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 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