Dining Room Table Blueprints

6. Unzione, gesto simbolico

In baptism, the act of immersion in water, followed by an anointing with holy oil, once on the whole body, now only on the head, to signify the assimilation of the new Christian Christ. In fact, Christ and Christian mean "anointed," anointed. Another is the culmination rites of confirmation.
For us today the word "anointed" sounds really bad: greasy, greasy, dirty, fat dressing, etc ... The oil, then, is now only a hint of cuisine e di garage. Ma nella medicina dell’antichità l’olio era uno dei medicinali più comuni: si faceva bere l’olio, lo si applicava come lozione, come unzione, come frizione, come impacco. L’unzione con l’olio veniva adoperata come mezzo terapeutico per guarire le ferite, per lenire i dolori, per regolare le funzioni organiche, per rinforzare le membra, ecc.: questo sarà il significato dell’olio nel sacramento dell’unzione degli infermi. ...

Ma l’unzione è stata adoperata come gesto simbolico capace di conferire alle persone qualità trascendentali. Perciò in quasi tutti i tempi della storia si riscontrano unzioni religiose per rendere fausti gli crucial events of life: birth, marriage, death, meeting with superhuman powers. Israel also knew
such uses as, for example, in the consecration of objects used for worship (Gen 28.18; Lv 8.10 to 12), investiture of kings (1 Samuel 16:13), priests (Exodus 29, 7) and prophets (1 Kings 19:16). The Messiah is the anointed of Yahweh for excellence. We will resume in a few moments this topic. Before we consider the gesture of the imposition of hands by the bishop and priests present at the celebration of the sacrament. The laying on of hands is a biblical gesture of blessing or consecration. Jesus heals the sick and blessing children with the imposition hands through which it passes all its divine power. With the laying on of hands, then, the apostles healed the sick, consecrated the "priests" and "deacons" and give the Holy Spirit to the new community. The gesture is in fact suitable means taking possession of a being by the power of God and the fullness of the Spirit, to invest in a spiritual power, capacity, on a mission.
The gesture is accompanied by a prayer: "Merciful God, look at those baptized on which we impose hands: by means of baptism, you set them free from sin, you will be reborn by water and the Spirit, according to Thy word, Pour out your hours on them Holy Spirit gives them the fullness of the Spirit that was on your Son Jesus, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and filial love, fill them with the spirit of worship are
...". These are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit according to the prophet Isaiah (chapter 11) would characterize the Christ and that now characterize the Christian confirmed.
This first laying on of hands follows the essential rite. It includes another more personal laying on of hands : bishop laying his right hand on the head of each one individually. At the same time on the track in front of the christened the sign of the cross with his thumb dipped in holy chrism and says, "No, you get the seal Holy Spirit has given you a gift. "