Why do we look at Confirmation as a Graduation?

It seems as children are starting to view Confirmation as a Graduation. After the Bishop confirms the candidates, it is like everyone says now we are done with the Sacraments in the Catholic Church. Yet, we are forgetting that we still get to receive the Eucharist and Reconciliation on a daily basis. So then, why is Confirmation seen as the Graduation of the Church, and we do not need to come back until we want the Sacrament of Marriage or Holy Orders?

If the Catholic Church and the Bishops truly saw Confirmation as a Graduation, then why are the Candidates not called graduates? Confirmation is the imprinting of the soul with the spirit of Christ. It is the beginning of a deepening and more intimate relationship with Christ. It saddens me to know that people think that Confirmation is a graduation. It is difficult to give Christ an hour of your time each Sunday, but to Christ that is nothing.

Christ gives himself to us everyday. He is patiently waiting for us to ask Him for his help. Yes, He knows everything in our deepest of hearts. He knows those of us who will decide that Confirmation will be the end of our Church career for the next ten or so years. Yet, Confirmation is more than just a Graduation from the Catholic faith. It is the beginning of a deeper relationship with Christ.

For the young adults making their Confirmation, it is about going from the friendship stage with Christ to going to the relationship stage of boyfriend and girlfriend. It is about developing that strong love for Christ and wanting to spend time with Him. During our teenage years, life is confusing and frustrating. However, it is not the reason to look at Confirmation as a Graduation.

Graduation is the end of a chapter; whereas Confirmation is the beginning of a new chapter. It is a chapter where we truly should be happy to continue down a path with a deeper sense of Christ. A new chapter where we realize the importance of Confession and the Eucharist. Confirmation is not about saying good-bye to God. It is about saying that I am at the point where I want to develop a strong love for Christ. I want to emit the Holy Spirit to everyone I come across.

Having the honor of making our Confirmation is now allowing us to develop and grow deeper in our faith. It now allows us to have someone truly in our corner when life gets difficult. Yet, we see it as a burden as now we have to add one more thing on our plate to do. Each one of the Sacraments is not about attaining the next goal, but more about the life long path of walking with God to get to Heaven. More importantly, Confirmation is about Christ giving the grace of the Holy Spirit and truly beginning the next chapter of our relationship with Christ.