What is immediately clear to anyone who refers to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) is that Baptism and Confirmation form a special unity and, together with the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, make up the Sacraments of Initiation (CCC 1285). In the Eastern Church, all three Sacraments of Initiation are celebrated together. Chrismation is in fact performed immediately after Baptism (CCC 1244, 1318).

What the CCC is silent about is the appropriate age at which Confirmation is to be administered. The only condition explicitly specified is that the confirmand must have attained the ‘age of discretion’ (CCC 1307-8) or ‘age of reason’ (CCC 1319). The age of reason is traditionally taken to be about seven years old. The age of reason is also a requirement for the reception of First Holy Communion (CCC 1244) but this sacrament is usually given to those at the age of nine (children in Primary 3). This practice of giving First Holy Communion at the age of nine has been going on for as long as I can remember (which admittedly isn’t that long) in most, if not all parishes in Singapore.

The RCIA example

The great ecumenical council, Vatican II, offered a new norm for Christian initiation in the revised Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) (CCC 1232). This marked a rediscovery of the initiation practice of the ancient church in the first few centuries before Constantine’s edict reshaped the empire and the faith. The RCIA divides Christian initiation into five distinct phases.

1. Inquiry or Pre-Catechumenate: Participants are encouraged to ask questions and explore the basic tenets of the Catholic faith and to reflect upon these in light of their own life experiences.

2. The Catechumenate: It is during this time that most of study of Scripture, doctrine, traditions and meeting with the community takes place.

3. Purification and Enlightenment: For those preparing for Baptism, this stage takes place during the Lenten season where they reflect upon their own faith experiences. At other times during the year, baptised candidates reflect more deeply upon the meaning of their baptism and celebrate the Sacrament of Penance.

4. Sacraments of Initiation: Candidates for Baptism celebrate their initiation into the Church on the holiest of nights – the Easter Vigil – where they are Baptised, Confirmed and receive the Eucharist. Candidates for full communion celebrate their Rite of Reception at several other times throughout the year.

5. Mystagogia: Candidates to reflect upon their experiences of being new Catholic Christians and find their place in the ordinary life of the Church.

Since the RCIA deals with the initiation of non-Christian adults, not baptised children who have more often than not already received two of the three Sacraments of Initiation, well thought-out adaptations will be necessary. It will not do to simply run a four year RCIA program as a Confirmation program. In fact, the RCIA is itself not a program or syllabus. It is, as its name suggests, a rite of initiation. Its proper place is in the liturgy of the parish. It is worship and celebration, not pedagogy and instruction.