristía. A medida que lo consumimos — Cuerpo, Sangre, Alma y Divinidad — somos transformados en Cristo mismo. La Misa es la forma más elevada de oración. En la Misa, el cielo llega a la Tierra y somos invitados a la liturgia celestial. CIC 1324-1327, 1374, 2177
A través de la Misa, también encontramos la comunión de los santos. Estos hombres y mujeres están presentes con nosotros durante la liturgia. Cuando Jesús nos llama a ser sus discípulos, no espera que seamos exactamente iguales. En la comunión de los santos, vemos que el llamado a ser un discípulo no es simplemente para un tipo de persona. Los santos forman una multitud diversa: personas de todas las razas y nacionalidades, ricos y pobres. Hay instruidos como Santo Tomás de Aquino, abogados como Santo Tomás Moro, maestros como San Juan Bosco, padres y madres como el SS. Louis y Marie Zélie Martin.
Incluye a otros santos que hayan impactado tu vida o la vida de tu parroquia.
Dios le dio a cada uno de estos santos diferentes dones para vivir su discipulado. A medida que se volvieron más como Cristo, se volvieron más plenamente quienes fueron creados para ser. Pudieron usar sus dones para adorar y glorificar a Dios de una manera única.
¿Qué Significa Esto Para Ti, Hoy Mismo?
Entonces, ¿cómo empiezas a vivir tu llamado al discipulado? En primer lugar, debes colgar
tus redes. ¿Qué te impide seguir a Jesús? ¿Qué pecados te hacen difícil responder a tu
llamado? ¿Qué relaciones te impiden entregarte al Señor?
Comparte sobre cómo arrojaste algunas redes en tu vida para seguir a Jesús.
Segundo, debes hacer que la oración sea parte de tu vida diaria. Para escuchar el llamado del Señor, debes callarte. Pasa tiempo en oración cada día. Deja tu teléfono celular y siéntate en silencio, lee tu Biblia o reza el rosario. No importa cómo se vea tu oración mientras te pongas en la presencia de Dios. Cuando te comprometas con la oración, llegarás a conocer a Jesús
más íntimamente. Desarrollarás un mayor entendimiento de Sus enseñanzas, aprenderás a escuchar lo que Él dice y comenzarás a verlo no sólo como un hombre histórico, sino como un hombre vivo que te esta llamando.
Tercero, debes frecuentar los sacramentos. Invoca las gracias de tu bautismo y confirmación. Purifica tu corazón a través de la Reconciliación. Recibe la Eucaristía regularmente. Al entrar en la oración y en los sacramentos, te conformarás a Cristo, lo que te permitirá amar a Jesús como él amó al Padre. A medida que te conformes con Cristo, verás los dones que Él te dio con mayor claridad. Verás cómo tu individualidad y singularidad puede permitirte glorificarlo, ya sea sirviéndolo a través de tu trabajo escolar, deportes, obras de arte o en la forma en que tratas a tu familia y amigos. Te hizo específicamente quién eres; Te hizo ser un discípulo. Él quiere que sueltes tus redes y lo sigas para que puedas ser el discípulo que debes ser.
CIC 562
Read Mark 1:16-20 once more and then use the following questions to facilitate a discussion:
We are each called to be a disciple of Christ. Although He calls us by name, most of us have nets that make it difficult for us to follow. Today, you have the opportunity to lay down your nets, to place them at the foot of the cross. Take a few moments to reflect on your nets; truly prepare your heart to lay them down before Christ so you can follow Him and live the life of discipleship you are called to. When you feel ready, come and place your collage at the foot of the cross, offering your nets, your sins and vices, your relationships, and your gifts to the Lord.
You have left your nets at the cross. You have given your vices, sins, relationships, and gifts to the Lord. What happens next is important. Will you get to know the Lord more deeply? Will you enter into an intimate friendship with the one who has called you by name? He longs to hear you answer “yes” to His call.
Lord, you call each of us to leave our vices, sins, relationships, and gifts at your feet, to become your disciples. This is a great call, a true honor, and yet, it can sometimes be difficult. Give us your grace and strength so we can answer your call, daily. Helps us leave behind our nets, follow you, and grow in our love of you. May we follow in your footsteps and live our lives as true disciples, glorifying you in everything we do and with everything we are. Amen.
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The water of Baptism literally washes away all of our sin, especially our original sin — that mark left on our souls, inherited from our first parents when they decided to turn their hearts away from God’s will.
Baptism leaves an “indelible mark” on the soul. This means that through Baptism, a permanent change of the very essence of the individual takes place. Forever, in this life and in the next, the baptized soul is sealed with the mark of belonging to Christ.
It is through Christ that we have life, and through our baptism that we are brought to new life by His death and Resurrection.
