Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/386

 350 Readings in European History it matters nothing whether it be cold or warm. Now the form is : "I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." . . . l The ministrant of this sacrament is the priest, for bap- tism belongs to his office. But in case of necessity not only a priest or deacon may baptize, but a layman or a woman nay, even a pagan or a heretic, provided he use the form of the Church and intend to do what the Church effects. The efficacy of this sacrament is the remission of all sin, original sin and actual, and of all penalties incurred through this guilt. Therefore no satisfaction for past sin should be imposed on those who are baptized ; but if they die before they commit any sin, they shall straightway attain the king- dom of heaven and the sight of God. Confirmation. The second sacrament is confirmation. The material is the chrism made from oil, which signifies purity of con- science, and from balsam, which signifies the odor of fair fame ; and it must be blessed by the bishop. The form is : " I sign thee with the sign of the cross and confirm thee with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." The proper ministrant of this sacrament is the bishop. While a simple priest avails to perform the other anointings, this one none can confer save the bishop only ; for it is written of the apostles alone that by the laying on of hands they gave the Holy Ghost, and the bishops hold the office of the apostles. We read in the Acts of the Apostles, when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard how Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John ; who, when they were come, prayed that they might receive the Holy Ghost; for as yet it was fallen upon none of them, they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands upon them and they received the Holy Ghost. Now, in place of this laying on of hands, confirmation is given in the Church. Yet we read that sometimes, for reasonable and urgent cause, 1 Certain variations in the words used do not necessarily vitiate the sacrament.