On my retreat last week, I went to the same chapel where I did my Confirmation retreat in 8th Grade, in 1984.. In fact, one of the priest there was assigned to my childhood parish in 8th grade.

My intention for the entire retreat was that Jesus, release the treasures, gifts of the Holy Spirit, that I was given at Confirmation. When I was conformed, I was the second to the last person to be confirmed.. and I remember a line from the homily that Bishop Keating gave…he said ‘You will be as confirmed everyday of your life as you are today.’ I felt that this retreat was my Gallilee, going back to where I first began..

As if… I was confirmed this day.. which is true as Confirmation is a living reality.

When I got back from my retreat last week.. I started to prepare my Homi;y for the coming week.. And I read these beautiful words from the Magnificat for Sunday Sept 8.. ‘She has already given birth to us;  before any choice of our own, we are already marked with the indelible seal.. It is up to us to dare to talk to God, that is, to dare true prayer. Up to us to fall back on the seal of strength given in Confirmation, like how one raises a sunken treasure up from a well.’ 

Mother Angelica wrote ‘ The Spirit gave us His Gifts so we would be clothed with the jewels of virtue-the gold of love, the emeralds of hope, and the brilliant diamonds of faith. Let us not be content with the scotch tape of aluminum foil of this world.’

You were given a treasure chest at Confirmation.. Like the woman at the well.. Whom Jesus promised the Gift of God, the Holy Spirit.. we are to bring up the Treasure Chest from the well of our soul, into our prayers, and hearts.. and with the Key of the Holy Spirit open up the Treasure Chest.