The anointing of the forehead is made in the form of a cross, because the virtue of this sacrament, as all other graces, comes through the merits of the sacrifice of the death of Jesus Christ; and to shew that, being now confirmed in his service, and enlisted as his soldiers, we should never be ashamed of our Master's livery, but boldly profess ourselves disciples of a crucified Saviour, and members of his Church, in spite of all the world may do against us, either by ridicule or persecution.

The Bishop gives the person confirmed a gentle blow on the cheek, to teach him that, being now a soldier of Jesus Christ, he must fight manfully against all his enemies; suffer patiently all kinds of affronts and injuries for his faith; and bear with meekness all crosses and trials, for the sake and for the glory of his Lord and Master.

In giving him this gentle blow, the Bishop says, Peace be with you, to signify that the true peace of God, which, as St. Paul says (Philip. iv. 7), “ surpasseth all understanding," is chiefly to be found in suffering patiently for Christ's sake; and also to encourage him to do so by the hopes of reward, according to our Lord's promise (Matt. xi. 29), "Learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you shall find rest to your souls."

Persons usually take a new name at Confirmation, which ought to be the name of some saint, whom they choose for their particular patron.

DEVOTIONS.

Before Confirmation, it is proper to make a preparation of some days by frequent and fervent prayer, especially by devout acts of sorrow and contrition (for which purpose the psalm Miserere may be also used), and by repeated invocations of the Holy Ghost in the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus, or Veni Sancte Spiritus.

Prayer for obtaining right Dispositions for receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.

O my God, through thy great mercy I have received three of thy most holy sacraments; the first to make me

thy child, the second to efface the stains which sin had made in my soul, the third to unite me with thy divine Son. Grant, then, I beseech thee, that the sacrament which I am now preparing to receive, may avail to the making me a perfect Christian; that it may give me strength and courage to combat my evil habits, to overcome all my temptations, to conform myself perfectly to thy law, and to become a true soldier of Jesus Christ, ready to suffer any thing rather than renounce his holy religion, and to maintain it, if need be, even at the peril of my life. This I most earnestly beseech thee, O my God, through the merits of thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for the Twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost.

O Holy Spirit, Eternal Love of the Father and the Son, vouchsafe to grant unto me, I beseech thee, the fruit of Charity, that I may be united to thee by divine love; the fruit of Joy, that I may be filled with a holy consolation; the fruit of Peace, that I may enjoy inward tranquillity of soul; the fruit of Patience, that I may endure humbly every thing that may be opposed to my own desires; the fruit of Benignity, that I may willingly relieve the necessities of my neighbour; the fruit of Goodness, that I may be benevolent towards all; the fruit of Longanimity, that I may not be discouraged by delay, but may persevere in prayer; the fruit of Mildness, that I may subdue every rising of evil temper, stifle every murmur, and repress the susceptibilities of my nature, in all my dealings with my neighbour; the fruit of Fidelity, that I may rely, with assured confidence, on the word of God; the fruit of Modesty, that I may order my exterior regularly; the fruits of Continency and Chastity, that I may keep my body in such holiness as becometh thy temple, so that, having, by thy assistance, preserved my heart pure on earth, I may merit, in Jesus

Christ, according to the words of the Gospel, to see God eternally in the glory of his kingdom. Amen.

Acts before Confirmation.

An Act of Faith. O Holy Spirit, I firmly believe that I am about to receive thee in the sacrament of Confirmation. I believe it because thou hast said it, and thou art the Truth itself.

An Act of Hope. Relying on thy infinite goodness, O Holy and Sanctifying Spirit, I confidently hope, that, receiving thee in the sacrament of Confirmation, I shall receive the abundance of thy graces. I trust in thee that thou wilt make me a perfect Christian, and that thou wilt give me strength to confess the faith, even at the peril of my life.

An Act of Charity.-I love thee, O Holy Spirit, with all my heart, and with all my soul, above all things, because thou art infinitely good and worthy to be loved. Kindle in my heart the fire of thy love; and grant that, having received thee in the sacrament of Confirmation, I may faithfully perform all the duties of my state to the end of my life.

ORDER OF CONFIRMATION.

The Bishop proceeds to the faldstool, before the altar, or other convenient place, and sits thereon, with his face to the people, holding his pastoral staff in his left hand. Rising up, he stands with his face towards the person to be confirmed, and having his hands joined before his breast (the persons to be confirmed kneeling, and having also their hands joined before their breasts), he says:

Spiritus Sanctus superveniat in vos, et virtus Altissimi custodiat vos a peccatis.

R. Amen.

May the Holy Ghost come down upon you, and may the power of the Most High preserve you from sins.

R. Amen.

Then, signing himself, with his right hand, with the sign of the cross from his forehead to his breast, he

Then, with his hands extended towards the persons to be confirmed, he says:

Adimple eos spiritu ti- Replenish them with the moris tui, et consigna eos spirit of thy fear, and sign signo crucis Christi, in them with the sign of the vitam propitiatus æternam. cross of Christ, in thy Per eumdem Dominum mercy, unto life eternal. nostrum Jesum Christum Through the same thy Son Filium tuum, qui tecum Jesus Christ our Lord, who vivit et regnat in unitate liveth and reigneth with ejusdem Spiritus Sancti, thee in the unity of the Deus, per omnia sæcula same Holy Spirit, God, sæculorum. world without end.

R. Amen.

R. Amen.

The Bishop inquires separately the name of each person to be confirmed, who is presented to him by the godfather or godmother, kneeling; and having dipped the end of the thumb of his right hand in chrism, he says: N., signo te signo cru

cis.

N., I sign thee with the sign of the cross .

Whilst saying these words he makes the sign of the cross, with his thumb, on the forehead of the person to be confirmed, and then says:

Et confirmo te chrismate

And I confirm thee with

salutis. In nomine Pa the chrism of salvation. In

tris, et Filii, et Spiritus

Sancti.

R. Amen.

the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of
the Holy
R. Amen..

Ghost.

Then he strikes him gently on the cheek, saying:

Pax tecum.

Peace be with thee.

When all have been confirmed, the Bishop wipes with bread-crumb, and washes his thumb and hands over a basin. Whilst he is washing his hands, the following antiphon is sung or read by the clerks:

Confirma hoc, Deus, Confirm, O Lord, that quod operatus es in nobis, which thou hast wrought in