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 In
the Sacrament of Baptism man is called out of spiritual darkness into
the light of Christ and is initiated into the economy of salvation by
the Son of God. This initiation is effected, however, in the Sacrament
of Chrismation. Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of
Jesus Christ, the Apostle Peter preached to the people on Pentecost, and
you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Since that
time the Divine Gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed upon each person who
rises from the baptismal font. And everything the Holy Spirit touches
receives the seal of an invaluable treasure, a ray of eternal light, the
reflection of Divine action.
The Sacrament of Chrismation awakens in the soul that inner, spiritual
thirst which does not let one grow satisfied solely with the earthly and
material, but always summons us to the Heavenly, to the eternal and the
perfect. It makes the baptized person the possessor of the Spirit - bearing
beauty and a partaker of sanctity, of the Unwaning Light and Divine Life.
It is for this reason that in Chrismation the new member of the Church
not only receives the Spirit within, but is outwardly encompassed by Him,
being robed henceforth as if in special spiritual garments.
The Prayer at Anointing with the Holy Chrism contains an assertion that
the one who has been graced to receive the seal of the Gift of the Holy
Spirit receives aid to remain indomitable, unchanging, unharmed, untouched,
unoppressed, safe from the designs of the Evil One, to abide in the Faith
and to await the heavenly rewards of life and the eternal promises of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Such a lofty gift of the Holy Spirit,
bestowed in Chrismation, obliges the person being anointed to remember
constantly the words of St. Paul: Do you not know that you are Cod's temple
and that Cod's Spirit dwells in you (1 Cor. 3:16)?
The prayer to God for the bestowing of the Holy Spirit, which precedes
the anointing, and the anointing itself of certain parts of the body crosswise
with the Chrism, accompanied by the words. The seal of the gift of the
Holy Spirit, Amen, have always comprised the basis for the Office of this
Sacrament. It concludes the grace-giving process of the new member's joining
the Church, making him an equal among the faithful and rendering him worthy,
henceforth, to partake of the Body and Blood of Christ.
Originally the Apostles conferred the Holy Spirit on those who gladly
received the Word of the Gospel (Acts 2:41) and were baptized through
prayer and the laying-on of hands. In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter
and John were sent to the Samaritans who had received the word of God
and they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.... Then
they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts
8:15,17). The need to administer the Sacrament of the spirit through the
laying-on of hands required the personal participation of the Apostles,
but later they blessed the Bishops and Presbyter whom they consecrated
to conduct the invocation of the Holy Spirit upon believers through anointing
them with the Holy Chrism, and permitted Bishops alone to consecrate the
Chrism. As St. Cyril of Jerusalem says, "Holy Chrism...is a gift
of Christ and of the Holy Spirit, which is validated by the presence of
His Divinity.... And when the body is anointed in a visible fashion, the
soul is consecrated with the Holy and Life-Giving Spirit."
 The
Chrism here used consists of olive oil, to which has been added white
grape wine and a number of aromatic substances symbolizing the various
grace-bestowing gifts of the Holy Spirit conferred through Chrismation.
The Holy Chrism, which has been prepared at the beginning of Holy Week,
is formally consecrated, usually by the Primate of the Church, on Holy
Thursday and then distributed to the Bishops who, in turn, distribute
it, as needed, to the Priests, for use in the Sacraments.
In the Office of the Sacrament of Chrismation, the anointing is performed
with the recitation of the words, "The Seal of the Gift of the Holy
Spirit," during which the Priest anoints crosswise with the Holy
Chrism the forehead, eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, breast, hands and feet
of the Newly-illumined. After the anointing, the Priest then leads the
Newly-illumined and sponsor(s) three times around the font to the singing
of "As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Alleluia!" This circular procession is seen as a symbol of joy.
Then follows the reading of the Epistle and Gospel which (along with the
preceding hymn) refer to Baptism, since, from antiquity, the two Sacraments
have been linked into one rite. After this, the Chrism is washed off and
the white baptismal garments removed. In ancient times this was customarily
done on the 8th Day after, i.e., St. Thomas Sunday. The hair is then cut
in a crosswise manner - The Tonsure - as a sign of humility and readiness
for sacrificial service to the Lord - an initiation into the Army of Christ.
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