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Catechesis of young people
(73)
Pre-adolescence, adolescence and young
adulthood
(74)
181. In general it is
observed that the first victims of the spiritual and cultural crisis gripping
the world (75) are the young. It is also true that any commitment to
the betterment of society finds its hopes in them. This should stimulate the
Church all the more to proclaim the Gospel to the world of youth with courage
and creativity. In this respect experience suggests that it is useful in
catechesis to distinguish between pre-adolescence, adolescence and young
adulthood, attending to the results of scientific research in various
countries. In developed regions the question of preadolescence is particularly
significant: sufficient account is not taken of the difficulties, of the needs
and of the human and spiritual resources of pre-adolescents, to the extent of
defining them a negated age-group. Very often at this time the
pre-adolescent, in receiving the sacrament of Confirmation, formally concludes
the process of Christian initiation but from that moment virtually abandons
completely the practice of the faith. This is a matter of serious concern which
requires specific pastoral care, based on the formative resources of the
journey of initiation itself. With regard to the other two categories, it is
helpful to distinguish between adolescence and young adulthood even though it
is difficult to define them strictly. They are understood together as the
period of life which precedes the taking up of responsibilities proper to
adults. Youth catechesis must be profoundly revised and revitalized.
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