On Sunday, October 26 2014, the Solemnity of the Kingship of Christ, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Bishop Joseph N. Perry, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago, confirmed a large class of young adults. The number of Confirmandi gave tangible proof to the growing sacramental life at the Shrine of Christ the King. Most of them had already received sacraments at the Shrine as young children and they have now grown into young adults under the loving watch of the Infant King. Others, adults, had recently been baptized and received into the Church. They hail from the local neighborhood and show the salutary effect the presence of the Shrine is having in the South Side Community.
The Rite of Confirmation was followed by a Pontifical High Mass offered by Bishop Perry. Renaissance Chorale music was performed by a guest choir and the polyphonic motets were sung by the Shrine’s very own young adult choir Cor Jesu. In the homily His Excellency highlighted the importance of the Kingship of Christ in today’s society. Americans are tempted to shun Monarchy, he stated, but we should wholeheartedly embrace the just and sweet reign of Christ the King. Elected officials may let us down time and time again, but Our Lord fulfills His promises and guides us effectively to His everlasting Kingdom.
Confirmation impresses on the Christian soul an indelible sacramental character. Sacramental Character is a permanent, supernatural mark on the person imprinted by 3 of the Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders. It changes the one who receives it in his or her very being. Persons baptized, confirmed or ordained are forever new beings. It is indelible. This means that it remains even if one loses sanctifying grace. Thus the sacraments that confer a character are not repeated. A person remains baptized, confirmed, and ordained into eternity. In Catholics, the character they possess is something like a source of grace, because it places them in contact with Christ. He is the heavenly vine whose branches we are through the character. This character gives us a right to possess grace if we place no obstacles in the way. Sacramental Character gives the ability to offer worship pleasing to God.
The sacramental character imprints on the soul a likeness to Christ and his Priesthood by conferring on the faithful the supernatural power to offer sacrifice. This power is given in Baptism, developed in Confirmation, and perfected in Holy Orders. This Character unites Catholics as one in Christ since it is the same Christ whose character is imprinted on all the baptized. The Church stresses that the indelible seal received in Confirmation is really a new character. It is not merely a deepening of baptismal character. The Church’s tradition teaches that the confirmation character gives the power and the right to perform actions which are necessary in the spiritual battle against the enemies of the faith. These enemies are the world, our proud intellect and will and the Devil. Thus, Confirmation changes the simple members of the Kingdom of Christ into Soldiers of Christ.
To celebrate this noble increase in God’s Army, the Shrine community hosted a warm reception graced with the presence of Bishop Perry. Thank you, Your Excellency, for your paternal solicitude! We assure you of our prayerful gratitude!