Location: St. Henry Catholic Church
It is exciting for me to be here, at St. Henry Catholic Church, to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation. This sacrament completes the grace of Baptism, and together with the Eucharist, it finalizes the process of Christian initiation. By the sacrament of Confirmation, you will be more perfectly bound to the Church. You will also be enriched with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, enabling you to be mature witnesses of Christ, and entrusting you to spread and defend our shared faith by word and deed.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, the Church invites us to ponder about the profound mystery of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let us reflect on the meaning of making the sign of the cross as we invoke the life of the Blessed Trinity in our lives.
Saint Paul, in his letter to the Romans, elevates our understanding by reminding us that we are not only chosen but also adopted children of God. Through the Holy Spirit, we cry out “Abba, Father!” This intimate address shows our deep relationship with God, made possible through the Spirit of adoption. As God’s children, we are heirs with Christ, called to share in His sufferings so that we may also share in His glory.
The Gospel of Matthew concludes with the Great Commission. Jesus, with all authority in heaven and on earth, sends His disciples to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This Trinitarian formula is not just a ritual phrase, but an invitation into the life of God Himself. It signifies our participation in the divine mystery of love and unity.
When we make the sign of the cross, we profess this profound truth. We declare our faith in the Trinity and remind ourselves of God’s presence in our lives. The sign of the cross is a prayer in itself, summarizing our belief in the Triune God and invoking His blessing. It is a powerful gesture that marks us as Christians and sets us apart for God’s purposes.
The mystery of the Holy Trinity is one of relationships – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in a perfect communion of love. This divine relationship is mirrored in our lives. We are created in the image of a relational God, called to live in love and community. The Trinity teaches us that love is the essence of God and the goal of our existence.
God’s revelation as Trinity shows that He is not a distant, solitary being but an intimate, loving presence. As Pope Francis has said: “God is love, God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and He gave His life for us. This is why we make the sign of the cross.” The Father’s creation, the Son’s redemption, and the Spirit’s sanctification are all acts of God’s overflowing love. Our response is to live in this love, building relationships of love and service.
Let us join those being confirmed today, renewing our commitment to live as children of the Triune God. Let us recognize the blessings that flow from invoking the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let us embrace the call to love one another as God has loved us, making His love known in our families, communities, and the world.
May Our Lady of Guadalupe help us open our hearts to the love of God the Father and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the fellowship of the Holy Spirit to be with us all, now and always.
