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Overview
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This retreat is an opportunity to spiritually prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Because the spiritual life is never lived alone, we recommend you do this as a family. If you can’t, find a journal to answer the discussion questions.
Prayer is an essential component to this retreat. To help guide you through prayer, we will be using Hallow, a Catholic guided prayer app. On the bottom menu, select Discover then select Challenges (on the top menu.) Click the icon that says “Intro.”. [They are also available on YouTube.]
For each session, you will do an activity, watch a video, discuss, and then find time to pray. You can do all four sessions in one day, or space it across the week, but it must be completed by Saturday, March 6th.
At the end of the retreat, we ask that you write a 400 word reflection and send it to tbelsterling@hsplc.org.
Introduction: What is Confirmation?
Video- Sophia Sketchpad: Confirmation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu3MoT_egFI
Questions- Together with your family, answer these questions.- What stood out to you?
- Can you explain what Confirmation is and what it is not?
- Confirmation gives us the power to spread the faith and defend the faith. Where do you need that most in your life?
Session 1: The Process
Activity- Look up the holy card for your confirmation saint and research the symbols in the picture (Example: St. Paul caries a sword because he preached the word of God which is “Sharper than any two-edged sword.”)
Video- What is stopping you from Becoming a Saint?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-8JAnD6jvI
Questions- Together with your family, answer these questions.- What stood out most to you?
- Do you feel like you are called to be a saint?
- Do you find it hard to commit to the path to sainthood?
- Are you ready to take up the battle of sainthood? How is the grace in Confirmation going to help you?
Prayer- For our first session, take 15 minutes in your room or another quiet space. Take a crucifix or some other icon with you to make the space sacred.
On the Hallow app, go to the first session, Sitting in Silence with God, or find it on YouTube. Meditation is the practice of prayerfully emptying your mind so it can be filled with Christ. Meditation is the kind of prayer that helped saints grow in holiness.
If God is really speaking to you in this moment of prayer, feel free to continue on to the next two sessions on Christian Meditation.
Session 2: The Way
Activity- Play some kind of board game together (like Sorry or Life) where the object is to move your pieces down a path.
Video- Do Good People Go to Heaven When They Die?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT4JAxfhgcQ
Questions- Together with your family answer these questions.- What stood out most to you?
- What does it mean to you that Christ wants you in heaven?
- Do you live your life like you’re walking the narrow path to heaven? If not, what needs to change? If you are, how can you be more like Christ?
- Remember the gifts Confirmation gives us. How do those gifs help us stay on this path to heaven?
Prayer- Go back to your room or quiet space. Take a crucifix or some other icon with you to make the space sacred.
On the Hallow app, go to sessions 4-6, the “reflecting” sessions, or find it on YouTube. This will introduce you to something called an “Examine.” The saints used to do the Examine to see how closely they were living the truth of God’s plan for their lives.
Complete all three sessions. If you would like a shorter or longer examine, the Hallow app has the option to make each session 5, 10, or 15 minutes.
Session 3: The Truth
Activity- Examination of Conscience.
Video- Do I Have a Good Conscience?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5uUqpA3jqY
Questions-- What stood out to you most?
- Do you ever ask the question “What does God want?” Why or why not?
- Do you ever feel challenged by what the Church teaches? What teachings? How do you respond?
- What does it mean that Christ is Truth? How often do you go to Christ to find out what is true/right?
Prayer- Go back to your room or quiet space. This time, make sure to take a bible with you.
On the Hallow app, go to the seventh session, Talking with God, or find it on YouTube. Here, we’ll learn how to pray with scripture in a style called Lectio Divina.
If you so choose, feel free to continue with the eighth session, Imaginative Prayer.
Session 4: The Life
Activity- Take a few moments by yourselves to answer this question: What is heaven going to be like? When you’re finished, come back and share your answers with each other.
Video- Not Good Enough For Heaven
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chur9r9H2bY
Questions-- What stood out to you most?
- Are you willing to give God permission to love you as you are?
- Are you willing to surrender your life to Him?
- If you answered no, what is stopping you?
Prayer- Go back to your room or quiet space. This time, make sure to take a bible with you.
On the Hallow app, go to the ninth session, Light of the World, or find it on YouTube.
This series of prayer sessions is taken from a nine-day prayer challenge on the Hallow app. If you enjoyed this style of prayer, I highly recommend you do the whole nine days in a row.
Bonus Session:
hile it’s not required, it is great way to wrap up this virtual retreat focusing on how we continue to live what we learn and grow here.
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