The sacrament of First Reconciliation follows baptism and is initiated, usually, at the age of seven or eight years old. A child, whether that child is seven years old, eight years old, nine years old, or older, is only capable of age appropriate readiness for participation in the celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation. A seven-year-old can only understand God’s mercy and forgiveness as a seven-year-old. Furthermore, a child’s ability to comprehend such a concept as conscience temptation, intention, and sin – both mortal and venial sin – is also limited by age and moral development. As a child grows in knowledge and faith his or her understanding and appreciation of the sacraments will naturally deepen. It is then determined that the readiness of a child is dependant upon their understanding of the difference between a mistake and a sin.