Article I. On the Matter of Confirmation

I say. The remote matter of Confirmation is chrism confected from oil of olives and balsam and blessed by the Bishop. But the proximate matter is the anointing of chrism applied to those to be confirmed by the Minister of this sacrament through the imposition of hands. The first is clear from the Council of Florence in the Decree on the Sacraments. But the other is clear from the declaration of Benedict XIV in the encyclical letter Ex quo primum, where he has these things: "Therefore let this be said, which is outside controversy: namely, that in the Latin Church the Sacrament of Confirmation is conferred by employing sacred chrism, or oil of olives mixed with balsam and blessed by the Bishop, and by tracing the sign of the cross by the Minister of the sacrament on the forehead of the recipient, while the same Minister utters the words of the form." - Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 164.

Question 1. What is required by necessity of the sacrament?

Resp. It is certain that chrism is required, it is certain that episcopal blessing is required, it is certain that the Supreme Pontiffs have granted that in those regions in which the true species of balsam is not found, it is licit to use a certain fragrant juice or liquid which is commonly accepted as true balsam. - Cf. Eugene IV, Exsultate Deo; Benedict XIV, Const. Etsi Pastoralis, § IV, n. 1; encyclical letter Ex quo, n. 52. Thus Canon 781, § 1. The chrism to be employed in the Sacrament of Confirmation must be consecrated by a Bishop, even if the sacrament is ministered by a presbyter, by law or by apostolic indult. - Cf. St. Thomas, 3, q. 72, art. 2. - St. Alphonsus, nn. 126 and seq.

Question 2. How must the anointing be done?

Resp. It must be done with the right thumb of the Bishop in the manner of a cross on the forehead of the confirmed person. Yet the anointing would be valid if it were done with another finger of the Bishop, and even if it were a finger of the left hand, because it would truly be done through the imposition of the episcopal hand. Yet the Bishop would sin who did this without necessity, because he would recede from the practice of the universal Church; although it does not appear that the inversion of the said ceremony reaches grave fault. - Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 165.

Question 3. Can the anointing validly be done by means of an instrument?

Resp. Negatively, and the reason is that the immediate imposition of the hand of the Minister would be lacking, which from what has been said is altogether required. Hence in the new Code:

§ 2. Let the anointing not be done with some instrument, but with the very hand of the minister duly imposed on the head of the one to be confirmed (Can. 781). - Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 166.