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Among the various ages during adolescence, the one chosen by the French bishops, two major options have emerged in recent years from the reflections of parish priests and theologians: either to bring the age of confirmation up to the point of “mature childhood” (between 9-10 and 12-13 years) in order to follow the traditional order of the sequence of initiation, or to delay it until the cusp of adulthood, in order to favour a freely chosen adherence on the part of its recipients to the gifts of the Spirit. Both formulas require the development of a catechesis of journey, both preparatory and mystagogic, in order to accompany a maturing of the faith throughout one’s whole life. A brief inventory is given of current orientations and of the conceptions of the sacrament that underlie them, along with a critical presentation of the pros and cons of each of these.