When I received the sacrament of confirmation a long time ago, the Sinsinawa Dominicans taught me that I would be a soldier for Christ. It is an ancient image that dates to the early Church. It was mentioned by St. Cyril of Jerusalem in 350 A.D. and the Council of Trent in the 16th century, but it is not mentioned much these days, possibly because of its militaristic overtones. The principles underlying this imagery are both enlightening and formative.
Soldiers do not fight alone but in concert with other soldiers as part of an elite fighting force. The confirmed realize that there is strength in numbers, become members of the Army of Light, function as a unit, work together to carry out their mission and protect each other.
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Soldiers have a commander-in-chief and superior officers, and they obey their orders. The confirmed have a supreme commander, almighty God, and they completely and dutifully obey the will of God. They have religious superiors, the college of bishops, and they obey their magisterial teaching, as well as local bishops, and they comply with their mandates and instructions.
When soldiers join the military, they go into “the service.” The confirmed pattern their lives on Jesus, who came to serve. They spend their lives serving God by serving their neighbors, particularly their family members, but also in their parishes and schools, the wider community and for the betterment of society. The confirmed gravitate toward service professions.
Soldiers begin with basic training, an intense preliminary period of drills and exercises to gain mental toughness and physical strength to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead. The confirmed gain a solid spiritual mindset with personal prayer, Mass and the sacraments, retreats and spiritual reading, and discipline themselves through their practice of the virtues.
Soldiers arm themselves with the best possible weaponry. The confirmed arm themselves with the Word of God, divine grace, prayer, the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, and the inspiration of the lives of the saints. They are protected by their guardian angels and their patron saints.
Soldiers are on high alert, in a constant state of readiness, and set to go into action at a moment’s notice. The confirmed are sober and vigilant, alert and on guard, continuously in the state of grace, and act quickly to uphold the truth and do the right thing.
Soldiers fight with courage and bravery, are prepared to suffer, consider surrender unthinkable and are willing to lay down their lives for their country. The confirmed pattern themselves on Jesus who suffered and died for us, and are willing to suffer on behalf of others. The confirmed embrace hardship, sacrifice and remain faithful until the end, even to the point of death.
Soldiers go into the battlefield to carry out a specific mission or objective. The confirmed go into the world to make the name of Jesus known and loved, give heroic witness, and spread and defend the faith.
Soldiers fight with determination against their opponent. The confirmed fight with valor against the enemy, the devil, temptation and the forces of evil in the world. They also fully engage in the raging battle to conquer the sinful inclinations in their own minds and hearts.
Soldiers are peacekeepers: They restore and maintain peace. The confirmed stop hostilities, bring calm, establish communication, effect reconciliation, repair damage, build mutual respect, uphold the common good, and foster harmony and cooperation.
Father Van Sloun is pastor of St. Bartholomew in Wayzata. This column is part of an ongoing series on confirmation. Find the full series at TheCatholicSpirit.com.
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