Confirmation / Chrismation
The seal of the Spirit pressed upon the baptized in oil and the laying on of hands
Confirmation, or chrismation in the East, seals the baptized with the gift of the Holy Spirit through anointing or the laying on of hands. It is rooted in Acts 8 and witnessed by Tertullian and Cyril of Jerusalem. Catholic and Orthodox traditions number it among the sacraments or mysteries, while most Protestant traditions do not count it as a sacrament, so the traditions differ on its status.
How it traveled
- On Baptism.— · c. 220 CEexplains
- The Church History of EusebiusCaesarea · c. 339 CEexplains
- The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra, Neocæsarea, Antioch and Laodicea, which Canons were Accepted and Received by the Ecumenical Synods— · c. 360 CEexplains
- Ephraim Syrus: Fifteen Hymns For the Feast of the EpiphanyEdessa · c. 373 CEexplains
- The Catechetical Lectures of S. CyrilJerusalem · c. 386 CEexplains
- On the MysteriesMilan · c. 397 CEexplains
- The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the GreatRome · c. 604 CEexplains
- Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90)Paris · c. 1274 CEexplains
- Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic ChurchGeneva · c. 1564 CEapplies
Key passages(20)
Each passage is tagged by what it does with the idea: explains it, applies it in practice, redefines it with a new meaning, or challenges it. Relevance shows how directly the passage is about this idea.
Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
Objection 1: It seems that chrism is not a fitting matter for this sacrament. For this sacrament, as stated above (A[1], ad 1), was instituted by Christ when He promised His disciples the Holy Ghost.
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
Objection 1: It seems that it is not essential to this sacrament, that the chrism, which is its matter, be previously consecrated by a bishop. For Baptism which bestows full remission of sins is not l
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
I answer that, As stated above (Q[63], A[2]), a character is a spiritual power ordained to certain sacred actions. Now it has been said above (A[1]; Q[65], A[1]) that, just as Baptism is a spiritual r
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
Objection 1: It seems that sanctifying grace is not bestowed in this sacrament. For sanctifying grace is ordained against sin. But this sacrament, as stated above (A[6]) is given only to the baptized,
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
I answer that, As stated above (A[1]), man is spiritually advanced by this sacrament to perfect age. Now the intention of nature is that everyone born corporally, should come to perfect age: yet this
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
4. It was anciently customary for the children of Christians, after they had grown up, to appear before the bishop to fulfil that duty which was required of such adults as presented themselves for bap
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
8. But let us make a still closer inspection, and see how many monsters this greasy oil fosters and nourishes. Those anointers say that the Holy Spirit is given in baptism for righteousness, and in co
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
11. How frivolous, inept, and stolid the other reason, that their confirmation is worthier than the baptism of God, because in confirmation it is the forehead that is besmeared with oil, and in baptis
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Ephraim Syrus: Fifteen Hymns For the Feast of the Epiphany · Ephrem the Syrian
Hymn III. (Resp.—Christ with chrism, lo! He is sealing the newborn lambs in His flock!) 1. Christ and chrism are conjoined; the secret with the visible is mingled: the chrism anoints visibly,—Christ
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The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great · Pope Gregory the Great
See above, IV. 9. There is some doubt as to what the practice was which Gregory had forbidden in his former epistle but now allows. In Ep. IX. he had said, “Episcopi baptizatos infantes signare bis in
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The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext Council · The Ecumenical Councils
Canon XCV. Those who from the heretics come over to orthodoxy, and to the number of those who should be saved, we receive according to the following order and custom. Arians, Macedonians, Novatians,
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The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra, Neocæsarea, Antioch and Laodicea, which Canons were Accepted and Received by the Ecumenical Synods · The Ecumenical Councils
Ancient Epitome of Canons XLVI. and XLVII. Whoso is baptised by a bishop or presbyter let him recite the faith on the fifth feria of the week. Also anyone baptized clinically a short while afterwards
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The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril · Cyril of Jerusalem
Lecture XXI. (On the Mysteries. III.) On Chrism. 1 John ii. 20–28 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, &c..…that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him a
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The Church History of Eusebius · Eusebius of Caesarea
There is no reason to doubt that Novatian received clinical baptism, as here stated by Cornelius. This does not imply, as is commonly supposed, that he was of heathen parentage, for many Christians po
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The Epistle of Pope Urban First. · The Decretals
VII. Of the imposition of the bishop’s hand. For all the faithful ought to receive the Holy Spirit after baptism by imposition of the hand of the bishops, so that they may be found to be Christians
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
Reply to Objection 2: The principle of fortitude is in the heart, but its sign appears on the forehead: wherefore it is written (Ezech. 3:8): "Behold I have made . . . thy forehead harder than their f
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
I answer that, In every work the final completion is reserved to the supreme act or power; thus the preparation of the matter belongs to the lower craftsmen, the higher gives the form, but the highest
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Anonymous Treatise on Re-baptism. · Appendix
A Treatise on Re-Baptism by an Anonymous Writer. ———————————— Argument.—That They Who Have Once Been Washed in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Ought Not to Be Re-Baptized. 1. I observe that it h
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
31. It is, if you please, the sacred oil which impresses an indelible character. As if oil could not be washed away by sand and salt, or if it sticks the closer, with soap. But that character is spiri
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Chapter VII.—Of the Unction. After this, when we have issued from the font,men were wont to be anointed with oil from a horn, ever since Aaron was anointed by Moses.written in the Acts: “For truly th
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