The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit…

Chrismation is a God-instituted Mystery of Sacrament which, as can be seen in the Acts of the Apostles, was preformed by the laying on of their hands upon the heads of the faithful who thereby received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17): “Then they laid their hands on them (those that believed) and they received the Holy Spirit.” And in 19:6: “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”

The Mystery of Chrismation is preformed immediately following Baptism. The Sacrament itself is no longer performed by the laying on of hands, but with the Holy Myrrh. This Holy Myrrh is made up of forty fragrant essences which symbolize the manifold gifts of the Holy Spirit which the Christian receives after his Baptism. The priest then anoints all the parts of the Christian’s body: his head, chest sides, hands, ears, feet and mouth saying “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen”. That is to say that this consecrated Myrrh is the confirmation and seal that he who was baptized has received the gifts and of the Holy Spirit. (See 2 Cor. 1:21-22)

After his Baptism, the Christian enters into a new life, the life of virtue and sanctity, the life which is in accordance with God. And while after Baptism, although original sin is wiped away, and the old man of sin in us is greatly weakened, a certain tendency and inclination towards evil remains: weaknesses of the soul which open the door to sin.

The Sacrament of Holy Chrismation confers upon us the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Christian armed with these gifts struggles all-powerfully and fights determinedly against evil, so that he may emerge victor to achieve the virtuous God-pleasing life. Therefore through Holy Chrismation he is strengthened and confirmed for a life of virtue, a new life, which he entered through Holy Baptism.