Section I. On the Matter

I. Remote matter. 1. For validity, so that this be undoubted, there are required: 1. chrism, that is, a composition from olive oil and balsam; 2. consecrated; 3. by a bishop; 4. and this by a special consecration of chrism. Now from the aforesaid:

a) Olive oil is certainly required, as is clear from the universal and constant tradition of the Church¹ (St. Thomas, III, q. 72, a. 2; St. Alphonsus, VI, 162).

b) The admixture of balsam is most probably required, regard being had both to the decree of Eugene IV for the Armenians, which hands down that the matter is chrism confected from oil and balsam, and from the practice of the Church. The reason for doubting is taken from the fact that Paul IV and Pius V conceded to the Indians the privilege of using in place of balsam a liquid which is called balsam by them, but is not; likewise from the fact that the use of balsam does not appear before the sixth century, although even before that oil came under the name of chrism.

c) Some consecration or blessing likewise seems to be required, attention again being paid to the decree of Eugene IV and to the practice of the Church (St. Alphonsus, VI, 163).

d) Consecration by a bishop is certainly prescribed, but it is not so certain that it is required for validity (cf. canon 781, § 1). The power of consecrating chrism seems in antiquity sometimes to have been conferred on a simple priest.² It is also certain that the faculty of confirming with chrism consecrated by a bishop can be granted to a simple priest (canon 781, § 1).

e) A special consecration or blessing, that is, the consecration proper to chrism, likewise seems to be required; this is already suggested by the very necessity of chrism.

Corollary. Since olive oil is certainly required for validity, note that nut oil or other kinds of oil can never be used.

2. For liceity it is required that certainly valid matter be used, and that the chrism have been consecrated on the most recent Lord's Supper day (canon 734, § 1). Hence it is not permitted to confirm with old chrism, unless necessity urges. It is said, certainly valid matter; this does not prevent Confirmation from being conferred under condition, at least in danger of death, with oil of catechumens if chrism consecrated by a special blessing cannot be had; for the great usefulness of the sacrament suffices so that it can be exposed to the danger of nullity (St. Alphonsus, VI, 162).

¹ Cf. Innocent III, Decretals, book I, title 15, at the beginning of chapter 1, Cum venisset.

² Dolger, op. cit., pp. 108-112.

II. Proximate matter. 1. For validity, so that this be undoubted, there are required: 1. anointing; 2. on the forehead; 3. made immediately by the hand of the minister, not through an instrument; 4. in the form of a cross (cf. canon 780). But what degree of certainty belongs to each of the things enumerated, see among the dogmatic theologians.

The imposition of the hand is certainly required for the essence of Confirmation, as is already clear from Sacred Scripture itself.¹ But, according to the opinion which today is commonly held as certain, the required imposition of the hand is neither that imposition or extension of the hand which is had at the beginning of the rite and is made over all those to be confirmed under the prayer: Almighty, everlasting God, etc. (cf. canons 780 and 781, § 2);² nor is it that imposition of the hand by which the minister, during the anointing itself, places the rest of the hand on the head of the one to be confirmed;³ but it is the anointing itself, so that this is at once both anointing and imposition of the hand.

2. For liceity it is required that certainly valid proximate matter be used, and that the anointing be made with the thumb of the right hand; for this is the usage of the Church, which nevertheless quite probably obliges only under light obligation, because in the consecration of a bishop the thumb and index finger of each hand, indeed even both whole hands, are anointed (St. Alphonsus, VI, 165).

¹ Acts 8:17; 19:6; Hebrews 6:2.

² Decree for the Armenians; Sacred Congregation de Propaganda Fide, 6 August 1840 (Collectanea, n. 908).

³ Innocent III, Decretals, book I, title 15, chapter 1.