Theological and Dogmatic Works

Book III

THE SACRAMENTS: III Chapter 1 (1) Yesterday we discussed the font, whose likeness is as a kind of sepulchre into which, believing in the Father and Son and Holy Spirit, we are received and dipped and rise, that is, are resuscitated. Moreover, you receive myrrh, that is, ointment upon the head. Why upon the head? Because 'the eyes of a wise man are in his head,' Solomon says.l For wisdom without grace grows cold, but when wisdom has received grace, then its work begins to be perfect. This is called regeneration. (2) What is regeneration? You have it in the Acts of the Apostles,2 for that line which is mentioned in the second psalm,3 'Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee,' seems to refer to the resurrection. For the holy Apostle Peter4 I Ecde. 2.14. 2 Acts 13.33. 3 Ps. 2.7. 4 A lapse of memory because of the similarity of Paul's prayer (Acts 13.15-41) and Peter's prayer (Acts 2.14-36) . 289 290 SAINT AMBROSE in the Acts of the Apostles thus interpreted, that at that time, when the Son rose from the dead, the voice of the Father resounded: 'Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.' Therefore, He is also called 'the first-born from the dead.'5 So, what is resurrection other than we rise from death unto life? Thus, then, even in baptism, since it is a likeness of death, undoubtedly, when you dip and rise again, it becomes a likeness of resurrection. Thus, according to the interpretation of the Apostle,6 just as that resurrection was a regeneration , so that resurrection from the font is a regeneration. (3) But why do you say that you dip in water? For this reason do you roam about; for this reason does uncertainty hold you? Indeed, we read: 'Let the earth bring forth fruit from itself, and the earth bring forth yielding fruit.'7 Similarly, too, you have read about water; 'Let the waters bring forth creatures having life"g and creatures having life were born. They indeed were in the beginning of creation, but for you it was reserved for water to regenerate you unto grace, just as water generated other creatures unto life. Imitate the fish, which indeed has obtained less grace, yet should be an object of wonder to you. It is in the sea and is upon the waters; it is in the sea and swims upon the floods. A tempest rages in the sea, storms shriek, but the fish swims; it is not submerged, because it is accustomed to swim. So even for you this world is a sea. It has diverse floods, heavy waters, severe storms. And do you be a fish, that the water of the world may not submerge you. Moreover, beautifully does the Father say to the son: 'This day I have begotten thee.'9 That is: 'When you re5 Col. U8. 6 Cf. Rom. 6.3-11. 7 Cf. Gen. U1,12. 8 Cf. Gen. 1.20,21. 9 Cf. Acts 13.33 (Ps. 2.7). THE SACRAMENTS: III 291 deemed the people, when you called them to the kingdom of heaven, when you fulfilled my will, you proved that you were my son.'10 (4) You came up from the font. What followed? You heard the reading. The girded priest-for, although the presbyters also do this, the highest priest, girded, 1 say, washed your feet. What mystery is this? Surely, you have heardll that the Lord, after He had washed the feet of the other disciples, went to Peter, and Peter said to Him: 'Do you wash my feet?' That is: 'Do you, Lord, wash the feet of a servant; do you without stain wash my feet; do you, the author of the heavens, wash my feet?' You have this also elsewhere: 12 He went to John and John said to Him: 'I ought to be baptized by thee, and cometh thou to me?'13 1 am a sinner, and have you come to a sinner, that you who have not sinned may put aside your sins? Behold all justice,14 behold humility, behold grace, behold sanctification. He said: 'If 1 wash not thy feet, thou shalt have no part with me.'15 (5) Weare not unaware of the fact that the Church in Rome does not have...