What is Confirmation like in Germany?

What does it look like Confirmation? As we have mentioned in previous articles, the sacrament of Confirmation is a very important part of our membership in the Holy Church and deepens our unity with the By God through the Holy Spirit.

The ceremony itself is preceded by appropriate preparations, during which the young people meet with the Clergy and receive instruction from them. The Sacrament of Confirmation is conferred in every church by the Bishop himself. In special cases there are exceptions to this and Confirmation may be administered by an ordinary priest. In most cases Confirmation, like Baptism, is administered during Mass in the church. The entire Mass including Confirmation takes about 1.5 - 2 hours.

Immediately after the reading of the Holy Gospel, the rites of the Sacrament of Confirmation begin. The Priest then has a conversation with the Bishop and asks him to administer the sacrament before God.

He also confirms the proper course of preparation for Confirmation. The bishop then gives a homily during which he informs the young people of the meaning of the sacrament, after which they recite the baptismal pledge. They renounce Satan and profess faith in One Father, Almighty God. This is followed by the laying on of hands and silent prayer, after which the Bishop proceeds to Confirmation. He extends his hands over the candidates (this gesture is a sign of the gift of the Holy Spirit) and says the appropriate formula. One of the key elements of the entire process is the anointing with the Holy Cross with the laying on of the hands of the minister.

The bishop makes the sign of the cross with holy oil on the forehead of each candidate. Throughout the Confirmation, a witness stands behind the person being confirmed and places his or her hand on his or her shoulder at the moment of the marking. All ends with a universal prayer, and the liturgy proceeds according to the standard rite. Confirmation mementos are blessed and the bishop gives a blessing.

How Confirmation takes place in Germany. In the German Catholic churches Confirmation takes place in exactly the same way as in the churches of Poland. Let us not forget that many Polish priests work in Germany, and the German Polish community also has masses in their native language. Confirmation itself is no different in Germany than Confirmation in Poland.