CONFIRM THEE WITH THE CHRISM OF SALVATION, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST." Were we to acknowledge the incompetency of reason to establish the truth and strict propriety of this form, the authority of the Catholic Church, by which it has been at all times taught and recognised, would alone be sufficient to dispel all doubt on the subject: judging of it, however, by the standard of reason, we arrive at the same conclusion. The form of the Sacrament should embrace whatever is necessary to explain its nature and substance; with regard to the nature and substance of Confirmation, there are three things that demand particular attention, the divine power, which, as a primary cause, operates in the Sacrament; the spiritual strength which it imparts to the faithful unto salvation; and lastly, the sign impressed on him who is to engage in the warfare of Christ. The words " in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," with which the form closes, sufficiently declare the first; the second is comprised in the words, " I confirm thee with the chrism of salvation; and the words, " I sign thee with the sign of the cross," with which the form opens, convey the third.
To whom principally, is intrusted the administration of this Sacrament, is a matter to which the pastor will also call the attention of the faithful. There are many, according to the prophet, who run and yet are not sent; and hence the necessity of informing the faithful who are its true and legitimate ministers, in order that they may really receive the Sacrament and grace of Confirmation. [1] That bishops alone are the ordinary minis ters of this sacrament, is the doctrine of Scripture; we read in the Acts of the Apostles, that when Samaria had received the Gospel, Peter and John were sent to them and prayed for them, lhat they might receive the Holy Ghost; " for he was not yet come upon any of them, but they were only baptized, in the name of the Lord Jesus." [2] Here we find that he who administered baptism, having only attained the degree of deacon, had no power to administer confirmation; its administration was reserved to a more elevated order of the ministry, that is, to the Apostles alone. Whenever the sacred Scriptures speak of this Sacrament, they convey to us the same truth. We have also the clearest testimony of the Fathers, and, as may be seen in the decrees of their Popes, of Urban, of Eusebius, of Damasus, of Innocent, and of Leo. In confirmation of the same doctrine, we may also add that St. Augustine loudly complains of the cor rupt practice which prevailed in the Churches of Egypt and Alexandria in his day, a practice according to which priests presumed to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation." [3]
- ↑ Trid. Sess. 23. c. 4. et can. 7.
- ↑ Acts viii, 14. 16.
- ↑ Episcopum ministrum esse ordinarium Confirmationis tradunt Urbanus Papa Epist. ad omnes Christianos in fine; Eusebius Papa Epist. 3. ad Episcop. Tusciee et Campaniee Damasus Papa, Epist, 4. ad Pros, et easterns Episc. Orthod. circa med. Innocentius Papa Epist. 1. ad Veren. c. 3. Leo Papa Epist. 88. ad German et Gallic. Episc. Melchiades Papa, Epist, ad Episc. Hispaniae. Clemens item Papa,
