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    Most Reverend Michael J. Fitzgerald
    Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia (Retired)
    Archdiocese of Philadelphia - 222 North 17th Street - Philadelphia, PA 19103
     
    RITE OF CONFIRMATION WITH MASS

  • If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call Patricia D'Angelo at 215-965-8190 or e-mail: pdangelo@archphila.org.

     

    Please distribute completed copies of these notes to the priests, deacons, liturgical ministers, catechists an dstaff members involved in the parish celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

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  • PART ONE:   PREPRATIONS IN GENERAL

    BISHOP'S ARRIVAL

    Bishop will arrive approximately thirty (30) minutes prior to the ceremony.

     Please provide an indicated and suitable parking place.

  • MASTER OF CEREMONIES

    The Bishop will be accompanied by a Master of Ceremonies, a priest or deacon, for the celebration.  You will be contacted with the name of the MC once he has been assigned.  If you make a change in the Master of Ceremonies assigned to your parish, please inform the Master of Ceremonies previously assigned and Mrs. Pat D'Angelo, Administrative Assistant to Bishop McIntyre, at 215-965-8190 or pdangelo@archphila.org.

  • CLERGY

  • NUMBER TO BE CONFIRMED

  • If there are two separate celebrations (Mass):

  • SEATING OF CANDIDATES

    The candidates are to be seated together in the pews in the front of the church, with their sponsors seated together as a group behind them.  Candidates and sponsors are not to be intermingled or scattered in their seating throughout the church.  When there is an exceptional situation or a special needs candidate, arrangements can be made to seat the sponsor near the candidates.  All candidates and sponsors are to be in thier places in church before Mass begins.

    Already confirmed Roman Catholic classmates of the candidates or classmates who belong to an Orthodox Church or an Ecclesial community may be identified for a blessing from the Bishop before or after the celebration of Mass.   These classmates may not in any way simulate the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation by attire or by participation in any part of the Order of Confirmation.

  • ROBES FOR THE CANDIDATES

     Candidates may wear a white robe, recalling the Sacrament of Baptism, or a red robe for the celebration of Confirmation.

    Stoles and other ornamentation over the robes, in any form, are not permitted.  Also, so called "robing ceremonies" are not to be associated with the celebration of Mass with the Rite of Confirmation.   Girls are not to wear any real or artificial flowers in their hair which prevent the Bishop from easily imposing his hand as he anoints the candidates with Sacred Chrism.

  • RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PERSONNEL

  • PHOTOGRAPHS

     After Mass, the Bishop would be willing to pose for photographs with the newly-confirmed, their sponsors and family members who would like this opportunity.  The arrangements for photographs are to be well organized, with the assistance of coordinators for its orderliness.   Preferrably the photographs are to take place somewhere other then the sanctuary.  All are to be aware of the procedure for photographs prior to the celebration.

  • MEAL

    If the Bishop is invited to a meal to be held after the Mass with the Rite of Confirmation, the meal shoud begin immediately after the photographs are completed, without any reception prior to the meal.

     Please invite the Master of Ceremonies among those attending the meal.   Thank you for this consideration.

    Please provide the following details:

  • SPIRITUAL BOUQUET

    If a Spiritual Bouquet is planned for the Bishop, it may be presented before or after Mass in the narthex or after the Prayer after Communion.

    The presentation of the spiritual bouquet need not include any spoken statement.   If it does, please provide a microphone for the speaker.

  • USE OF OTHER LANGUAGES

  • PART TWO:  PREPARATIONS FOR THE LITURGY

    VESTMENTS AND SEATING OF PRIESTS AND DEACONS

    Red vestments are worn for the Ritual Mass, For the Conferral of Confirmation.  Purple vestments are worn on Sundays during Lent.   Otherwise, the color of the vestment proper to the day is worn.  Concelebrants are expected to wear the Archdiocesan chasuble and stole if there are not enough vestments of a matching color for concelebrants.   The deacon(s) wears a dalmatic the same color as the principal celebrant.

    Customarily, the Bishop brings his own vestments for the Mass.

    All priests are welcome to concelebrate with the Bishop.   If possible, concelebrants should be seated together in the sanctuary area with easy access to the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  Only deacon chaplains sit next to the Bishop or, in their absence, the deacon of the Mass.

    If a deacon is not present, a concelebrant proclaims the Gospel and assists at the altar.  A concelebrating priest asks for the Bishop's blessing before proclaining the Gospel.

    Priests who are not concelebrating, vested in cassock and surplice, likewise should have seats and Communion stoles prepared for them in the sanctuary area.

