Abstract

The article is an attempt to show the most important initiatives in the Religious Education of the youth undertaken by the Church from ancient times until the end of the
XIX century. This reflection gives only a general outline of the topic and points to the most important milestones in Religious Education. The close relationship of Religious Education
of young people to the whole process of the development of catechesis in the Church is explored. The formation of Religious Education is a part of the catechetical Church’s pastoral
ministry. The author analyzes the education of young people in the following historical epochs, highlighting key events: Christian antiquity, civitas Christiana in the Middle Ages,
Renaissance with its humanistic trends, instructions of the Council of Trent, after Trident pastoral initiatives, Enlightenment with religion taught as school-lessons, and finally the
attempt to renew youth catechesis in the XIX century. The summary concludes that the attempts at renewal of catechesis in the XIX century opened up a wide-ranging discussion
regarding difficult and complicated facets which apply to the youth’s catechesis today.