After the Sacrament of Baptism follows the Sacrament of Confirmation, from which a lesson for living well may be drawn no less fitting than from Baptism; for although Baptism is a sacrament more necessary than Confirmation, yet the latter is nobler than the former — as may be understood from the minister, the matter, and the effect. The ordinary minister of Baptism is a priest or deacon; and in time of necessity, anyone at all. The ordinary minister of Confirmation is a bishop; and by dispensation of the Supreme Pontiff, only a priest. The matter of Baptism is natural water; the matter of Confirmation is precious oil mixed with balsam, and consecrated by a bishop. The effect of Baptism is grace and a character, such as is required to create a spiritual child, according to that saying of St. Peter: "As newborn babes, desire the milk" (1 Pet. 2). The effect of Confirmation is grace and a character, such as is required to create a Christian soldier, to fight against invisible enemies, according to that saying of St. Paul: "Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places" (Eph. 6). Finally, in Baptism a taste of salt is given to infants; in Confirmation a slap on the cheek is given, that the Christian soldier may learn to fight not by striking, but by enduring.
But that we may the more easily understand what is the duty of a man anointed with Chrism — that is, of a Christian soldier — we must consider what the Apostles received in their confirmation, which was given them on the day of Pentecost. For the Apostles were not confirmed, properly speaking, through the Sacrament of Chrism, but they received from Christ, the Prince of priests, the effect of the Sacrament without the Sacrament. They received three gifts — wisdom, eloquence, and charity in the highest degree — and besides, the gift of miracles, most useful for converting unbelievers to God. And these gifts were signified by the fiery tongues that appeared on the day of Pentecost, and by the mighty sound that was heard at the same time: for the light of the fire signified wisdom, its heat charity, the form of the tongue eloquence, and the mighty sound the gift of miracles. The Sacrament of our Confirmation does not bring with it the gift of various tongues nor the gift of miracles, since these were necessary not for the Apostles' own advantage and perfection, but for the conversion of unbelievers; but it does bring the gift of charity, "which is kind and patient" (1 Cor. 13). And as a sign of this patience, which is a most rare and most precious virtue, the bishop publicly gives the confirmed man a slap on the cheek; that he may understand, no doubt, that a soldier of Christ has been created not to strike, but to endure; not to inflict injuries, but to bear them. For so is the battle waged in the Christian warfare, not against men, whom we see, but against demons, whom we do not see. For so fought and conquered our Emperor, Christ, who, nailed to the Cross, vanquished the powers of the air; and so fought the Apostles, newly confirmed, who, sorely scourged in the council of the Jews, went rejoicing from the presence of the council, because they had been counted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus (Acts 5). This indeed is the grace of the Sacrament of Confirmation: to bring it about that a man unjustly beaten does not think of vengeance, but rejoices that he suffers injury for justice' sake.
Now let the confirmed man enter into his heart, and diligently consider whether he finds in it the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and especially wisdom and fortitude. Let him consider, I say, whether he has received the wisdom of the saints, which makes much of eternal goods and despises temporal ones, and the fortitude of the soldiers of Christ, who suffer injuries more gladly than they inflict them. And lest perhaps he be deceived, let him descend to the practical test, and examine his conscience. For if he truly finds himself ready to give alms, not to heap up riches; and if, having suffered an injury, he has not thought of revenge, but most easily and most gladly has forgiven it — he may rightly exult in spirit, as one who bears in his heart the pledge of the Spirit of adoption of the sons of God. But if, after receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, he sees himself no less covetous, no less avaricious, no less wrathful, no less impatient — and in fact can scarcely bear that a gold or silver coin should leave his purse to relieve a poor man, while on the contrary he perceives himself eager to seize every occasion of gain; and again, if he knows himself to be quick to anger, prone to vengeance, and even when begged by friends to forgive an offense will not suffer himself to be moved by their pleas — what can he conclude from this, except that he has received the Sacrament, but has not received the grace of the Sacrament?
This I have said for those who are of mature age when they approach to receive this Sacrament; for as for those who come to Confirmation in earliest age, when they are scarcely capable of sin, it is to be believed that the gifts and virtues are infused into them, since there is nothing to hinder it. But they must fear lest, with sins creeping upon them afterward and penance deferred for a long time, they extinguish the spirit received in Confirmation — that is, lose the grace of the Holy Spirit. For so is to be understood the Apostle's warning: "Extinguish not the Spirit" (1 Thess. 5). For he extinguishes the Holy Spirit, as far as in him lies, who extinguishes God's grace within himself.
Whoever, then, desires always to live well, that it may be his lot once to die well, let him esteem highly the grace of the Sacraments, which are vessels of heavenly treasures; and especially let him esteem those Sacraments which, once lost, can in no way be found again — such as the Sacrament of Confirmation, in which an incomparable treasure of good things is received. For although the character of the Sacraments cannot be blotted out, yet a character without the gifts of grace will bring no consolation, but will increase the punishment of confusion.