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chicken lady
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We have a new policy taking effect in our diocese. All children will now receive confirmation in 2nd grade(starting next year) Here is my dilemna, this means I have 3 dd's receiving confirmation this May 12th. They are age 10,9,and 8. I have read over Elizabeths Confirmation book list and it is lovely for older children. I need ideas for the younger set....any ideas?
Oh BTW Helen and Alice if this is the wrong place to post this please feel free to move it 
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Helen
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Molly,
This is wonderful news! How fortunate your children are to have the grace of confirmation before they experience all the physical changes with becoming teenagers. They will have much more interior strength to handle the transition!
The St. Pius X catechism is good.
I'll check back later here.
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JennGM
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WOW! Is this the Latin/Roman Rite, the diocese of Steubenville? My sister and I were just discussing how we want our children to receive the sacrament at a much younger age, for the reason Helen states. Becoming a teenager in this culture is hard, and having the graces of the sacrament of Confirmation to make us soldiers of Christ is so helpful...not waiting to "earn it" at an older age!
I'll be thinking of ideas, Molly.
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JennGM
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Oh, sorry for double posting, but I thought I should mention that my siblings and I were confirmed at a younger age in the Byzantine rite. I was in the 6th grade, and my siblings down to age 2. At the time I remember using the St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism.
I'll ask my mother for other ideas.
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Elizabeth
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Hmmm...that's tricky. I guess my question would be what are they expected to understand about the faith? They obviously can't be expected to grasp what a young teenager would, nor is all that content appropriate...I'm interested to hear what others say. It sort shoots the whole "confirmation means you are an adult in the Church" that is the premise of so many current Confirmation prep programs.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Cay Gibson
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Helen wrote:
The St. Pius X catechism is good.
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Helen,
Do you have a link to this?
My 11th grader confirms this May.
Just this morning I was contemplating having to go the next three years through our parish's Confirmation program with my middle child. We have a new director and I'm not thrilled with the way the classes are being instructed. Though I was asked to do the secretarial work in the office, I'm not. And I'm so glad I'm not. Long story. Anyway, the very thought of these next three years exhausts me. Frankly, it bores me.  But our diocese requires it.
We supplement at home (my 11th grader helped me with the baptismal presentation to count towards part of her confirmation preparation) but they still have to make the classes.
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BrendaPeter
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Just fyi - according to Canon Law (cf. can. 843, S1; 889, &2)in order to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation one must be baptized, have the use of reason, be suitably instructed, properly disposed and able to renew his or her baptismal promises.
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chicken lady
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Yes Jenn this is the Roman/Latin Rite, good question!
And Elizabeth I am not sure either what they ae expected to know, they are currently attending the Cathchesis of the Good Sheperd for prep. but I was hoping to do some of our own lap book type instruction.
Cay I am glad you asked for the link I was thinking the exact same thing, i know there has to be material out there, as Confirmation use to be at much younger ages, but I am at a loss.
Thanks everyone for picking your brains for me 
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Helen
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Catechism of St. Pius X
(Sorry I didn't provide the link earlier.)
I don't know how to say this without making it sound irresponsible. But, one of the reasons I bring my children to the sacraments is so that the Lord can do the work.
I do think teaching prayer to children, in addition to academics, is a good way to prepare them. Does this make any sense?
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JennGM
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I've been giving this some thought, although somewhat fuzzy today as I'm a bit under the weather.
There are many schools of thought on how to approach Confirmation, such as Confirmation is the completion of the gifts at Baptism. Fortunately the Church hasn't decided on just one school, so there can be a wide interpetation of how to approach Confirmation, at what age, what type of preparation. Your diocese will probably have some minimal requirements of what should be taught.
Like Helen so beautifully says, "one of the reasons I bring my children to the sacraments is so that the Lord can do the work." And that's what I believe about this sacrament. You are doing the preparation, but you're still teaching and keeping that fire from the Holy Spirit ignited after the sacrament is received. Don't think you have to do it all before Confirmation! It will be easier once they receive the grace...God is working through them.
That being said, I would do an overview the basics of our Faith, such as the Creed, Sacraments, Ten Commandments. I'm not familiar with books in print that help teach the Catechesism of the Catholic Church for the younger crowd, but know there are some out there. That would be a main resource. I was also going to suggest to see what the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has for this level.
For basics on just the sacrament of Confirmation, the Didache Series Introduction to Catholicism has a nice chapter on that. Plus the whole book would be a good guide on teaching the Faith in sacramental preparation. It's written for high school, so not all apply, but I do think it's very good, for a textbook. And for other catechisms, besides the St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism, My Catholic Faith by Bishop Morrow is an excellent one.
Books by Marigold Hunt, such as "St. Patrick's Summer" (Gwen mentioned in another thread), "The First Christians"
My Path to Heaven
Inos Biffi books, if you can find them, such as The Ten Commandments, The Sacraments, and The Apostles Creed
And stress lives of the saints, particularly of the Apostles and early martyrs of the Church. Read the Acts of the Apostles and about the early Church and the influence of the Holy Spirit. Other living books that show Christians defending and living their faith, being Soldiers of Christ, such as two of my favorites:
Outlaws of Ravenhurst
Sun Slower, Sun Faster
Other media:
There are some Father Francis Coloring Books that cover some of the areas. I don't necessarily support this site, but just showing you the options.
