Folia Theologica et Canonica 3. 25/17 (2014)

IUS CANONICUM - Michael Carragher, O.P., The sacrament of confirmation and personal development

THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT 179

Incidentally St. Thomas furnishes reasons why it is fitting to pour water over the head in the conferral of the sacrament of baptism in preference to other parts of the body. It goes without saying that it is essential for the validity of the sacrament that water touch the body but outside cases of emergency the minister should endeavour to wet the head for the reasons that St. Thomas adduces. He states quite simply that the head is the seat of all internal and external senses. Some parts of the body may react to stimuli that either originate externally in response to films, theatre, concerts, poetry recitals, advertisements in whatever medium they are transmitted, sport and so on or internally as instanced by the use of one’s imagination or memory of past experiences delightful, painful or otherwise. In the former scenario the parties are recipients of suggestions or the vision of the desirable products or results. One can perceive how the soul and the body interact and a spirit without stain or criminal intent can enhance the dignity and beauty of the body by engaging in activities that redound to the benefit of both. Physical cleanness is one concern but mental and spiritual hygiene must be carefully cultivated. One’s inner life must be clean too. Gospel passages abound with this message.

Moreover, a person assimilates food through his mouth and thus obtains daily nourishment through the routine cycle of breakfast, lunch and supper, infants growing up require vigilance and encouragement so that they keep to a proper diet and not just consume junk food, all people need alimentary support in convalescence after sickness especially if they lost weight and have become enfeebled, and finally delight on festive occasions and celebratory moments. These are the four purposes that we usually associate with nutrition. A person evacuates himself through the lower part of his body by getting rid of waste products. No disparagement of any part of the body is intended. Rather decency and hygiene are the prerequisites for community living. The comments of Cicero are appropriate in this context. “This concept of the fitting is to be observed in every act and every word, and also in every movement and posture of the body. It consists of three elements: beauty, arrangement, and adornment as applied to action (...) The three take in also our concern to win the approval of those with whom and among whom we live”.* 18

men sunt membra ilia potius aspergenda quam caput, quia per Baptismum non tollitur transmis- sio originális in prolem per actum generationis, sed liberatur anima a macula et reatu peccati quod incurrit. Et ideo debet praecipue lavari illa pars corporis in qua manifestantur opera animae. In veteri tarnen lege remedium contra originale peccatum institutum erat in membro generationis, quia adhuc ille per quern originale erat amovendum, nasciturus erat ex semine Abrahae, cuius fi- dem circumcisio significabat, ut dicitur Rom. IV.

18 Winterbottom, M., M. Tulli Ciceronis De Officiis, Oxford 1994. 52: “Sed quoniam decorum illud in omnibus factis dictis, in corporis denique motu et statu cernitur, idque positum est in tri- bus rebus, formositate, ordine, ornatu ad actionem apto difficilibus ad eloquendum, sed satis érit intellegi, in his autem continetur cura etiam illa, ut probemur iis quibuscum apud quosque viva-