IF CONFIRMATION IS RECEIVED AT AN EARLY AGE, WILL MY CHILD AT ADOLESCENCE BE MISSING AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THEIR RELIGIOUS FORMATION?
The Church understands Confirmation as an initiation rite, not as a ritual to foster adolescent commitment. However, what underlies this above question is the larger issue. When does a person who was baptized as an infant own his or her faith? There is not a set age at which the interiorization of faith takes place. For one person it may be at age twenty and for another at age fifty. All we know is that faith development is a gradual process intimately connected with a person’s growth toward adulthood. Given the nature of adolescence and how a person’s faith develops, it may not be prudent to use Confirmation as an adult commitment rite at adolescence. Faith development of adolescents is characterized by exploration, search and doubt, not firm commitment. However, parents and our parish community need to explore ways, other than Confirmation, to help adolescents in their faith development and growth toward Christian maturity.
Related Questions
- My child received an early admission waiver for kindergarten in another Maryland district. Can he/she transfer into City Schools kindergarten (or first grade if applicable) during the school year?
- I think my child may not be developing at the same rate as other children their age. How can they get Early Intervention services?
- If my child received early admission for PreK can he/she continue onto kindergarten the following year?
