Carrying out the comparison with our physical life, another Sacrament represents the second stage of our progress. The prince or the citizen receives his status, his rights and his dignities, on entering at his birth into the community; but he cannot at once undertake all his functions; he must first come to maturity, he must be formed, educated, nourished, before he can take his place as an active member of society. In Baptism we become children of God; in Confirmation we arrive at spiritual maturity and become soldiers of Christ. We then appear before a higher officer of the Church. He invokes the Holy Ghost, and prays that we may receive each of His gifts; he imposes his hands upon us after the manner of Our Lord and His Apostles; he signs us again with the Cross upon our foreheads, so that we may be able to profess Christ and not be ashamed of His ignominies; he anoints us for the conflict, with chrism, in the name of the Holy Trinity; and he strikes us on the face to remind us of that which awaits all who are faithful to God in this world; and at the same time he assures us of that peace which man is not able to give. Thus do you attain "unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ" (Eph. iv. 13). Thus are you assured that "He who hath begun a good work in you will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. i. 6). Rely upon the grace that has thus been conveyed to you; it has made you capable of fulfilling every duty and overcoming every foe.
