3350S.AlamedaSt.
CorpusChristi,Texas78411‐1821
(361)855‐7391
REQUIREMENTSFORCONFIRMATIONSPONSORS
Why the Sacrament of Confirmation? Prior to his ascension into heaven, Jesus told his
apostlesthathewouldsendthemtheHolySpiritto be their advocateandguide,andon
the Feast of Pentecost, the promised gift of the Holy Spirit fell on the
apostles and the
VirginMaryastheyprayedintheUpperRoom,empoweringthemtobewitnessesofJesus
intheworld.“TheSacramentofConfirmationperfectsBaptismalgrace;itisthesacrament
which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation,
incorporate
usmorefirmlyintoChrist,strengthenourbondwiththeChurch,associateus
morecloselywithhermission,andhelpustobearwitnesstothe Christianfaithinwords
accompaniedbydeeds.”(CCC1316)“Confirmation,likeBaptism,imprintsaspiritualmark
or indelible character on the Christian’s soul; for this
reason one can receive this
sacramentonlyonceinone’slife.”(CCC1317)
What is the role of a Confirmation Sponsor? Just as sponsor for baptism takes upon
himself/herselftheresponsibilityofhelpingthenewlybaptizedpersonmatureintheliving
a Christian life and offers his or her own
life and practice of the faith as an example of
faith, prayer and service within the Catholic Church, the Sponsor for Confirmation
continuesthatworkforthepersonwhoistobeconfirmed.TheSacramentofConfirmation
also creates a strong spiritual bond between the one who is confirmed and the
sponsor.
The sponsor should be committed to trying to be a part of the confirmandi’s life by
presence and prayer always realizing that a sponsor’s prayers for that person are
especiallyefficaciousbeforeAlmightyGod.One’s“yes”tobeasponsorforConfirmationis
notjusta“yes”tothe
candidate,bu t also aserious commitment toGodintaking onthis
obligation.
WhataretherequirementsoftheChurchforbeingaConfirmationsponsor?
Asponsormustbesomeoneotherthantheparentoftheonetobeconfirmed.
A sponsor must have received the Sacraments of Baptism,
Confirmation and Holy
Eucharist.
A sponsor must be atlea st16 years ofage and may be male or femaleregardlessof
thesexofthecandidate.
A sponsor must be leading a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be
undertaken;therefore,ifmarried,
mustbemarriedintheChurchandifsingle,mustbe
striving to live a chaste life and therefore cannot be living with a person outside of
marriage.
Asponsormustbeapracticin gCatholic,registeredinaparish,whoregularly attendsMass
onSundaysandHolyDaysandreceivesthe
HolyEucharist.