He
then dips the paschal candle three times into the water, singing, and
each time raising his voice to a higher pitch than before: "May the
power of the Holy Ghost descend upon the fulness of this font"; as
when He descended, says Gavant, "in the form of a dove at the baptism
of Christ represented by this candle plunged into the water". Then
breathing three times on the water nearly in the form of a cross "that
he may unite the Trinity with the cross" (as the same author observes)
he continues the chant, and raises the candle from the water,
alluding in the prayer to "the effect of baptism, which confers grace,
_raising_ the soul from sin to glory". (Gavant). The blessed water
is then sprinkled upon the people, and some of it is reserved to be
sprinkled in houses, etc. In order to sanctify the water still
more, the Cardinal now pours into it, in the form of a cross, oil of
catechumens and chrism; and mixes them with the water of the font,
in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This last ceremony
is intended to signify, according to mystical interpreters, such as
Amalarius, Honorius, Durandus, etc. "the union of Christ by baptism
with the members of the church" (Gavant). The prayers of this
benediction, most of which are sung in the tone of the _preface_ at
ferial mass, contain beautiful allusions to the mention of water in
the Old and New Testaments, as for instance: "O God, whose Spirit at
the very beginning of the world was borne upon the waters, that the
nature of water might even then conceive the power of sanctification;
O God, who washing with waters the crimes of a guilty world, didst
sign the figure of regeneration in the very out-pouring of the deluge;
may this font receive of the Holy Ghost the grace of thy only begotten
Son"[132].
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