Here is a comprehensive lesson plan on the Sacrament of Confirmation. It might work best as a final summary of your Confirmation preparation or pick and choose some of the activities to use throughout the year. The main goal of the lesson is to give them a final opportunity to prepare for the actual celebration of their Sacrament of Confirmation.
You can find previously posted and related Confirmation lesson plans here:
- The Rite of Confirmation Lesson Plan
- Post-Confirmation Lesson Plan
- The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit Lesson Plan
- Confirmation Activities and Worksheets
Sacrament of Confirmation Lesson Objectives
- Students will be able to (SWBAT) define Confirmation.
- SWBAT list the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.
- SWBAT summarize the story of Pentecost.
- SWF excited about receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit at Confirmation.
Sacrament of Confirmation Lesson Activities
Hook: Smashing Spiritual Gifts
In many video games with multiple characters, each character has different unique abilities. For example, in Super Smash Bros., each character has different attacks.
You might show a video like this as an example:
But what are your special spiritual gifts?
As you prepare for your Confirmation, we can begin to think about what gifts God is ready to pour into you with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For greater context, share this expert from the popular Confirmation gift book, The Gospel According to Video Games:
Smashing Spiritual Gifts
Super Smash Bros. is unlike other fighting games in one important way. Rather than trying to kill the opponent in a bloody battle, the fighters seek to score more points and eject a player out of bounds. To win, each of the classic Nintendo characters has unique attacks and abilities to remain on the screen. These abilities are wide-ranging and unique. According to Saint Paul, each of us has unique spiritual gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit. “There are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of services but the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone” (1 Corinthians 12:4–6). He goes on to describe gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, powerful deeds, prophecy, discernment of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. He then describes the Church as a metaphor for Christ’s body, with each of us serving in unique ways as unique parts of the body, such as hands or feet.
Ask yourself, what are your spiritual gifts? What are the ways in which the Holy Spirit has called you to serve the Lord? Donkey Kong’s attacks in Super Smash Bros. are very different from those of Pikachu, Jigglypuff, or Mario. In the same way, you have strengths that make you stand out among others. God gives you these gifts not to kill, but to grow and improve. These are gifts not to compare yourself as better or worse, just different.
You will stand out among others and be recognized for these gifts. Like the last character standing in Super Smash Bros., you will be complimented on your accomplishments. What are these successes? What are your gifts? Recognizing these abilities will help you think about the ways you can serve others and find happiness in the work you do. It will help you grow as an individual and grow in your ability to help carry out God’s will in the world.
Present: The Meaning of Confirmation
Share this short video about the origin and meaning of the word Confirmation:
Then ask students:
- What other sacrament does Confirmation strengthen?
- What does the Chrism oil do to us?
- How do you hope to be more like Christ after Confirmation?
Present: The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Share these videos with the students and have them write down the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit in their notes:
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit Video
The best way to help your students remember the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are to come up with hand motions for each gift. For example:
Gifts of the Holy Spirit Hand Motions
- Wisdom: Scratch your chin.
- Understanding: Thumbs-up
- Knowledge: Point to the side of your head.
- Counsel: Shake your own hand.
- Fortitude: Flex your muscles.
- Piety: Prayer hands.
- Fear of the Lord: Point to heaven.
Use these or make up your own signs. The key is coming up with a physical way to remember and list the ideas.
The Fruits of the Holy Spirit Video
This video uses images to match with each Fruit of the Spirit. Have students write those images down in their notes and use later to remember each fruit.
Practice: Partner Quiz
Using the hand motions for the gifts and the pictures for the fruits, have students quiz each other on listing each of the gifts and fruits of the Spirit.
After the partner practice, check the class memory by quizzing the group with hand motions and images.
Present: The Story of Pentecost
First show this video explanation of the meaning of the word Pentecost:
This will give them some context for reading the stories of Pentecost in the Bible.
Read the story of Pentecost from the Acts of the Apostles 2:1–13 and John 20:19–23.
Practice: Pentecost Pictures
Have students fold a piece of paper in half and label the left John 20:19–23 and the right Acts 2:1–13. Then have the students draw a picture of the scene and label the Holy Spirit in the pictures. Their picture of the scene in John should label the Holy Spirit as Jesus’s breath and the Acts picture as tongues of fire.
Present: Preparing for the Bishop’s Homily
It has become a tradition among many Catholic bishops to ask students questions during the homily of the Confirmation Mass. They usually ask questions about the topics covered in this lesson plan so far. It is helpful, however, to consider distributing these questions for students to review before Confirmation.
Common Bishop Confirmation Questions:
- What is the definition of a sacrament?
- What are the Seven Sacraments?
- What do you receive in the Sacrament of Confirmation?
- What are the symbols and signs used in the Sacrament of Confirmation?
- What sacrament does Confirmation complete?
- What are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit?
- What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit?
- How did Jesus give the Holy Spirit to his Apostles?
- How did the Holy Spirit come upon the Apostles at Pentecost?
- How does the Holy Spirit help us live our Catholic faith?
Make sure your students are able to answer these and similar questions leading up to the celebration of Confirmation.
Would you like a printable copy of these Confirmation questions and answers?
Download here:
This is by no means an exhaustive list and many bishops ask many more questions covering the full extent of catechesis from elementary to middle school years.
But don’t make this the ONLY focus of you Confirmation preparation. Invite your students to prayerfully prepare for the sacrament by meditating on the topics they will learn.
Prayer: Asking for a Gift of the Spirit
Whether they feel anything emotionally or not, the sacramental grace of Confirmation will be placed on them. They will be sealed with the Holy Spirit. With that seal comes the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Some of these gifts are expressed in each one of us more than others. Some of these gifts are needed as supernatural aid to get through the challenges of life.
Distribute note cards to the students.
One one side have them write the name of the gift that they already have the most. Then draw a picture of one way they use that gift.
On the other side have them write the name of the gift they need the most. Then draw a picture of one situation in which they will need that gift the most.
Give them the time to prayerfully reflect on which gifts to choose.
Then invite them to pray this prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit from this lesson plan:
Lord Jesus Christ, send down your Spirit upon me.
When I am uncertain, grant me wisdom.
When I am confused, grant me understanding.
When I am ignorant, grant me knowledge.
When I am wandering, grant me counsel.
When I am afraid, grant me fortitude.
When I am separated from you, grant me piety.
When I am selfish, grant me the fear of the Lord.
I ask for an outpouring of your Spirit with all of these gifts in your name.
Amen.
Proof Assessment: Bishop Hot Seats
Break students up into groups. Have them take turns acting as the bishop during the Confirmation holy. They will stand and ask questions from the bishop questions list above. \
The other students will answer then take their turn as the bishop.
Download a Collection of Confirmation Worksheets
There is so much to do to get our students prepared for the Sacrament of Confirmation. They need to know the significance of the sacrament they are preparing for and one of the best ways to do that is learn about and reflect on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the the Rite of Confirmation. This resource includes fourteen worksheets including:
- Confirmation Saint Name Worksheet
- Seal of the Holy Spirit Worksheet
- Renewal of Baptismal Vows Worksheet
- Pentecost Worksheets
- and a worksheet for every one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
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