Catholic Truth Online

Through the Sacrament of Confirmation, we become Soldiers of Christ.

The purpose of a soldier is to protect, defend, and serve. Before becoming a soldier, a person needs to be trained and disciplined. After training, the soldier receives a uniform, which is usually comprised of some sort of helmet, armor, boots, weapons, and flag. The soldier is placed in a group of other soldiers who work together to complete the given tasks. Soldiers live by a certain code of conduct and they are expected to display loyalty and obedience to the chain of command.

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The same holds true for the Confirmed Catholic who becomes a Soldier of Christ. The main purpose of the Soldier of Christ is to protect, defend, and serve both the Church and the faith. Before one is Confirmed, that person needs to be trained in the faith. This is what religious education, sponsors, and family do for us: they train us in the knowledge and ways of the faith. If we don’t know the faith, then how can we possibly live it, protect it, or defend it? Once we become Soldiers of Christ, we are given a spiritual uniform so we can wage war against Satan and the powers of evil. Saint Paul does a fantastic job of outlining the uniform of the Soldier of Christ, which he refers to as the “Armor of God.”

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Read about the Armor of God: Ephesians 6:10-20

What are some of the weapons of the Soldier of Christ?

Like a soldier in today’s world, the Soldier of Christ has an arsenal of weapons to choose from. The following list provides us with a look at some of the weapons available to us in the war on sin:

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Prayer Sacraments

Fruits of Holy Spirit Gifts of Holy Spirit

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Rosary Devotions Saints

Works of Mercy

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Scriptures Virtues Family Grace

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The flag of the Soldier of Christ is the cross, which Jesus tells us we must carry and follow after him. The Soldier of Christ is called to work in a group of others; this group is the person’s parish. In other words, through Confirmation, we are called to be a fruitful member of the Church by participating in the ministries of our parish community. The Soldier of Christ must also live by a moral code. This moral code is outlined in the teachings of Christ and his Church. In other words, we are obligated to live our lives according to the teachings of the Church. In short, Confirmation inspires us to a life of service.

This means we are called to put our faith into action on a daily basis.