Baptism: The first of the seven sacraments, and the “door” which gives access to the other sacraments. It is the chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our justification.
Original Sin: The sin by which the first human beings disobeyed the commandment of God, choosing to follow their own will rather than God’s will. Describes the fallen state of human nature which affects every person born into the world, and from which Christ, the “New Adam,” came to redeem us.
SCRIPTURE
1 Peter 2:5
Acts 2:38
Ephesians 4:25
John 3:3, 3:5
Luke 3:22
Mark 10:38
Matthew 28:19
Romans 6:3-4
CATECHISM
1213-1222
1225
1229-1231
1237-1243
1247-1254
1256-1261
1263
1265-1269
1272-1274
What It Is
Baptism. The very term brings to mind babies, white baptismal outfits, candles, and the Godfather. The truth of Baptism is much more than our imaginations will allow us to see. Just to give a quick overview of what happens: Original sin and personal sins are forgiven, we become a new life, a new child of God the Father, members of the Body of Christ, temples of the Holy Spirit, members of the Church, participants in the priesthood of Christ. We are given a permanent character of being a Christian.
1 Peter 2:5
Baptism has always included reading from the Word, acceptance of the Gospel, proclaiming Baptism, outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and Eucharistic Communion. Even when baptism of infants became common, it was important that they be educated in the “catechumenate,” or an intense training in the teachings of the faith. - CCC 1213-1222
In the Old Testament, Baptism was seen in water, a source of life and death. It was in the story of Noah’s ark, floating above death and sin in water, the Israelites passing through the water of the Red Sea, and finally crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. - John 3:3, 5
Jesus tells us in John’s Gospel that a man must be born “again” and “from above” with both “water and spirit” in order to gain the Kingdom of heaven. The Greek word John uses, anōthen, caries the dual meaning of being born “again” and born “from above.”
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus instructs the apostles, the first bishops of the Church, to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Also, when Peter was converting the Jews, he asked all of those who had come to believe the truth of Christ to “repent, and be baptized … in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” - Acts 2:38; Matthew 28:19
The water of Baptism literally washes away all of our sin, especially our original sin — that mark left on our souls, inherited from our first parents when they decided to turn their hearts away from God’s will. Baptism also washes away all of our personal sins — the sins we have committed by our own free will. The water represents both the washing away of the death of sin and the nourishment of the new life in Christ — the new life from above. - CCC 1214, 1263
Through the power and grace of the Sacrament, the divine presence dwelling within us, we are united with Christ’s actions on the cross as well, which Jesus called His own baptism. His death on the cross is our death to sin. His Resurrection is our resurrection, our new life in Christ, as St. Paul explains, “all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death … We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” - CCC 1225; Mark 10:38; Romans 6:3-4
This union with Christ, the Son of God, also unites us with the Father as His adopted children. Just after Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River, we hear of the Father’s voice from heaven proclaiming, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” So too are we the Father’s beloved. So too are we pleasing in the eyes of our heavenly Father in our union with Christ through our baptism. Council of Trent, VI, iv; CCC 1213, 1265-1266; Luke 3:22
United with Christ, we are not alone — we simply cannot be. Union with Christ means union with the entire Body of Christ, the Church. Saint Paul tells us, “we are members one of another” because of our baptism. It is what incorporates us into the Church, the Bride of Christ. This new life means that we no longer live for ourselves, but live for the one who gave us this new life. This is what makes us all members of the same Church. - CCC 1269; Ephesians 4:25
Baptism leaves an “indelible mark” on the soul. This means that through Baptism, a permanent change of the very essence of the individual takes place. Forever, in this life and in the next, the baptized soul is sealed with the mark of belonging to Christ. Sin cannot erase this mark, even if sin prevents the soul’s salvation. It also means that Baptism is only to be given once because of the nature of the Sacrament. It lasts forever so it never needs to be repeated. - CCC 1272-1274
In our baptism and membership in the Church community, we are called to live a new life with Christ. The Holy Spirit bestows new gifs to us through our baptism, which are later perfected through another sacrament, Confirmation. This grace allows us to follow our Lord more closely in discipleship and to have hope for our resurrection on the last day. - CCC 1274
Christ affirms the necessity of Baptism. He tells us in John’s Gospel that “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” The Church teaches, as we say in the Nicene Creed, that we, as Christians, believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. It is also a gateway to a life in the Spirit. - CCC 1213, 1257-1261; John 3:3, 3:5
How It Is Done
Since the time of the apostles, the Church has traditionally held that the Rite of Baptism should include the proclamation of the Word, acceptance of the Gospel by the catechumen (signifying conversion), a profession of faith, and finally the actual baptism by which the Holy Spirit washes clean the stain of original sin from the soul of the new Christian. In the early Church, there was a lengthy practice of initiation into the Church whereby a catechumen was taught the truth of the Gospel and educated in the faith. This process was concluded with the Rite of Baptism and the admission into full communion with the entire Church. This meant that the newly baptized was immediately eligible to receive Communion, as they had been redeemed in Christ and a member of the Church. - CCC 1229-1230
