Cardinal-designate, Bishop Peter Okpaleke - The stone that was rejected by the builder
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In the Catholic Church, the sacrament of Confirmation is the sacrament that strengthens the faith of a baptized Catholic through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Like the Apostles in the upper room, candidates must wait in prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so that they can be well equipped to go forth and teach.
Candidates can pray the following prayer as they prepare to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit on the day of their confirmation:
Holy Spirit,
Divine Consoler,
I adore You as my true God,
with God the Father and God the Son.
I adore You and unite myself to the adoration
You receive from the angels and saints.
I give You my heart
and I offer my ardent thanksgiving
for all the grace which You never cease to bestow on me.
O Giver of all supernatural gifts,
who filled the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of God, with such immense favors,
I beg You to visit me with Your grace
and Your love and to grant me the gift of holy fear,
so that it may act on me as a check to prevent me
from falling back into my past sins,
for which I beg pardon.
Grant me the gift of piety,
so that I may serve You for the future with increased fervor,
follow with more promptness Your holy inspirations,
and observe your divine precepts with greater
fidelity.
Grant me the gift of knowledge,
so that I may know the things of God and,
enlightened by Your holy teaching, may walk,
without deviation, in the path of eternal
salvation.
Grant me the gift of fortitude,
so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the devil,
and all the dangers of this world which threaten the salvation of my soul.
Grant me the gift of counsel,
so that I may choose what is more conducive to my
spiritual advancement
and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter.
Grant me the gift of understanding,
so that I may apprehend the divine mysteries
and by contemplation of heavenly things detach my thoughts
and affections from the vain things of this miserable
world.
Grant me the gift of wisdom,
so that I may rightly direct all my actions,
referring them to God as my last end;
so that, having loved Him and served Him in this life,
I may have the happiness of possessing Him eternally in the next.
Amen.
Another thing that confirmation candidates should pray for is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; so that as they begin their journey of strengthening their faith, the spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son is the only One who should lead them. The following prayer is to be prayed for the indwelling: of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit, powerful Consoler, sacred Bond of the Father and the Son, Hope of the afflicted, descend into my heart and establish in it your loving dominion. Enkindle in my tepid soul the fire of your Love so that I may be wholly subject to you. We believe that when you dwell in us, you also prepare a dwelling for the Father and the Son. Deign, therefore, to come to me, Consoler of abandoned souls, and Protector of the needy. Help the afflicted, strengthen the weak, and support the wavering. Come and purify me. Let no evil desire take possession of me. You love the humble and resist the proud. Come to me, glory of the living, and hope of the dying. Lead me by your grace that I may always be pleasing to you.Amen.
- Saint Augustine of Hippo
Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.
Laurika Nxumalo is a Catholic from the Archdiocese of Pretoria. She is the archdiocesan secretary, she a member of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) Council of the Laity, and she's a member of the South Africa Council of Churches (SACC) women's forum.
Laurika has completed studies in Theology and in Biblical Studies. Her aspirations is to one day teach at the seminary in Pretoria.
So far, Laurika has compiled three e-books titled, 'Letters Of Love - Dedications To Love', 'Her Prayers', and 'God's Love Languages'.
