330 BuoniCattolici
The bishop held the infant turned away from him, and first immersed the
child while facing east, then while facing north, and finally south, thus form-
ing a cross by the three motions.^131 Before passing the child to the godpar-
ents, the baptizer had them repeat the baptismal vows. Using the same
ceremony, four delegated priests baptized, assembly-line fashion, the re-
maining children; the bishop stepped aside to begin the confirmations.
In contrast to the practice in northern Europe, newly baptized Italians
immediately received the sacrament of confirmation. If there were adults
who for some reason had never been confirmed, they could also receive the
sacrament at this time.^132 After baptizing the first two children and handing
them to the godparents, the bishop himself anointed them on the forehead
with the holy chrism of confirmation. During the four priests’ assembly-line
baptisms, the baptizing priest merely anointed the crown of the child’s head,
as a pledge of the confirmation he would soon receive. The godparents then
took the newly baptized to the bishop, who, after administering confirma-
tion, gave each child the kiss of peace.^133 The holy anointing of confirmation
was protected by a band, popularly known as the ‘‘crown’’ (corona), placed
around the child’s head. It symbolized that the child was now fit to be
crowned with the saints in heaven (Rev. 4 ). Parents did not wash the child’s
head for the following eight days, lest the chrism be profaned.^134 When the
week was over, a priest washed the child’s head and gave the bands, after
washing them, to the parents.^135 The pious kept this band as a sacred relic,
just as new priests kept the cloth used to wipe the oil of ordination from their
hands. After the confirmation, one godparent held the child’s lighted candle,
and the other brought the white garment to be blessed. The family then
clothed the child. The white baptismal robe symbolized the good works that
were the true garment of every Christian.^136 At Milan, the Ambrosian Rite
added a final gesture to the ceremony. Before the newly baptized left the
baptistery, the bishop washed the feet of each child.^137
- Sicardo,Mitrale, 6. 14 , cols. 332 – 34 ; Parma, Biblioteca Palatina,msPar. 996 , fols. 58 r–v;Ordo
Senensis, 1. 182 ,p. 166 ; Verona, Biblioteca Capitolare,ms lxxxiv, fol. 102 r. - On confirming infants at Easter, see Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana,msAed. 214 ,
fols. 53 v– 58 r; Florence, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale,msMagl.xiv. 49 , fol. 58 r;Ordo Officiorum della
cattedrale [volterrana], 122 – 23 (Volterrams 222, fols. 48 v– 49 r; San Gimignanoms 3, fols. 54 r– 55 r). On confir-
mation of adults at the vigil, see Novara Synodii( 1298 ), 1. 2. 1. 2 , pp. 178 – 79. Cf. Lett,Enfant, 112 – 14 ,
which describes the delay of confirmation in France and England, with their huge dioceses and many
baptismal churches. - Sicardo,Mitrale, 6. 12 , col. 308 ; for the formulas of both rites, see ibid., 6. 14 , col. 334. On chrisma-
tion and confirmation at the vigil, see also Verona, Biblioteca Capitolare,ms lxxxiv, fols. 102 r–v; Parma,
Biblioteca Palatina,msPar. 996 , fol. 58 v; Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana,msAed. 214 , fols.
52 v– 53 r(treats only chrismation);Ordo Senensis, 1. 183 ,p. 167. - Sicardo,Mitrale, 6. 14 , col. 334 ; Verona, Biblioteca Capitolare,ms lxxxiv, fol. 102 v;Ordo Senensis,
- 185 ,p. 169 ; Parma, Biblioteca Palatina,msPar. 996 , fol. 58 v; Bologna Synod ( 1310 ), 489.
- Jacques of Vitry,Historia Occidentalis, 37 ,p. 202.
- Sicardo,Mitrale 6. 14 , col. 335 ; Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana,msAed. 214 , fols.
51 v– 52 v.
137 .Manuale Ambrosianum, 2 : 209 – 11.