Today, the order of this practice has been somewhat altered. Only when one is baptized as an adult can they immediately receive the body and blood of our Lord in the Eucharist. Infants who are baptized still must go through catechesis in order that they may come to know and believe the faith into which they have been baptized. The Eastern Church baptizes, confirms, and administers Communion to infants in the same liturgical ceremony. However, there is still the same need for further catechesis for these spiritual graces to develop to their full potential within the life of the individual. - CCC 1231, 1242
For an adult to be baptized, he or she must first take the proper steps of the catechumen (one who is preparing for Baptism). Through this process of being educated in the faith, the future Christian will be able to take complete responsibility and ownership of their beliefs. This is why they make their professions of faith during their baptism; it signifies their conscious beliefs and, therefore, justifies their action. For children and infants, the catechesis is deferred until the age at which the child is able to learn about their faith. At the time of the liturgical ceremony, the child’s parents and godparents make a pledge to teach the child about the faith and how to live according to the Gospel. For a person to be baptized, they must not have been previously baptized. Because of the indelible mark left on the soul, there is only need for one baptism in a person’s life. This is true in all forms of Christianity who baptize Christians specifically in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. - CCC 1247-1254
All sacraments use real, tangible elements in order to signify the true aspect of the mystery of the sacrament that we may be unable to see. In Baptism, there must be the use of ordinary water. The water does not need to be blessed, though it almost always is when the baptism is performed in the Church. There also must be someone who desires to be baptized (or, in the case of of infants, whose parent’s desire for them to be baptized) who has not yet been baptized. - CCC 1238
The pouring of the water over the head of the one being baptized, or the immersion of the one being baptized depending on the particular liturgy, along with the formal words of the Sacrament — “(name of the one being baptized), I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit” — constitute a valid baptism. By this very act, sins are literally “washed away” and the new Christian is able to receive the Kingdom of heaven by their union with Christ. -CCC 1239-1240
During the Rite of Baptism, the ordinary minister of the Sacrament, the priest or deacon, administers holy chrism. This oil is the oil of catechumens and is only used during the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. At this time, the minister also lays hands upon the catechumen and explicitly renounces Satan. Oil has been used since ancient times to anoint important people. During Baptism, the priest anoints the baptized with the chrism to signify the gift of the Holy Spirit, which represents their new life in Christ who is anointed priest, prophet, and king. By our baptism, we too share in this inheritance as we share in Christ’s new life. To show this new life in Christ, a new white garment is traditionally worn by the person who is being baptized. It symbolizes that they have “put on Christ” through their baptism.
CCC 1237, 1241-1243, 1256
In danger of death, one can be baptized by any person if one so chooses to be. All the Church requires is that the (extraordinary) minister of the Sacrament use ordinary water and intend to do what the Church does in Baptism by their own act. The minister must then pour the water upon the one being baptized and use the formal words of the Sacrament in order for the baptism to be valid. This is only to be done in the most extreme of circumstances. - CCC 1256
How It Is Lived
Baptism clearly is not just a splash on the head and a new white outfit — it means so much more. As baptized Christians, we are members of the Church. We compose the Body of Christ, partakers of the New Covenant of Jesus. As members of the Church, we are given the chance at eternal life. This is a precious gift that should be understood. - CCC 1267, 1269
We are baptized into Christ’s life, death, and Resurrection. Part of Christ’s life into which we are baptized is the life of priest, prophet, and king. Not only is there priesthood in the way we normally think of priests, but there is also a common priesthood of believers. In this role, the Christian lives out their baptism through their priestly service in their community, as St. Peter’s letter instructs us to “be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” - CCC 1268; 1 Peter 2:5
As a Christian, we stand as a witness to the truth — a light in the darkness in the world. As one who is united to Christ, we are called to do what is right. This means following directions and being subordinate to our authorities; to live not only as an upstanding citizen but as a good and moral follower of Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the light. It is through Christ that we have life, and through our baptism that we are brought to new life by His death and Resurrection. CCC 1269
In our Christian life, we encounter many “reminders” of our promise to live in accordance with the truth in the way Christ teaches. Whenever we enter a Catholic church, we dip our fingers into the holy water and bless ourselves almost routinely. Do we ever stop and think why we have been taught to do so? It is supposed to remind us of our baptismal vows and renew our commitment to Christ. In fact, every time we make the Sign of the Cross, we acknowledge and affirm our baptismal commitment and new life in Christ.
