September 4

Thou hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:12.

Confirmation is a solemn reassertion, on the part of the catechumens, of the covenant once established between them and God, in Holy Baptism, a covenant in which they renounced the devil and all his works and all his pomp and entered into a most intimate relation to God by faith in Christ Jesus. They repeat the vow made through their sponsors in Holy Baptism, thus dedicating themselves anew to the service of God. This is not a repetition of the Sacrament of Baptism, but an assertion of firm and faithful adherence to the baptismal covenant. That this renunciation of the devil and the profession of faith is spoken in concert by the catechumens and in the presence of the Christian congregation is also highly appropriate. For by Baptism they also entered into most intimate union with each other and with the whole Christian Church, the communion of saints.

Confirmation is, secondly, a public and solemn avowal of adherence to the true visible Church, the Church of the pure doctrine

and unadulterated Sacraments. Adherence to this Church is, in fact, the duty of every Christian. Our catechumens, in their confirmation vow, declare their willingness to be and remain members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church all the days of their lives, and thereupon the pastor, in the name of the congregation, publicly acknowledges their membership. The prayers of the entire congregation then ascend to the Throne of Grace in their behalf.

A third significance of confirmation is that of a public exhibition of the fitness of the catechumens to be admitted to the Lord's Supper. Confirmation is not a sacrament, but the Lord's Supper is. To receive it worthily, our children must be able to examine themselves, and in order to be able to examine themselves, they must know what sin and grace means; in other words, they must have some knowledge of the doctrines of the Bible; hence the necessity of catechumenal instruction.

Prayer.

O God, my Father, I entrust myself fully to Thy care, to Thy grace and love, and to Thy truthful promises. O Jesus, my Redeemer, I clothe myself with Thy merits, with Thy blood and wounds, and with Thy blessed communion. O Holy Spirit, my Comforter, I consign myself wholly to Thy guidance, power, light, and comfort. O Triune God, Thou art mine, I am Thine; Thou art my Father, I am Thy child; Thou art my Shepherd, I am Thy sheep; Thou art my Lord, I am Thine own. And when the hour of my death is at hand, take me unto Thyself, O Lord, for I am Thine, and Thou art mine; my soul yearneth to be with Thee. Sustain me and all true Christians in this resolution. Amen.

Thine forever! God of love Hear us from Thy throne above. Thine forever may we be Here and in eternity.