rolled in the number of his soldiers, but those whose service is voluntary; that by a willing obedience to his commands they may obtain eternal salvation.
III.
The oil of chrism.After the person has been baptized, the priest anoints with chrism the crown of his head, thus giving him to understand, that from the moment of his baptism, he is united as a member to Christ, his head, and ingrafted on his body; and that he is, therefore, called a Christian, from Christ, as Christ is so called from Chrism. What the Chrism signifies, the prayers offered by the priest, as St. Ambrose observes, sufficiently explain.[1]
The white garment.On the person baptized the priest then puts a white garment, saying, "receive this white garment, which mayest thou carry unstained before the judgment-seat of our Lord Jesus Christ; that thou mayest have eternal life. Amen." Instead of a white garment, infants because not formally dressed, receive a white kerchief, accompanied with the same words. According to the doctrine of the Holy Fathers this symbol signifies the glory of the resurrection to which we are born by baptism, the brightness and beauty with which the soul, when purified from the stains of sin, is invested, and the innocence and integrity which the person who has received baptism, should preserve through life.[2]
The burning lightTo signify that faith received in baptism, and inflamed by charity, is to be fed and augmented by the exercise of good works, a burning light is next put into his hand.
The name, its utility, its selection.Finally, a name is given, which should be taken from some person, whose eminent sanctity has given him a place in the catalogue of the Saints: this similarity of name will stimulate to the imitation of his virtues and the attainment of his holiness; and we should hope and pray that he who is the model of our imitation, may also, by his advocacy, become the guardian of our safety and salvation. Hence we cannot mark in terms too strong, our disapprobation of the conduct of those who, with a perverse industry, search for, and whose delight it is to distinguish their children by, the names of heathens; and what is still worse, of monsters of iniquity, who, by their profligate lives, have earned an infamous notoriety. By such conduct they practically prove, how little they regard a zeal for Christian piety, who so fondly cherish the memory of impious men, as to wish to have their profane names continually echo in the ears of the faithful.
Recapitulation.This exposition of baptism, if given by the pastor, will be found to embrace, almost every thing of importance, which regards this Sacrament. We have explained the meaning of the word "baptism," its nature and substance, and also the parts of which it is composed—we have said by whom it was instituted
