When I started the first of two confirmation classes at my church I was in seventh grade. Thanks to the excellent CCD program at our church, I would have been more than ready to be confirmed when the time came. (At the end of eighth grade) However, shortly after I started seventh grade, our church decided that they would change the confirmation age from the end of eighth grade to sophomores in highschool. Needless to say, I was and am not happy about that decision. My class will be the first to be confirmed at that age. I feel that I was ready for confirmation a long time ago; I went through the same classes even though I was not confirmed at their completion, and the present confirmation class that I am in seems only to be review! Besides that, I really am eager for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
So, in conclusion, let me say that I think one can be ready for confirmation at a very young age with the aid of proper religious instruction. As a matter of fact, I know many Byzantine Catholics who were confirmed as infants and see nothing against that. I do see a difference though, between being confirmed as an infant with the responsibility laying on the parents and godparents, than being confirmed later in life, when it is the responsibility of the confirmandi to be well-informed in their religion. As I said, anyone preparing for confirmation should be well versed in their religion and ready to accept the responsibilities that Confirmation lays upon them. The maturity and responsibility, as well as the required knowledge come with different ages for different people, so I don’t think that one age fits all.