  • LITURGICAL MINISTERS

    The leaders of song, the psalmist, the choir, lectors and, if needed, the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, should be those trained members of the parish who carry out these roles at the Sunday Mass.

    The chants and acclamations are led from the sanctuary area but not from the ambo.  The lectors move from the congregation to the ambo for each reading.  The psalm is sung from the ambo.   Each reading has its own lector. [A deacon reads the Universal Prayer if he is present for the Mass.]

    The candidates do not serve in any liturgical ministries - leader of song, psalmist, altar servers, lectors for the Sacred Scripture or the Universal Prayers during the celebration of the Confirmation within Mass.  The newly confirmed may bring forward the Gifts.

  • ALTAR SERVERS

    Eight altar servers are needed for Mass; thurifer, cross bearer, two candle bearers/servers, Sacred Chrism bearer, miter bearer, crozier bearer and book bearer.  The servers should be well rehearsed in advance of the celebration.  The Master of Ceremonies will meet with the servers prior to the Mass only to review specific details and not to rehearse them for the Mass.

    Please see separate notes found on the website of the Office for Divine Worship.

  • LITURGICAL MUSIC

    The directives found in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and Sing to the Lord:Music in Divine Worship, with regard to liturgical music, should guide liturgical music planning.   All copyright regulations are to be observed.  Licenses and persmissions for reprint of liturgical music are to be included in printed participation aids for the celebration.  The Gloria is always sung within The Ritual Mass, For the Conferral of Confirmation, even during Advent and Lent.

  • SACRED CHRISM

    The Bishops brings the Sacred Chrism.  However, please have the parish supply of Chrism available.

  • PART THREE: THE CELEBRATION OF THE SACRED LITURGY

    "In celebrations at which the Bishops presides, and especially in the celebration of the Eucharist led by the Bishop himself with the presbyterate, the deacons, and the people taking part, the mystery of the Church is revealed (GIRM, number 22)."  For this reason, this solemn celebration of Mass calls for special care in the preparation of the liturgical celebration:  the Church itself, the altar with four to six candles, the music and litugical ministers, and all that is required for the rites, including sacred vessels.

     

  • INTRODUCTORY RITES

    • The procession for this Mass usually moves from the vesting area to the Church unless the layout of the parish buildings or weather require other arrangements.
    • The Book of Gospels is carried in the procession by the deacon ahead of [other deacons and] the priest-concelebrants.  [The concelebrant who will proclaim the Gospel in the absence of the deacon carries the Book of the Gospels in the procession.  The Book of the Gospels is not carried in the procession at the end of Mass.]  The Book of the Gospels is placed flat and closed upon the altar.
    • All concelebrants reverence the altar.
    • The Bishop imposes incense before the procession moves and incenses the altar after he reverences it.  Music should accompany the complete incensation of the altar until the Bishop reaches his chair.
    • The Entrance Chant, sung by all, should accompany the procession and introduce the congregation to the Sacrament of Confirmation or the liturgical season.  It is not necessary for all the hymns at this celebration to be strictly associated with the Holy Spirit.  In fact, during Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, the hymn choice should reflect the season.

  • The Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling Holy Water is reserved to Sundays and is appropriate when Confirmation takes place within Sunday Mass.  The accompanying song should reflect the mystery of Baptism in Christ.

  • Act of Penitence and Kyrie

  • The Gloria is always sung with the ritual Mass, For the Conferral of Confirmation, even during Advent and Lent. When another Mass is celebrated other than For the Conferral of Confirmation, then the rubrics for that Mass indicate whether or not there is a Gloria. The text must be faithful to the translation in the Roman Missal.
     
  • Liturgy of the Word
  • The Lectionary for Mass provides the scripture readings and the chants between the readings for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Responsorial Psalm and the Acclamation before the Gospel are to be sung. During the Acclamation before the Gospel there should be incense and candles to accompany the procession to the ambo with the Book of the Gospels. Only the Book of Gospels is presented to the Bishop to be venerated and not the Lectionary for Mass.  A reflective silence follows the First Reading, the Second Reading and the Homily.
     

  • The ritual Mass, For the Conferral of Confirmation may be used on all days except the Sundays of Advent, Lent and Easter, the octave days of Easter and all Solemnities, Ash Wednesday and the days of Holy Week.  On these days and their anticipated celebrations, the proper Mass of the day is used from the Roman Missal.

  • The proper readings for Sunday must be used for the Sundays of Advent, Lent and Easter Time, including anticipated celebrations. The proper readings must be used on all the days of the Octave of Easter and all Solemnities, including anticipated celebrations. On all other days, including feasts, the readings for the Ritual Mass for Confirmation may be used as found in Volume IV of the Lectionary for Mass. The text for the Responsorial Psalm must be the given biblical text in the Lectionary for Mass. Paraphrased texts and hymns may never substitute for the sung Word of God. The Acclamation before the Gospel and verse comes from the choices provided in the Lectionary for Mass. 
     
