CATECHETICAL AGE
by Paul Turner
CATECHETICAL AGE |
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Catholics who attend the Easter Vigil may be surprised to discover that children no older than first communion age are being confirmed at parishes in which confirmation is generally reserved for older children. Children who participate in the catechumenate celebrate all three sacraments of initiation together: baptism, confirmation and communion. We call them "children of catechetical age." The age for receiving these sacraments varied considerably, so we used terms which could cover a range of ages. The "age of reason" indicated when a child could distinguish ordinary bread from the Body of Christ. The "age of discretion" indicated when a child was responsible for his or her moral behavior and devotion. The newest term is"catechetical age," the years in which a child can be formed by the Gospel and accept the duties of the Christian life. The catechumenate is open to children of catechetical age. Canon law gives a priest the faculty to confirm the catechumens he baptizes. It also requires him to use the faculty. So a priest who baptizes a child of catechetical age or an adult must confirm at the same time. This sometimes sets up an awkward situation in parishes where older children are preparing for confirmation. But all are simply following their own pattern of initiation, which differs between children baptized Catholic as infants and those baptized as catechumens at an older age. Copyright
© 1997, Resource Publications, Inc. 160 E. Virginia St. #290, San
Jose, CA 95112, (408) 286-8505. This article may not be reproduced in any
form without permission from the publisher. For permission e-mail
info@rpinet.com.
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