Studia Pastoralne
Rocznik Wydziału Teologicznego UŚ

PREPARATION FOR THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION: LOST OPPORTUNITY?
Summary
The aim of preparation for Confirmation is the formation for a testimonial form of Christian life and practising of apostolate. In the context of these tasks the present mode of preparation for the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation still remains highly insufficient.This preparation is of a too individualistic and formalcharacter. It does not prepare for living in a community and therefore does not meet its major purpose of fostering Christian maturity. In this context a new meaning should be bestowed upon the roles of witnesses and mystagogy in preparation for the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation.The conclusion is that in pastoral practice one should take into consideration the fuller introduction of the confirmed to a parish life by a catechumenal method. In order to achieve this aim one can use more profoundly the deuterocatechumenal formation of the Light-Life Movement (Ruch Światło-Życie) an experience of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal which is quite efficient in introducing into a reality of faith through seminars of faith renewal. There is also a very valid postulate at stake to create „spirituality centres” in dioceses or special centres preparing adults for Confirmation according to the Rites of Christian initiation of adults (Ordo initiationis christianae adultorum).
Keywords: catechisation, catechumenate, Christian initiation, mistagogy, sacrament of Confirmation

THE MYSTERY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CATECHESIS FOR THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION.
Summary
Preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the more important issuesof contemporary catechesis. In Poland many interesting programs directly concerning this preparation have been published. These differ between them on the level of substance and methods. Whatever a program is to be accepted, it must be remembered that the central theme of these encounters should be the mystery of the Holy Spirit. This mystery can be fathomed from different sides and in many ways, but always with the use of biblical sources, patristic sources, the teaching of the Church and the rich theological reflectionthatis available. In the context of Confirmation especially important are the issues concerning the presence and action of the Holy Spirit at the beginning of the Church and in full Christian initiation; the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit; life in the power of the Holy Spirit in the contemporary world. These issues have been developed in this article, addressed above all to those responsible for the catechesis of those preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Keywords: christian initiation, Confirmation, Holy Spirit

FAMILY CATECHUMENATE IN THE DOMESTIC CHURCH
Summary
In the present article the role of the „Church of the Home” in the exhortation Familiaris consortio is analysed in the aspect of Christian initiation defined in the post-Council Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (Ordo initiationis christianae adultorum). The Christian initiation has a special character in the life of family, because Christian parents in the sacrament of Matrimony are consecrated to educate their children in a really Christian spirit. The Church that is a community united in the Holy Spirit – koinonia – is realized in the dimension defined by the terms martyria, leiturgia, diakonia and similar it is in the Church of Home.
In the history of the Church we find the two basic forms of introducing new members into the Christian community. The first one is the catechumenate of adults who personally, consciously accepted the Gospel. This is a process aiming at accustoming them to Christian life stage by stage (cf. OICA 4), and leading to receiving the sacraments of initiation along with the mystagogy accompanying them. The other form is accustoming children who were baptized in infancy to Christian life; this is done parallel to their biological, social, psychological and spiritual development. This process also happens gradually as a natural element of educating children in a Christian family, and it is called „family catechumenate”. Here is the place of preparation children for receiving the sacraments of the Eucharist and the Confirmation.

IL SACRAMENTO DELLA CRESIMA IERI E OGGI.
Riassunto
Nell’arco della storia delle celebrazioni liturgiche, effettuate nella Chiesa autorizzata da Gesu a proclamare la parola di Dio e amministrare i sacramenti in tutto il mondo, si e svolto un cambiamento della pratica di celebrare la cresima e – in consegenza – del modo di intenderla e interpretarla pastoralmente. Infatti, dall’imposizione delle mani degli apostoli mandati in una citta della Samaria, per stenderle sui neofitiinsegnodelcompimentodell’opera iniziata con il loro battesimo, amministrato dal diacono Filippo, si e passato nella storia della liturgia della Chiesa occidentale all’uso dell’olio con cui nel periodo precedente il vescovo cospargeva il capo dei cresimandi, ora invece unge con esso la loro fronte, segnandola con il segno della croce. Dalla pratica di cresimare i neofiti subito dopo il battesimo e prima della loro partecipazione all’eucaristia, si e passato a cresimare i cristiani gia ammessi all’eucaristia, provocando in tal modo uno spostamento nell’interpretazione teologica del sacramento studiato. La Chiesa di oggi rimane erede di questi cambiamenti, interpretando ancora e praticando la cresima come sacramento della maturita cristiana. Nell’articolo sopra presentato si e voluto documentare i passaggi avvenuti nella storia delle celebrazioni liturgiche e nel pensiero teologico-sacramentario della Chiesa, attraverso il riferimento alle adeguate testimonianze bibliche, patristiche e liturgiche.