Something happened to him.
Just over 50 days before, outside of the high priest’s house, he denied Jesus three times. Now, in the very presence of the high priest, and all who were of the high priestly class, Peter, on trial for healing a man in the name of Jesus, proclaims: “He is ‘the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.’ There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved” (Acts 4:11–12).
Just over 50 days before, outside of the high priest’s house, he denied Jesus three times. Now, in the very presence of the high priest, and all who were of the high priestly class, Peter, on trial for healing a man in the name of Jesus, proclaims: “He is ‘the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.’ There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved” (Acts 4:11–12).

Something happened to Peter. He is different now. He is no longer afraid.
So . . . what happened?
The Holy Spirit happened.
Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost transformed Peter and those other disciples of Jesus who were gathered in the Upper Room.
The sacrament of Confirmation is like our own personal Pentecost. The Catechism announces, “It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost” (1302).
So . . . what happened?
The Holy Spirit happened.
Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost transformed Peter and those other disciples of Jesus who were gathered in the Upper Room.
The sacrament of Confirmation is like our own personal Pentecost. The Catechism announces, “It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost” (1302).
In Confirmation, something amazing happens to us if we allow it to happen. Actually, many things (CCC 1303):
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