Day 168: The Celebration of Baptism

From the time of the apostles, becoming a Christian has been accomplished by a journey and initiation in several stages. This journey can be covered rapidly or slowly, but certain essential elements will always have to be present: proclamation of the Word, acceptance of the Gospel entailing conversion, profession of faith, Baptism itself, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and admission to Eucharistic communion. CCC 1229

Today's reading is short as the Catechism discusses the celebration of Baptism. As most are baptized as infants nowadays, this "requires a post-baptismal catechumenate... for the necessary flowering of baptismal grace in personal growth" (CCC 1231). For adults, this involves completing R.C.I.A. The Catechism Companion, Vol II outlines the order for both East & West in the Church:

In the Eastern rites, infants are baptized, confirmed, and given the Holy Eucharist at once. In the Roman or Latin rite, usually we are baptized as infants then later go on to First Reconciliation and Holy Communion and then to Confirmation. (p. 100)

For about 1,200 years both East & West had the same order and times for reception of these sacraments. It's not clear to me on why First Communion and Confirmation were switched around and delayed, but they were. Some dioceses have been working to restore the traditional order of Confirmation before First Communion, but there's been no progress on restoring the original age of reception. While a Roman or Latin Catholic myself, I prefer the East's sticking to tradition and giving both right after Baptism. I'd like to see some movement in that regard, but baby steps I guess. Restore the correct order first.