In the Catholic Church, the process of full initiation into the faith occurs through three Sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. This initiation occurs in two ways, depending on the age of the one being baptized. The main difference between the two paths is that infants and young children under the age of seven receive the Sacraments of Initiative over several years, while adults and children age 7 and older receives all three Sacraments of Initiation at the same Mass. This has to do with the age of reason as explained a bit below.
Path One: Infant Baptism and Gradual Initiation
The most common path to full initiation in the Catholic Church begins with infant baptism. This is when Catholic parents present their newborn or very young child (under the age of 7) to be baptized, marking the beginning of their life as a Christian. Through Baptism, the child is freed from original sin, becomes a member of the Body of Christ, the Church, and is welcomed into the community of believers.
As the child matures, they continue along their journey of faith, nurtured by their family, parish, and Catholic education. Around the age of 7, or what the Church calls the “age of reason”, children are typically prepared for their First Communion, also known as the Eucharist. This is a significant milestone, as it marks the first time they receive the Body and Blood of Christ, a central and sustaining sacrament in Catholic life.
Later, usually in adolescence, the young person is prepared for Confirmation, which completes the process of initiation. At Confirmation, they receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which strengthen their faith and empower them to live out their Christian calling with greater maturity and responsibility.
This path of infant baptism followed by First Communion and Confirmation at later stages emphasizes a gradual, lifelong integration into the faith. Each sacrament builds upon the previous one as the child grows in understanding and spiritual maturity. While Baptism and Confirmation are celebrated only once, the Eucharist can be received often, even daily. The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of our Catholic Faith. The Church, therefore, expects its members to attend Sunday Mass regularly and receive Eucharist frequently.
Next week, Path Two will be presented, which explains how unbaptized adults and children who have reached age 7 are initiated into the Catholic Church. In later issues, the Sacrament of Confirmation will be explored in more detail, including the history of why Confirmation has been celebrated at different ages at different times.