Sunday, July 8, 2012
267. What is the essential rite of Confirmation? (part 2 continuation)
(Comp
267 repetition) The essential rite of Confirmation is the anointing with Sacred
Chrism (oil mixed with balsam and consecrated by the bishop), which is done by
the laying on of the hand of the minister who pronounces the sacramental words
proper to the rite. In the West this anointing is done on the forehead of the
baptized with the words, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”. In the
Eastern Churches of the Byzantine rite this anointing is also done on other
parts of the body with the words, “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit”.
“In
brief”
(CCC 1321)
When Confirmation is celebrated separately from Baptism, its connection with
Baptism is expressed, among other ways, by the renewal of baptismal promises.
The celebration of Confirmation during the Eucharist helps underline the unity
of the sacraments of Christian initiation.
To deepen and
explain
(CCC
1294) Anointing with
oil has all these meanings in the sacramental life. The pre-baptismal anointing
with the oil of catechumens signifies cleansing and strengthening; the
anointing of the sick expresses healing and comfort. The post-baptismal
anointing with sacred chrism in Confirmation and ordination is the sign of
consecration. By Confirmation Christians, that is, those who are anointed,
share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the
Holy Spirit with which he is filled, so that their lives may give off "the
aroma of Christ" (2 Cor 2:15). (CCC 1295)
By this anointing the confirmand receives the "mark," the seal of the Holy Spirit. A seal is a
symbol of a person, a sign of personal authority, or ownership of an oblect
(Cf. Gen 38:18; 41:42; Deut 32:34; CT 8:6). Hence soldiers were marked with
their leader's seal and slaves with their master's. A seal authenticates a
juridical act or document and occasionally makes it secret (Cf. 1 Kings 21:8;
Jer 32:10; Isa 29:11).
On
reflection
(CCC
1296) Christ himself
declared that he was marked with his Father's seal (Cf. Jn 6:27). Christians
are also marked with a seal: "It is God who establishes us with you in
Christ and has commissioned us; he has put his seal on us and given us his
Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee" (2 Cor 1:21-22; cf. Eph 1:13; 4, 30).
This seal of the Holy Spirit marks our total belonging to Christ, our
enrollment in his service for ever, as well as the promise of divine protection
in the great eschatological trial (Cf. Rev 7:2-3; 9:4; Ezek 9:4-6). (CCC 1297) The
consecration of the sacred chrism is an important action that precedes the
celebration of Confirmation, but is in a certain way a part of it. It is the
bishop who, in the course of the Chrism Mass of Holy Thursday, consecrates the
sacred chrism for his whole diocese. In some Eastern Churches this consecration
is even reserved to the patriarch: The liturgy of Antioch expresses the
epiclesis for the consecration of the sacred chrism (myron) in this way:
"[Father… send your Holy Spirit] on us and on this oil which is before us
and consecrate it, so that it may be for all who are anointed and marked with
it holy myron, priestly myron, royal myron, anointing with gladness, clothing
with light, a cloak of salvation, a spiritual gift, the sanctification of souls
and bodies, imperishable happiness, the indelible seal, a buckler of faith, and
a fearsome helmet against all the works of the adversary." [IT CONTINUES]
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