For every Christian, the Easter Vigil is almost like the highlight reel of baptismal reminders. From the baptism of catechumens to the sprinkling of holy water, Christians renew their baptismal promises and vow to live their life according to the teachings of Christ. This renewal is part of the ongoing conversion that each Christian is called to live. Baptism is merely the beginning of their new life. The various “reminders” give us new strength to grow closer to our Lord and lead a holier life.
● Do you remember anything about your baptism?
● Why did your parents have you baptized?
● What does it mean to be marked by Christ as an adopted son/daughter of God? Does your life reflect the reality of what happened to you at you baptism? Why or why not?
● What are some areas in your life that need to be “made new”?
● What are some practical ways you can live out your baptismal vows at school, home, or work? Are there other places you can better live out your baptismal vows?
The goal of this session is to impart the central importance of the Mass in the Catholic faith and the journey of a young Catholic. By teaching the teens where the Mass parts come from, they will gain a greater appreciation for the holiness of the Mass and the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
The Mass is often underappreciated but is the most perfect and beautiful celebration of our Catholic faith.
The Last Supper was the first fruits of the Mass; it has been handed down over the centuries and has roots in Scripture.
In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Christ literally becomes one with us by offering His body for us to consume.
Eucharist: The ritual, sacramental action of thanksgiving to God which constitutes the principal Christian liturgical celebration of and communion in the Paschal Mystery of Christ. It is one of the seven sacraments of the Church; the Holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation.
Transubstantiation: The unique change of the Eucharistic bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.
SCRIPTURE
Exodus 16:13-15, John 1:1,14, John 6:53-58, Matthew 8:8
Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats* my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” - John 6:53-58
CATECHISM
1328, 1337, 1349, 1353
The Lord, having loved those who were his own, loved them to the end. Knowing that the hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father, in the course of a meal he washed their feet and gave them the commandment of love. In order to leave them a pledge of this love, in order never to depart from his own and to make them sharers in his Passover, he instituted the Eucharist as the memorial of his death and Resurrection, and commanded his apostles to celebrate it until his return; "thereby he constituted them priests of the New Testament." - CCC 1337
Open in Prayer (5 min)
Miracles: Fact or Fiction (15 min)
Go through the following statements on Eucharistic Miracles and see how many your candidate can get right as Fact or Fiction.
Introduction
How often do you go to Mass but cannot recall a single thing you heard? What were the readings about? What did the priest say in the homily? The Sacrament of the Eucharist — the focal point of the Mass — is often called the “source and summit” of our faith, but what does that really mean?
The Eucharist is vital to our faith life and integral to both our community with each other and with God. We come together each week, or each day at daily Mass, as one body, to partake in the body of our Savior. The beauty of the Mass is that it fulfills all of our needs and desires. All of the other sacraments point toward it. It is the only sacrament that contains Christ Himself in the flesh. Mass is the foundation for every aspect of our relationship with God.
Ecclesia de Eucharistia 1, CCC 1324
Eucharistic Reflection (15 min)
Imagine yourself at the Last Supper. You have been invited, along with the apostles, to celebrate the Jewish feast of Passover with the man they call the Messiah. You find yourself sitting at the table with Jesus. As He quiets the room, He looks you in the eyes, knowingly, and says, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes."
Then He takes up the bread, says a blessing over it, and breaks it apart, handing it to each of you, saying, "This is my body which is given up for you. Do this in remembrance of me." Next He raises the cup, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood.”
Now imagine you are the only one in the room with Jesus. You and He are having a conversation, one on one. Imagine that He is saying these words directly and only to you: “given up for you,” “poured out for you,” “do this in memory of me.” Let those words wash over you. Weigh them one at a time. What do they mean to you?
How many times have you sat at Mass and let those words pass right through your ears? How many times have you heard those phrases and not paid attention? What is God trying to reveal to you about His sacrifice in this moment?
Give the teens a few moments to reflect and journal on the above questions. After several minutes, proceed with the following:
As we close with some of the prayers from the sacred liturgy, really listen to each word and think about its true meaning.
Read the following prayer slowly and purposefully:
Open our eyes Lord, help us see the Mass with the eyes of heaven, through the saints and angels. Send down your spirit upon us like the dewfall. Just as you gave to our ancestors in the desert in their time of need, please remember us in our time of need.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. It is through your goodness that you give us the bread and wine, which will become for us the bread of life and the cup of salvation.
By the mystery of this water and wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled Himself to share in our humanity. Humbly we pray that, partaking of the body and blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.
Remember, Lord, your Church, spread throughout the world, and bring her to the fullness of charity. Remember all of your people, especially those we pray for now.
Lord, we are not worthy that you should enter under our roof, but only say the word and our souls shall be healed. Let us end with the prayer Christ taught us, our Father …
Closing Prayer (5 min)
Pray together the Come, Holy Spirit prayer, and give any final comments or instructions for upcoming meetings.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the Earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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