A Teen's Reflection on Confirmation: Endless Possibilities

BLOG SERIES: THE BOOK OF RACHEL
EACH MONTH, I WILL BE FEATURING ARTICLES WRITTEN BY MY 17-YEAR-OLD NIECE, RACHEL, WHO WILL BE SHARING HER PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON LIVING AS CATHOLIC TEEN IN TODAY'S WORLD. 

Despite the fear I experienced during my confirmation prep, those emotions could not surpass the excitement I had when confirmation day arrived. Like a typical teenager, it was easy for me to nonchalantly dismiss comments from my family and act like getting confirmed was no big deal for me. But inside, a tornado of excitement, jitters, and a little bit of fear stormed through me. It was hard to believe that the sacrament that I had been preparing for was finally here. 

I think that this sacrament can be extremely easy to brush off. It can seem like something you have to get done, a rite of passage for teenagers. But truthfully, when you take a moment to truly appreciate what’s going on, it’s a beautiful process. Getting confirmed is more than a recognition of faith and commitment to the church; it’s opening a door for a lifetime of growth and discovery. 

One of the biggest lessons that I took away from my journey was something that my priest said. He made it clear that your faith understanding is never complete. Your connection with God will always grow with you.  

This concept is what gave me clarity and a heavier meaning to my decision. I knew that I wanted to be confirmed-that choice was definite. But, I added more depth to my experience when I felt able to absorb every moment. I did this with the understanding that I was deepening my knowledge of God and relationship with him in the current moment, and also building a foundation for the future. 

Throughout the confirmation mass, I made sure to absorb everything that was going on. I wanted to be present in the moment, not let my mind wander, and sear everything into my memory. I often let my mind stray during church, thinking about my later plans or big events from the previous week. This service was different, though. My mind honed into every detail, listening to the readings and hymns. 

The homily that the archbishop offered spoke to me in volumes. During the confirmation process, all confirmants were requested to write letters to the archbishop. The archbishop read these letters, and took bits of pieces of each letter and incorporated them into the homily. Some, he brought up jokingly. Others, he related to the essence of confirmation and what it means to be an adult in the faith. 

At this time in my life, I was struggling to find my place. I felt like I was floating between social standards and expectations, being an active member in my faith community, and just being a good person. I felt as if the archbishop was giving us teenagers a voice. He perfectly took snippets of what we had to say and scaled it larger, as if looking at it through a microscope. I felt heard. The angst I had felt within my life seemed to make sense and align with what he had to say. 

In that moment, I realized that confirmation wasn’t just a milestone, but a profound step in my spiritual journey—a journey that wouldn’t end with the ceremony but would continue to evolve throughout my life. My faith would grow and change with me. As I walked away from the altar, I carried with me not just the sacrament, but a renewed understanding of my place in the world and in my faith. The confirmation was not the end, but the beginning of a lifelong commitment to explore, question, and deepen my relationship with God, with a heart open to the endless possibilities that lay ahead.