In English:

A*

Those who were admitted to receive baptism, prepared themselves for it during thirty days. Before they received it, they were exhorted and obliged to renounce Satan, his pomps, and his worship. They, added: "And I unite myself to you, Christ." Then they made profession of belief in the resurrection of the dead; after which they were plunge into the water. When they received baptism, their feet were naked, covered only by a tunic. Baptism was conferred in the name of the three persons of the Holy Trinity. There was no doubt that it effaced all sins. It is therefore that St Chrysostom laments those who die without baptism. We receive also, in this sacrament, grace and the Holy Ghost; this places the baptism of Jesus Christ far above that of St John and the Jews.

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On confirmation. St Chrysostom, speaking of the pare Samaritans, who had been baptized by Philip the deacon,' says that they had not received from 1 im the Holy Ghost, because he was not able to give it, that being reserved to the Apostles, as a gift which was peculiar to them. It is therefore, adds he, that it is continued to be reserved to the principal ministers of the Church, that is, to the bishops; and to those alone, to the exclusion of all others, they giving the Holy Ghost. He also distinguishes the imposition of hands, on baptism, and says that it is by that the newly baptized received the Holy Ghost by the ministry of S. Paul.

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LII. POPE SIRICIUS.

Dupin says that

Siricius, as to the time when Baptism ought to be administered, said only at Easter and Whitsuntide, except infants and such as are in danger of their lives; who should be relieved with all speed, for fear that we be guilty before God of the loss of those to whom we have refused Baptism. Siricius said that those who have received Baptism and have since fallen into Apostacy, should, if they acknowledged their fault, do penance for the rest of their life; but that the favour of reconciliation should be granted them at the point of death.

In the Sacramenta Concilia Labbe," &c. are four letters of Siricius.

In a letter from Siricius Papa "ad Himerium Tarraconensem, is in the 2nd section:

Sequitur de diversis baptizandorum temporibus, prout unicuique libitum fuerit, improbabilis et emendanda confusio, quæ a nostris consacerdotibus (quod commoti dicimus) non ratione auctoritatis alicujus, sed sola temeritate præsumitur, ut passim ac libere Natalitiis Christi seu Apparitionis, nec non et Apostolorum, seu Martyrum festivitatibus, innumeræ (ut asseris) plebes baptismi mysterium consequantur;

quum hoc sibi privilegium et apud nos, et apud omnes ecclesias, dominicum specialiter cum Pentecoste sua Pascha defendat; quibus solis per annum diebus, ad fidem confluentibus generalia baptismatis tradi convenit sacramenta, his duntaxat electis, qui ante quadraginta vel eo amplius dies nomen dederint, et exorcismis quotidianisque orationibus atque jejuniis fuerint expiati; quatenus Apostolica illa impleatur præceptio, ut expugnato fermento veteri, nova incipiat esse conspersio. Sicut sacram ergo paschalem reverentiam in nullo dicimus esse minuendam, ita infantibus, qui necdum loqui poterunt per ætatem, vel his quibus in qualibet necessitate opus fuerit sacri unda Baptismatis, omni volumus celeritate succurri; ne ad nostrarum perniciem tendat animarum, si, negato desiderantibus fonte salutari, exiens unusquisque de sæculo, et regnum perdat et vitam. Quicumque etiam discrimen naufragii, hostilitatis incursum, obsidionis ambigium, vel cujuslibet corporalis ægritudinis desperationem inciderint, et sibi unico credulitatis auxilio poposcerint subveniri, eodem quo poscunt, momento temporis, expetitæ regenerationis præmia consequantur. Hactenus erratum in hac parte sufficiat ; nunc præfatam regulam omnes teneant sacerdotes, qui nolunt ab Apostolicæ petræ, super quam Christus universalem construxit ecclesiam, soliditate divelli.

In English:

There follows, concerning the various times of baptizing persons, a reprehensible confusion which ought to be rectified, and which we say it with trouble-arises not from any ground-work of authority, but solely from the rashness of our fellow-priests

who, generally and unrestrainedly, on the birth-day of Christ, or on the day of his appearance, as well as on the feasts of the Apostles or of the Martyrs, confer the mysteries of baptism on innumerable people of the lower class, (as you assert) though this privilege, both among us and all the churches, is especially appropriate to Easter and Whitsuntide, on which days of the year alone the sacraments of baptism ought to be administered generally to those who flock together to the faith, selecting those only who have given in their names forty days before-hand and have been expiated by exorcisms, daily prayers and fastings, thereby fulfilling that apostolical precept, that the old leaven should be expelled, and a new sprinkling begin to be made.

As therefore we say that the holy reverence of Easter ought in no respect to be lessened, so to infants, who by reason of their age cannot speak, or to those who from any necessity require the water of baptism, we would render prompt assistance, lest we bring destruction upon our own souls, by denying the salutary water to those who desire it, and those who die out of this world, lose the kingdom also. If any man also incurs the danger of shipwreck, hostile invasion, siege, or any other bodily calamity, and wishes to be fortified with the only aid of the Faith, let him immediately obtain the prize of the regeneration, which he needs. Suffice it that we have done wrong so far in this matter, and let all priests for the future observe the aforesaid rule, if they do not wish to be separated from the firm foundation of the apostolic rock, on which Christ built his universal church.

LIII. TIMOTHY OF ALEXANDRIA.

Dupin says but little about him, but that Timothy says that Those young Catechumens ought to be baptized, who being present in the Church with the faithful have received the Eucharist-and that those Catechumens who are possessed with an evil Spirit ought not to be baptized until the point of death.' And 'that those Catechumens may be baptized, who have lost their wits by sickness; that he would not have women baptized, nor receive the Communion, but at certain times.'

In the Bib. Vet. Pat. Gallandii, Vol. 7, are the "Responsa Canonica Timothei Sanctissimi Episcopi Alexandrini, qui fuit unus ex patribus Constantinopoli congregatis ad Interrogationes et Proposita de Episcopis et Clericis, &c. cum scholiis Theodori Balsamonis ex Beveregii Synodico."

Ερώτησις.

Ἐὰν παιδίον κατηχούμενον, ὡς ἐτῶν ἑπτὰ, ἢ ἄνθρωπος τέλειος εὐκαιρήσῃ που προσφορᾶς γινομένης καὶ ἀγνοῶν μεταλάβῃ, τί ὀφείλει γίνεσθαι περὶ αὐτοῦ ;

̓Απόκρισις.

Φωτισθῆναι ὀφείλει· παρὰ Θεοῦ γὰρ κέκληται.