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On the Sacraments
St Ambrose of Milan, tr. Thompson, 1919
Book 2, The Presence of the Holy Trinity in Baptism is Vindicated. The Spirit at the…
Now, then, let us consider. The priest comes; he says a prayer at the font; he invokes the name of the Father, the presence of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; he uses heavenly words.1 What heavenly words? They are those of Christ, that we should baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.2 If, therefore, at the word of men, at the invocation of a saint, the presence of the Trinity came down, how much more does it come where the eternal word is acting? Do you wish to know that the Spirit descends? Thou hast heard that he descended as a dove.3 Why as a dove? That unbelievers might be called to belief. In the begining there had to be a sign, later there ought to be the fulfilment.
Take another example. After the death of our Lord Jesus Christ the Apostles were in one place, and they were praying on the day of Pentecost. And suddenly there came a great sound as if the Spirit were carried along with great violence, and there appeared divided tongues as of fire.4 What does this mean, but the descent of the Holy Spirit, who wished to show himself to unbelievers in bodily form also; that is in bodily form by a sign, spiritually by a sacrament? Therefore, there was given an evident proof of his coming. But to us is now offered the privilege of faith. For in the beginning signs were shown for unbelievers; now in the fulness of the Church we must gather truth not by a sign, but by faith.
Notes
- Cf. with this the account of the consecration of the font in de Myst. iii. 8, 14. There is no mention of the exorcism, which however is found in later Milanese and in Gallican books. See Thompson, Offices of Baptism and Confirmation, p. 130.
- Mt. xxviii. 19.
- Mt. iii. 16; Mk. i. 10; Jn. i. 32.
- Acts ii. 1-3.