Page:Delineation of Roman Catholicism.djvu/239

 grace to that degree, that in consequence he can be called, and pro- perly is, a perfect Christian. 2. This sacrament is aim said to impress a �Aaracter, so that it can- not be reiterated. 3. How far this sacrament is necessary to salvation is a point not well defined b? the Roman Catholic Church. All acknowledge that it is not absolutely necessary', such as baptism, penance, c., but they cliff'or. considerably respecting the kind of necessity, as any one will perceive by' consulting Dens (No. 11) on the necessity of' confirmation. He say8 it is not necessary by a nets, sit!/oft medium; and yet, from the decisions of' the Council ot' Trent, and the fact that it is made a sacrament, one would suppose that it was of very great importance; especially as giving the Holy Spirit seem8 to be much confined to the administration oi  this ordinance. It is disputed also whether confirmation be necessary by a notes,it), of precept, o&lifagor PSt sE and di,'ectly. Some deny this; others affirm and declare that the obligation is both divine and ecclesiastical, and obligatory under a very heavy penalty. This last seems to be received by mny. �III. cerernone of �on. brrnat/on. The following are the most prominent ceremonies, which we collect trom the Roman Catechism' and Bailly.f 1. Those to be confirmed, before they come to the sacrament, are required to wash their forehead. 2. The males are placed in one part of the church, ancl the females in another. The males are first confirmed and then the emaies, unless the bishop order it otherwise. 3. U*ncton ofejCoread. The bishop, with his hand raised, on the head of' the person to be confirmed, advokes the Holy' Spirit, and at the same time anoints the iorehead with the blessed chrisre, saying, ! tAee ,th the ign of ros, &c. "In this sacrament,'* says the Catechism, "the Holy Spirit pours himself into the souls of the I'aithful, and imparts to them increased strength and courages to enable them, in the spiritual contest, to fight manfully, and to resist success- fully their most implacable foes.** They are therefore told, that hence- forward "they' are not to be deterred by fear or shame, feelizfgs ot  which the countenance is the principal index, from the open cofession of the name of 4. T sign of t cro#. The unction is made in the form of' a cross, to teach that no Christian should glory save in the cross of Christ. .5. T7e gent/e slap on t �hev. The person confirmed receives a gentle blow on the cheek from the hand of the bishop, to remind him, according to the Catechism, that, as a courageous champion, he should be prepared to brave, with unconquered resolution, all adversities for the name of Christ. The Council of Lenen. in 1�says, that "by this percussion the confirmed person is enabled to preserve the morner)* of the event, lest he should be confirmed a second time.** Others sup- pose the slap on the cheek is nothing more than a sign of peace given to the confirmed by the bishop. It is acknowledged that in ancient times this was not in use, and some bishops now omit it altogether. 4* p. 19t. $ De Cour., c. 9, tom. iv, p. 76.

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