Friendly Defenders Flash Cards
Arma Dei has added more offerings.
To have examples for gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, Rachel May mentioned a book on fruits of the Spirit.
Also, Daughters of St. Paul has Imagining Faith with Kids:
Unearthing Seeds of the Gospel in Children’s Stories from Peter Rabbit to Harry Potter By Mary Margaret Keaton that might help.
I have some suggestions for spiritual reading for mom on the Holy Spirit if you're interested.
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chicken lady
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Actually Helen please expound! Are you saying Immersion and example? I like this thought but I would love to have a clearer understanding. You have much wisdom and I would love to hear your opinion.
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I should have mentioned that while you teach about the sacrament and the Faith, to not expect the child to retain and know everything, and my suggestions are overviews, not nitty-gritty details. The Holy Spirit steps in and takes over.
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chicken lady
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Thank you Jenn, I responded to Helen just as you were posting. I am quite impressed with all your effort, being "fuzzy" and all And yes please share books for me, I am always open to new books!
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molly wrote:
| Thank you Jenn, I responded to Helen just as you were posting. I am quite impressed with all your effort, being "fuzzy" and all And yes please share books for me, I am always open to new books! |
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Well, they aren't all new. I know you're good at hunting down titles. I just found these on my bookshelf as I was looking around.
Fire of Love collection of Abbot Marmion compiled by Father Charles Dollen.
The Sanctifier by Luis M. Martinez
History reading, The Church of Apostles and Martyrs by Henri Daniel-Rops.
ETA: I knew there was one other author. Grandmaison, who wrote We and the Holy Spirit and Come Holy Spirit.
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Leonie
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My 10 year old was confirmed last year - we moved to a new state and diocese, I asked about my 14 year old being confirmd and was told that all the younger three could be confirmed at once, as confirmation typically occurs around age 7 or 8 here.
So, we made lapbooks - I narrated information from the CCC and from the Faith and Life book 8. Plus he read a biography of the saint whose name he had chosen for his confirmation name and this info also went into the lapbooks. Things like the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, and the cardinal virtues were some other lapbook inclusions.
The Sacraments by Biffi was a nice book to read, btw..
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Helen
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I think Jenn summed up what I was saying very well.
JennGM wrote:
| Like Helen so beautifully says, "one of the reasons I bring my children to the sacraments is so that the Lord can do the work." And that's what I believe about this sacrament. You are doing the preparation, but you're still teaching and keeping that fire from the Holy Spirit ignited after the sacrament is received. Don't think you have to do it all before Confirmation! It will be easier once they receive the grace...God is working through them. |
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I would want to emphasize the fact that a CHARACTER will be imprinted upon their souls when they receive confirmation. (The indelible mark left on their souls)
If you cover the seven sacraments and emphasize the three that leave this mark baptism, confirmation, and holy orders you'll communicate the idea of indelible mark. (Even though marriage is for life, it doesn’t leave a mark on one’s soul.)
I expect my children who have made confirmation to say the whole Rosary every day. I think this is a good way to show that one is “an adult” in the Church.
Concentrate on the virtues and good example of the child’s name saint. There will be a lot to learn from their favorite saint and presumably an interest on the part of the child.
One of the best text books on the Holy Spirit is the old, eleventh grade book in the series. Ark and the Dovefrom the Our Quest For Happiness series of old religion text books.
I thought this was back in print. I only found an out or print link.
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JennGM
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Helen wrote:
One of the best text books on the Holy Spirit is the old, eleventh grade book in the series. Ark and the Dovefrom the Our Quest For Happiness series of old religion text books.
I thought this was back in print. I only found an out or print link. |
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It is, Lepanto Press. That is an excellent series.
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I have a few more book contributions, although more for adults to feed to your younger.
A book that's out of print but very good These are the Sacraments by Bishop Sheen. Some of the rite has changed, but great information.
And Scepter Publishers has two spiritual readings on the Holy Spirit.
About The Holy Spirit by Francisca Javiera del Valle
and the new title my former spiritual director just raved about:
In the School of the Holy Spirit.
He said he's adding it to his Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan, as he now considers it to be one of the top 5 spiritual reading books he's ever read.
Quote:
| "If you are looking for peace of heart and mind, as we all are, this book will be a great help. I would suggest reading it slowly with a highlighter-- a very good book for prayer meditation." |
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Lisbet
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That's a great policy. I just ran into the issue that our parish confirmation date is March 4th, but my son will not be 12 until March 27th, so no confirmation for him this year, and confirmation is only done every other year at our parish. I struggled with my emotions on this one, as I totally think our priest was being unfair, he knows my son. We have a very tricky homeschool/sacraments situation in our diocese, and it's not a good thing for the children at all, and it has all stemmed from so much in-fighting among the homeschooling moms. It is so frustrating for those of us that want nothing to do with the bickering, we just want to present our children for confirmation.
Sorry for the vent...
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MaryM
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Lisbet wrote:
| I just ran into the issue that our parish confirmation date is March 4th, but my son will not be 12 until March 27th, so no confirmation for him this year, and confirmation is only done every other year at our parish. |
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Ooh, that is so frustrating. Being so legalistic about a policy that it does nothing to look at the individual - why does 2 weeks make any difference??? I feel for you and will pray for this situation. Any chance they will re-evaluate?
And BTW, your son shares my birthday !
Thanks for all the great resources, Helen and Jenn.
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: confirmation for young children