    Please indicate the readings chosen with their corresponding number in the Lectionary for Mass. 
     
  • Sacrament of Confirmation
    • The Presentation of the Candidates is made by the pastor.  A form for this presentation is attached.   The candidates stand as a group for this presentation for the Sacrament of Confirmation and the congregation remains seated.  This is not an occasion for applause.
    • The Homily by the Bishop follows the Presentation of the Candidates.
    • The Renewal of Baptismal Promises takes place in a dialogue between the Bishop and the candidates.   The candidates alone stand ready to respond robustly, I do.  On Sundays and Solemnities, all stand and participate in the renewal of baptismal promises and the Profession of Faith is then omitted.
    • For the Laying on of Hands - all stand - candidates, sponsors and congregation.   After this, all sit.
    • For the Anointing with Chrism, the deacon [or in his absence, a concelebrant] brings the Sacred Chrism to the Bishop.  The Bishop takes his place, standing in the center at the entrance to the sanctuary, for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
    • The candidates come forward to the Bishop, two by two (side by side) with their sponsors and stand as near to the Bishop as possible.  The sponsor stands behind the candidate with his/her right hand on the candidate's shoulder and says only, "N." (The Confirmation name) without any additional words.  The candidates should memorize in advance their responses to the Bishop for the Sacrament of Confirmation, ready to respond robustly, Amen, as well as, and with your spirit.
    • The candidate may use his or her baptismal name as a Confirmation Name or choose an additional name, typically a saint's name but in all cases a name not foreign to Christian sentiment.
    • Psalm or Hymn during the Annointing:  During the anointing a suitable psalm or hymn associated with the action of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation may be sung.  This is not the occasion for asking the intercession of the saints with the Litany of the Saints.  The volume of the music should not impede the Bishop and the candidate from hearing one another in the dialogue during the Order of Confirmation.
    • The Bishop washes his hands after the anointing.  After the last candidate is confirmed, the Bishop is approached by the servers, with the ewer of water and the basin along with lemon, bread and a towel, ready for the washing of his hands.  The Parish is provide the ewer and basin since the Bishop will not be bringing his own.
    • The Universal Prayer follows the anointing with Sacred Chrism and is introduced and concluded by the Bishop.  The deacon or lector reads or sings the petitions.  The Order of Confirmation provides an example for the number - not to be exceeded - and content of the petitions.  Others may be used following the pattern and number in the Order of Confirmation.  A copy of the Universal Prayer shoud accompany this form when it is returned to the Bishop's Office.
  • Liturgy of the Eucharist
    • Once the altar is prepared, sufficient hosts for the Communion of all and wine should be brought forward to the Bishop by the newly confirmed.
    • A hymn or instrumental music accompanies the Preparation of Altar and the Gifts.

  • The Bishop incenses the gifts and the alter.  The deacon [or in his absence a concelebrant or the thurifer] incenses the Bishop, the clergy and the congregation.  Music should accompany the complete incensation including that of the congregation.

  • The Sanctus, the Mystery of Faith, and the Amen during the Eucharistic Prayer are to be sung by all. The Agnus Dei is to be sung as well.  The texts must be faithful to the translation in the Roman Missal.
     
    The consecrated Body and Blood of the Lord may be incensed at each showing during the Eucharistic Prayer.  The deacon or server would customarily kneel at the center of the steps leading to the altar.
     

  • The Lord's Prayer and its Doxology preferrably are recited.  Sung texts must be faith to the translation in the Roman Missal.

  • There should be sufficient ministers of Holy Communion so that its distribution is not unduly prolonged and can be carried our reverently.  Extraordinary ministers from the parish are to be assigned to assist with Holy Communion only in the absence of priests and deacons.  The procession for Holy Communion should move toward the altar.

  • Concluding Rite
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  • PRESENTATION OF THE CANDIDATES
  • Your Excellency,
  • is honored by the presence of a successor of the apostles. I present to you, our sons and daughterswho are candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Under the guidance of their parents, guardians and catechistsand with the prayerful support and encouragement of this parish communitythey have prepared for this Sacrament of Christian Initiation which was begun at their baptism. I ask that you impose hands upon themand anoint them with the Sacred Chrism,sealing them with the gift of the Holy Spirit. We pray that their participation in the Holy Eucharistwith all of us assembled herewill strengthen them as faithful witnesses to Christ. 
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