Mass of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on this first Saturday of the monthChanting of the MagnificatAt the end, the priest blesses the newly confirmed.With the Holy Chrism, the priest, seated, will draw the sign of the Cross on the forehead of the one being confirmed. The anointing of the Holy Chrism, oil perfumed with balm, is the sign of the penetration of the Holy Spirit, the power of God. "Christ" means "anointed".He raises his hand above the newly baptized and then imposes his hand upon him. It is a gesture of blessing, giving graceThe priest, delegated by the bishop, invokes the Holy SpiritAfter receiving the white garment, symbol of the purity of the soul, the priest gives Nicholas, in his right hand, a lit candle which was lit from the paschal candle. The candle represents faithThe priest takes the Holy Chrism and anoints the chest of the baptized in the form of a cross.With the godfather touching him on the shoulder, the priest pours the baptismal water on his head three times in the shape of a cross. At the same time, he pronounces the sacramental words. The water washes the soul of original sin and restores all its purity, for a new life with Jesus.The priest, vested in the stole and the white cope, symbol of joy (after the purple of sadness and penance), poses questions about the symbol of Faith, and then about his desire for Baptism.With the oil of the catechumens, the priest makes an anointing in the form of a cross on the chest and between the shoulders: the oil symbolizes the strength that will come to inhabit this future baptized Christian. The anointing on the chest means that he will have to love God with strength, and the anointing on the shoulders means that he will have to carry his cross courageouslyThe priest gives him the left edge of his stole, and brings him into the church. This official entry into the church symbolizes the entry into the Church, the mystical body of Christ: one becomes a Christian, a child of God!The godfather makes the sign of the Cross on the forehead of the catechumen.Nicholas prays the Pater Noster on his kneesThe Oil of Catechumens and the Holy ChrismThen the priest takes blessed salt and places some in the catechumen’s mouth. Salt signals the flavor of divine food and preserves from the corruption of vices.The priest places his hand on the catechumen’s head, and keeps his hand outstretched. This gesture of authority symbolizes God's taking possession of the catechumen, as well as the call to grace from on high.Then, with his thumb, the priest signs him on the forehead, ears, eyes, nostrils, mouth, chest and shoulders. The sign of the cross is the seal of Christ, a reminder of redemption, and protection of the Christian. It will help the baptized person to bear witness to Christ by each of his senses.The priest draws a cross on the catechumen’s forehead and chest. The sign on the forehead shows that the Christian must never be ashamed of his faith; the sign on the heart shows love for Jesus crucified.Here, the priest blows three times on the face of the catechumen, a gesture that Christ made to drive out the demon.The ceremony of the Sacrament of Baptism begins outside the church to mark the fact that the catechumen is not yet a member of the Catholic Church.On December 7, on the eve of the Immaculate Conception, Nicholas Orlowsky received the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation and made his First Communion in the Church of Les Breuleux.
