X. Of the consecration and benediction of virgins.

3. Firstly ; with respect to the first, then, it is to be noted that there be two kinds of unction : an external, which is material or corporeal, and visible ; and an internal, which is spiritual and invisible. The body is anointed visibly with the external unction ; the heart invisibly by the internal. Of the first, the Apostle S. James saith, ' Is any sick among you ? Let him call for the elders of the Church ; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord ; and the prayer of faith shall save the sick.' ^ Of the second the Apostle S. John saith, ' But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you : but the same anointing teacheth you of all things.' ^ The external unction is a sign of the internal. But the internal is not only a sign, that is a thing signified, but a sacrament also ; because if it be worthily received, it either effecteth, or without doubt increaseth, that which it doth signify — for instance, healing : according to the saying, ' They shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall be healed.' ^
Secondly ; with respect to the second point, you must know that in making use of the external and visible unction, two sorts of oil are consecrated : namely, holy oil, or the oil of the catechumens, with which catechumens are anointed ; and the oil of the sick, with which the sick are anointed. Of which kind of unction the authority of
- S. James v, 14. * i S. John ii, 27. ' See Acts xxviii, 8.
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S. James quoted above doth speak, ' Is any sick among you,' etc.
But in what way the benediction of these two sorts of oil and of chrism is performed will be declared in the sixth book in the chapter upon the Fifth Day of the Holy Week.-^
4. But is it asked why the sick and the catechumens are anointed with oil ? I answer, in order that the invi- sible benefits may be more easily received through the visible signs : for as oil by expelling weakness refresheth the wearied limbs, and as it from its own natural qualities affordeth light, so it is to be believed that unction with consecrated oil, the which is a type of faith expelling sin, doth impart health to the soul and doth afford it light. Herein the visible oil is in the outward sign, the invisible oil in the inward sacrament ; and the spiritual oil is within. For the oil of the sick we have received authority from the apostles ; for the oil of the catechu- mens from apostolical men.
5. And although God can grant the spiritual oil without the material, yet because the apostles have used this rite in the case of the sick, and apostolical men in the case of catechumens, this practice which their authority hath consecrated cannot be omitted without sin (as hath been said in the chapter upon the x^ltar) : just as anciently the just pleased God without circumcision ; but after it had been enjoined them to be circumcised, such as omitted this rite were subjected to sin.
Thirdly ; we have to speak of the unction before baptism. And indeed in the New Testament not only kings and priests be anointed, as hath been already said, but also — (because Christ by His Blood hath made us kings and priests, that is, royal priests, unto our God, as the
^ It has not been thought necessary to translate the passages referred to.
136 The Symbolism of Chiirches
Apostle S. Peter saith,^ ' Ye are a chosen generation,' that is, chosen out from the tribes of men, ' a royal priest- hood,' that is, governing yourselves well) — also, I say, all Christians be anointed twice before their baptism with consecrated oil — first, on the breast : secondly, be- tween the shoulders : and twice after their baptism, with holy chrism — first, on the crown of the head ; and secondly, by the bishop on the forehead.
6. And, according to Augustine, the first three unctions have been introduced rather by use than by any written authority. The candidate for baptism is anointed with oil — first, on the breast, in which is the locality of the heart ; first, in order that by the gift of the Holy Ghost he may cast away error and ignorance and embrace a right faith ; because ' the just liveth by faith,' ' and ' with the heart we believe unto justification.' ^ But he is anointed between the shoulders, in order that he may, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, shake off indif- ference and sloth, and practise good works (because ' faith without works is dead '),'^ so that by means of sacra- ments of faith there may result a purity of thoughts. On the breast, again, that by the practising of good works there may arise a boldness of labour : between the shoulders, to the end that ' faith (according to the Apostle) may work by love.' ^^ The oil therefore is carried over from the heart to the shoulders, since faith, which is conceived in the mind, is perfected in works (because, that is, faith consisteth in making our deeds like our words)* But the person after baptism is anointed by the priest on the head with chrism, that ' he may be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh him a reason for the faith that is in him,' ^^ because by
® I S. Peter ii, 9. '^ Habakkuk ii, 4. ^ Romans x, 10. ^ S. James ii, 26. *" Gal. V, 6. *■ This clause does not occur in the Princeps Edition.
" I S. Peter iii, 15.
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the head is understood the mind : as it is written, ' The eyes/ that is the understanding, ' of the wise are in his head/ '^ that is, his mind ; of which mind, the superior