Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn
At His baptism, Christ was confirmed in the mission of salvation by God the Father and through the indwelling of the Spirit. The Antiochene writer Theodore of Mopsuestia relates the anointing with Myron to the anointing of Christ by the Spirit in the waters of the Jordan. In his fourteenth homily he states: "When Jesus came out of the water He received the grace of the Holy Spirit who descended like a dove and lighted on Him, and this is the reason why He is said to have been anointed: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me' (Lk. 4:18) and Jesus of Nazareth, whom God has anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power' (Acts 10: 38), texts which show that the Holy Spirit is never separated from Him, like the anointment with oil which has a durable effect on men who are anointed, and is not separated from them. It is right, therefore, that you also should receive the signing on your forehead." The Scriptures also tell us that through baptism we are called to be a priestly people. Therefore, Christmation symbolizes our commission and call to discipleship. Through the anointing with Myron, we receive the fullness of the Spirit. Just as the apostles were told to "go and make disciples of all nations", so under the direction of our bishops and pastors we are called to fulfill our roles of priest and prophet.
The Procession
In the early church, Baptism and Christmation took place outside the church proper. This was because the catechumens were not yet fully members of the Christian community. While these mysteries were being conferred, the Christian community was in church praying for the candidates. Having received these mysteries, the new Christians would process into the church to the great joy of the members and were embraced into the community. The climax of their Christian initiation was celebrating and receiving the Eucharist, thereby sharing in the divine life and solidifing their unity.
The Baptizing of Infants
The spiritual father now known as Pseudo-Dionysus the Areopagite (c. 500 A.D.) provides some valuable insights into why infants should be baptized. He teaches " Children raised up in accordance with holy precepts will acquire the habits of holiness. They will avoid all the errors and all the temptations of an unholy life.... When the bishop admits the child to a share in the sacred mysteries it is so that he may derive nourishment from this, so that he may spend his entire life in the unceasing contemplation of divine things, may progress in his communion with them, may therefore acquire a holy and enduring way of life and may be brought up in sanctity by the guidance of a holy sponsor who himself lives in conformity with God".
reprinted with permission