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The signifigance of confirmation really only struck me later in life when I first witnessed my oldest nephew be baptized and confirmed in the Maronite rite. It was/is a beautiful ceremony -- complete with candle processions and prayers invoking the saints and prophets and the patriarchs of old.

How awesome!! You can't begin to imagine how blessed you all are to have received those gifts and graces at the same time you were Baptized! It was a struggle to get my daughter through 13 years of religious education and to the Sacrament of Confirmation. Even then, she didn't 'get it'. As I noted above, those gifts are like seeds planted in fertile soil. They spring to life when we need them. How truly sad that so many catholics never take their children past First Communion.

A priest friend (latin rite)who is now the chancellor for the arch diocese I grew up in was telling me that the Pope (JPII at the time) had a special fondness for the Maronites and was adamant that they be able to maintain their rite and not have their children baptized in the latin rite.

As did John XXIII and our new pontiff Benedict XVI. When Nimatullah Al Hardini was canonized, JPII invited Patriarch Sfeir to concelebrate the Mass that day. He also extended an invitation to have a Maronite priest chant the gospel in Arabic which was followed by the glorious strains of a Maronite choir chanting the "Praise, Thanksgiving and Blessing" hymn.

During the interregnum following the death of JPII, then Cardinal Ratzinger extended an invitation to Patriarch Sfeir to celebrate the Maronite Divine Liturgy on behalf of all the Eastern Churches. At his Installation Mass, Pope Benedict XVI once again extended the invitation to Patriarch Sfeir to concelebrate that Mass. He represented ALL the Eastern Churches at that Mass. What an honor!!

Abouna Elie, with a twinkle in his eye, told us not long ago that the Maronites have always known how to take the best from their invaders and discard the rest ;-). The Maronites have proffited handsomely from their relationship with the Latin Church, including an illustrious seminary in Rome.

The Maronites are one of only two Churches that have never been separated from Rome. You should be so proud of your rich and glorious heritage!

As I noted above, those gifts are like seeds planted in fertile soil. They spring to life when we need them.

YES! You are very right. That's exactly what it was. Even when I distanced myself from my faith, that seed was still there. My mother and father always had faith that the seed would come to fruition if they kept praying and supplying it with spiritual food and a healthy environment. One thing I noticed especially about the Maronite baptism/confirmation is that it puts even greater emphasis on the responsibility of the godparents and parents than the latin rite. It is made very apparent that the godparents are taking a sacred vow to insure with the parents that the child is brought up in the faith. The godparents hold the candle for the child and say the vows. As I mentioned, they also emphasize the role of the communion of saints in the child's instruction. It reminds us that the Church is more than just those living today; it is the Church triumphant throughout the ages. I believe one of the readings was from Luke 1:76-79 -- Zechariah's song:

"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."

Believe me, I learned from a young age that our ancestors were forever faithful to the See of St. Peter, our first patriarch. And I was taught that my ancestors first heard the gospel from the Lord Himself or at the very least from one of the Twelve! As I child and teenager I was fascinated with the stories of the old testament in the same way that a person of European descent might be fascinated by the history of the Middle Ages. Reading the bible was literally reading my ancestral history! Of course, my people were usually the bad guys...But I was always particularly gratified by all the warnings in the proverbs to beware the beauty and wiles of the Canaanite women. Yeah, we're wily alright!

When Nimatullah Al Hardini was canonized, JPII invited Patriarch Sfeir to concelebrate the Mass that day.

Canonization Mass - May 2004 - 6 saints, including the newest Maronite Saint - St. Nimatullah Al Hardini. The gospel was read first in Latin by a Latin Rite priest, then chanted in Arabic by this Maronite priest who then presented the Book of the Gospels to be revered by JPII, while a Maronite choir chanted the "Praise, Thanksgiving and Blessing" hymn.

At his Installation Mass, Pope Benedict XVI once again extended the invitation to Patriarch Sfeir to concelebrate that Mass.

Installation Mass of Pope Benedict XVI

Yes, Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Sfeir shared a mutual respect.