Studia Pastoralne
Rocznik Wydziału Teologicznego UŚ

CATECHESIS INTRODUCING THE CHILD TO THE SACRAMENTS OF PENANCE AND OF THE EUCHARIST IN THE LIGHT OF THE POST-VATICAN II DOCUMENTS OF THE CHURCH
The reflection taken up in this article shows that the documents of the Church which have been published after the II Vatican Council are a rich source of information concerning the preparation of children to the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation and to the Sacrament of the Eucharist. In Church teaching after the Council we find not only indicated the content, which should be present in the preparation of children to Penance and the Eucharist, but also its forms and method. The documents of the Church generally outline a certain program or direction of sacramental formation, so the demands given need to be supplemented by a catechetical and pastoral reflection, which would lead to more detailed and practical suggetstions, possible to use in pastoral and catechetical ministry. Although each elaboration must take into consideration elements that are characteristic for the introdution formation of the child to the reality of Penance and the Eucharist, which - in accordance with requirements given in the Church documents after the Council - regard above all the following issues:
- the preparation of children to the Sacraments of Penance and of the Eucharist takes place through a number of stages, which can be called: far, close and direct;
- the formation of penance and eucharistic attitudes begins already in the first months and years of the children's lives, thus the important role of parents and family;
- in the process of introducing children to the reality of Penance and the Eucharist initiation catechesis has a principal role;
- on each of the stages of preparation one has to take into consideration the situation of the catechized, the level of personal development and family environment.

THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL ASPECT OF THE THEOLOGY OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION
In our dissertation attention is concentrated on the sacrament of penance and reconciliation. The fundamental aim is to consider the anthropological dimension of this sacrament. The sacrament of penance, like all the sacraments, is a personal meeting between God and an individual person. Its intent and purpose is to restore that individual's relationship to God: that is, the community of life with Him, lost by sin. The sacrament is not only reconciliation with God, but also with the Church and with other people. Man is reconciled with himself, and what is more, with the whole world. The sacrament of penance and reconciliation is a precious gift given man by a God of Mercy, who is the Father of Mercy and the source of all forgiveness. The sacrament is also a challenge for a person to become totally involved in the process of internal conversion. It builds the identity and integrity of a human being. It allows an individual to find himself and his vocation to live the Divine Life. Finally, it remains the only obvious way of an individual's personal development, the aim of which is to reach human holiness. Our responsibility to freedom is also constantly strengthened by this sacrament.

VON DER THEOLOGISCH-PASTORALEN PROBLEMATIK DER FIRMUNG.
Zusammenfassung
Die sakramentale Pastoralpraxis hat sich im Laufe der Jahrhunderte geändert und nahm verschiedene Formen an. Es betrifft auch das Firmsakrament, vor dem die letzte konziliare Liturgiereform relativ große theologische und pastorale Aufgaben gestellt hat. Es scheint, dass die theologische ReflexionbezüglichderFirmungbisherkeinevollständigeundvertiefte Erörterung bekommen hat. Es gibt da viele Ungewissheiten und Unklarheiten. Das beeinflusstdiepastoralePraxis,dieoftdertheologischenReflexionvoranging.DiePraxis hat sehr häufigdietheologischenKonzeptionenerzwungenunderfordert,undessollte eigentlich umgekehrt sein.
Im vorliegenden Aufsatz wurden die konziliaren theologischen Grundzüge des Firmsakramentes und deren verschiedener pastoral-liturgischen Konsequenzen dargestellt. Eine der theologischen Hauptwahrheiten ist der enge Zusammenhang der Firmung mit den anderen Initiationssakramenten (Taufe und Eucharistie). In der Lehre und Praxis darf man sie nie trennen. Die pastoralen Konsequenzen sind folgende: die Reihenfolge der Spendung dieser Sakramente, das optimale Alter der Firmkandidaten, die Eucharistie und nicht die Firmung ist ein Sakrament der christlichen Reife (der Reifeprozess endet mit dem Viatikum – die letzte Eucharistie im Leben), grundsätzlich soll der Firmling keinen neuen Namen beziehen (die Taufe ist wichtiger, und Firmung ist nur ihre Ergänzung).
Schlüsselworte: alter der firmkandidaten, Eucharistie, firmung, initiationssakramente, taufe