The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"324 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.are baptized in the Church, are presented to theBishops of the Church, and by our prayer and imposition of hands, they receive the Holy Ghost, andare perfected with the seal of the Lord." lSt. Cyril of Jerusalem compares the sacredChrism in Confirmation to the Eucharist: "Youwere anointed with oil, being made sharers andpartners of Christ. And see well that you regardit not as mere ointment ; for, as the bread of theEucharist, after the invocation of the Holy Ghost,is no longer mere bread, but the body of Christ; solikewise this holy ointment is no longer commonointment after the invocation, but the gift of Christand of the Holy Ghost, being rendered efficient byHis divinity. You were anointed on the forehead,that you might be delivered from the shame whichthe first transgressor always experienced, and that youmight contemplate the glory of God with an unveiledcountenance. . . . As Christ, after His baptism, andthe descent of the Holy Ghost upon Him, going forth,overcame the adversary, so you likewise, after holybaptism and the mysterious unction, clothed with thepanoply of the Holy Ghost, stand against the adverse:power, and subdue it, saying: I can do all thingsin Christ who strengthened me." *St. Ambrose, commenting on these words of theGod . . . hath given us the pledgeApostle"of the Spirit," (II. Cor. i. 22,) expressly applies thetext to the seal of Confirmation :Remember," he1 Epibt. Ixrih.a Cat. xxi. Mys.iii. De S. Chrism.