Confirmation. Not a "farewell," but the seal of a new beginning with the Spirit

Let’s be clear: Confirmation. For many of us, a rite of passage. A certificate to add to the drawer. A “I’ve done that too” on the list of things to do. But what if we discovered that, according to the profound words of a bishop like Bruno Forte, it could be one of the most powerful gifts we can receive?
Let’s explore the meaning of this sacrament together, because it is not a point of arrival, but - if we want it to be - an incredible beginning.

What is Confirmation really? Not an obligation, but a divine gift

Let’s forget the idea of an obligation. Bishop Bruno Forte reminds us clearly: Confirmation, or Chrismation, is a gift. It is a sacrament, an effective sign of God’s action. Imagine this: it is not we who “confirm” some kind of commitment (even though our decision matters). It is God who “confirms” us, making us strong and steadfast through the power of His Spirit.
It is like receiving “the seal of the Holy Spirit.” The Spirit comes to “take possession” of our hearts. And why? To pour God’s love into them. Anyone who understands how difficult it is to truly love, how fragile and fearful we are, can grasp the greatness of this gift: a strength that comes from above to make us capable of loving beyond every weakness and fear.

The danger of the “donkey’s bridge.” When Confirmation becomes a farewell

And here we come to the painful point, the “donkey’s bridge.” A bishop admired by Bishop Bruno Forte used this expression to describe the Confirmation experience for many young people.
What does “donkey’s bridge” mean? In common language, it refers to a difficult passage. Its origin? A legend about a saint, a donkey, and the devil. The saint had to cross a raging stream; the devil built a bridge, demanding in return the soul of the first person to cross it. The clever saint sent the donkey first, and it was spared because it was not pleasing to the great Adversary.
The story tells us that the “donkey’s bridge” is a trial, a moment in which one risks getting lost. And for Confirmation? For many, it is a difficult stage, prepared with “a sense of compulsion, mixing boredom and curiosity, anticipation and the rush to finish.” The risk is serious: once they reach the bridge, they may “fall into the hands of the Enemy,” separating themselves from God. And so, unfortunately, Confirmation becomes the “hour of farewell.” After receiving it, many drift away from religious practice, beginning to sail alone on the turbulent sea of life.

The seven gifts. The survival kit for the journey

But is it possible for things not to be this way? Can we experience Confirmation with the “wisdom and faith of the saint in the story”? So that Confirmation may not be a farewell, but a new beginning, we have gifts that the Spirit pours out upon us. These are not abstract concepts! They are forces at work within us:
Wisdom: helps us see life and the world in God, and find meaning and strength along the journey.
Understanding: enables us to recognize God’s presence in every situation and understand what He asks of us.
Counsel: guides us in our decisions, helping us choose what is right before God.
Fortitude: makes us faithful to the Lord, resisting the temptations of selfishness.
Knowledge: makes us look beyond appearances, understanding that it is mystery that illuminates knowledge.
Piety: awakens tenderness toward God within us, and the desire to love and serve Him.
Fear of God: makes us live under the Lord’s gaze, concerned with pleasing Him, finding true freedom in Him and understanding the gravity of sin.

Why should we receive Confirmation? To love beyond our weakness

Do we now understand why receiving Confirmation is so important? It completes the journey of Christian initiation begun with Baptism. We all need to be strengthened by God’s gift in order to believe, hope, and love beyond our weakness.
Receiving Confirmation or not “is not the same thing.” The gift of the Spirit is essential, even when it works like “the fire beneath the ashes or the seed hidden underground.” No one can save themselves alone! We need the Spirit. And the Church too, the community in which we receive the Spirit, needs to be continually nourished by this grace. That is why Confirmation is a gift for the entire community, not just for the individual. It calls us to a greater awareness of our belonging to the Church and of our responsibility to participate in its life and mission.

Living according to the Spirit

Confirmation opens a path to a new life. It means discovering the gifts God has placed within us and putting them at the service of others, living in communion and bearing witness to joy. This is where our unique vocation is revealed. How can we do this? One practical help is active participation in parish life, church groups, or associations. But the fundamental condition is docility, the humble and ready acceptance of the Spirit’s action within us.
Confirmation is not a “farewell,” it is not an obligation to get through, and it is not a bridge that leads away from God. It is a powerful gift of the Spirit, an indelible seal that makes us capable of loving, strengthens us, fills us with His gifts, and calls us to live a life of service and witness in the Church and in the world. Provided that we are docile, humble, and willing.
Now that you have discovered the profound meaning of Confirmation, do you want to truly understand how to receive the “seal of the Spirit” and live out His powerful gifts? Don’t stop here! Immerse yourself in the heart of Bishop Bruno Forte’s thought. Discover his complete contribution on the sacrament of Confirmation in the book Letters to the People of God. It is an invitation to a new beginning that can change your life!