Sacraments Shout Out: Busted Halo’s Sacraments 101

Busted Halo has a great series of videos on the Sacraments called Sacraments 101.

They’re short (5-7 minutes long), production quality is great, and they’re entertaining.

They could be used as starters for presentations perhaps in upper elementary but are better suited for middle school or high school level.

Here’s the video on Confirmation.

I love the emphasis on practical application. The topics are not just about the doctrine but a specific question about them.

The subtitle for Confirmation is “Why we’re confirmed.” A question kids in 8th grade confirmation prep might be curious about. Another example is the subtitle for the Eucharist…”How we receive.”

They also answer questions like how to choose a sponsor, why take a new name, how to receive the Eucharist reverently, and why we baptize infants.

Along the way, they teach the basic doctrine on the sacrament in an engaging way.

I also love how the include what the sacrament is *not.* For instance, Confirmation is not:

• A rite of passage
• Just another religious “hoop” to jump through
• Graduation from church

I did take exception to one fact about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in relation to Confirmation. The video said we receive the gifts at Confirmation as tools for our mission in living a Christian life. That’s not exactly correct.

We receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit at Baptism because we receive the Holy Spirit at Baptism. Confirmation gives an increase of baptismal grace and strengthens the gifts. Like the apostles, we need this “personal Pentecost” preparing us, strengthening us, and making us bold for our particular mission in the Church.

Overall, I think these videos will be very useful for teachers and catechists.

H/T to Catholic Tech Talk