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I'm new to this all, so forgive me, but it seems that this a Protestant part of me that refuses to budge, seeing as before I only felt Baptism necessary. I don't quite understand what Chrismation is for, or better put, what its practical effects are. I've read the CCC, and I've heard the stuff about anointing and priesthood and Pentecost, but I just don't understand it in a concrete sort of way. I've already been Chrismated of course, but I don't see why it's necessary. Not that I'm saying it isn't, but it seems there's a sort of lack of explanation of this Sacrament. *** Heavenly, Christ is risen! I think we have to stand back and try first to do our best to reflect on the Mysteries (Sacraments) in general. A Mystery consists of two complements; the first is the physical ritual which we humans can fully relate to; it is something which the senses of sight, sound, and smell can participate in. The second complement is that which is mysterious to our human intellect but appeals to our Faith. It is God's ACTION which occurs; His graces and gifts being bestowed or infused in us. With this background, let's move into the specific Mystery of Chrismation. You are correct with your understanding of Baptism, indeed we become a disciple of Christ and this includes His Holy Spirit. Chrismation is being more completely absorbed by the Holy Spirit to the point of a complete indwelling. This is how we are to understand this glorious grace; unfortunately our catechisics are sorely lacking. For we who have received this Mystery in infancy, ideally we should be instructed by our Godparents about this wonder. When we are spiritually ready, we should reflect on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit which have been bestowed on ourselves. Which of the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit have we been given. Just as importantly, HOW are we to more fully develop and USE these Gifts and Fruits. It is during our contemplative prayer time with our beloved God when we should be talking to Him about this responsiblity and grace. I hope this helps. Fr Deacon Paul
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I'm new to this all, so forgive me, but it seems that this a Protestant part of me that refuses to budge, seeing as before I only felt Baptism necessary. I don't quite understand what Chrismation is for, or better put, what its practical effects are. I've read the CCC, and I've heard the stuff about anointing and priesthood and Pentecost, but I just don't understand it in a concrete sort of way. I've already been Chrismated of course, but I don't see why it's necessary. Not that I'm saying it isn't, but it seems there's a sort of lack of explanation of this Sacrament. HB: Christ is Risen!! I think part of your problem may be from your background, as you mention. Remember two things: the Mysteries of Christian Initiation come in the order of Baptism, Chrismation/Confirmation, and Eucharist; the West has had them separated for centuries. In the early Church, all three were received one after the other. The Eastern Churches still carry on this Apostolic Tradition. Our whole relationship with Christ is summed up in the word "communion," that is "coming into union" or achieving an ongoing, ever-deepening relationship with Christ. As Father Deacon Paul points out, we are people who receive these Mysteries through both physical and spiritual means--something that we need to let us know that they invole our whole being, physical and spiritual. The Eastern Churches delegate the second Mystery to the bishop's delegate, the parish priest. The West has reserved it to the bishop and it has become separated from Baptism, often by years. When Protestantism came along, many of the Reformers had little time for bishops because of all the abuses of the office at the time: selling sees, giving the see to young men from noble families often not of sufficient age or clerical training, etc. So this Mystery became lost for one reason or another. That may be why your former training leaves you with a gap in trying to understand what this is about or why it is necessary. On a positive note, Chrismation makes us part of the priestly People of God. The smell of the Holy Chrism/Myron is enough to elevate one's senses to the heights of Heaven. There is nothing like it. I vividly remember the smell of it at my own reception of this Mystery. Nothing else on earth can lift one's senses like the smell of it--IMHO. We not only receive the Holy Spirit, but are anointed Priest, Prophet, and King when we are incorporated into Christ and His Divine Life through these Mysteries of Initiation. We are plunged into Him, receiving the New Covenant in all its fullness. And then we feed on the Lord Himself at the Eucharist. Bob
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Indeed he is risen!
I think I'm starting to get it. I had a more Protestant view of baptismal regeneration before, so naturally that wouldn't note that baptism alone is incomplete. And I came into the Church with that understanding. I admit, I rushed a bit when I converted and I didn't fully understand Chrismation before I received it. Just didn't want to deal with RCIA hijinks and figured I already had assented to the hardest and most fundamental parts of it all. I got myself kind of scrambled because of that and basically wound up with a bunch of Protestantism mixed in with my Roman Catholicism, but going Eastern actually helps me start fresh, wipe the slate, etc.
Thank you guys.
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