Canon VI.
That the chrism should not be made by presbyters.
Fortunatus
the bishop,
said: In former councils we remember that it was decreed that the
chrism or the reconciliation of penitents, as also the consecration of
virgins be not done by presbyters: but should anyone be
discovered to have done this, what ought we to decree with regard to
him?
Aurelius the bishop said: Your worthiness has
heard the suggestion of our brother and fellow-bishop Fortunatus; What
answer will you give?
And all the bishops
replied: Neither the making of the chrism, nor the consecration
of virgins, is to be done by presbyters, nor is it permitted to a
presbyter to reconcile anyone in the public mass (
in publica
missa
), this is the pleasure of all of us.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon VI.
Let no presbyter make the chrism, nor prepare the
unction, nor consecrate virgins, nor publicly reconcile anyone to
communion.
This is Canon iij. of the Carthaginian Synod under
Genethlius,
a.d.
387 or 390.
Johnson.
Not the chrism used upon persons at their baptism, says
the scholion in Bishop Beveridge’s
Annotation
, but the
Mystical Chrism, viz., that used at Confirmation; though neither was
the chrism used at baptism to be consecrated by Priests. See
Decr. of Gelasius 6.
Du Pin observes, That this is one of the first monuments
where the name of “mass” occurs to signify the public
prayers, which the church made at offering the Eucharist. And let
the reader observe, that there is no mention of the “mass”
in the copies which the Greeks made use of. And further, he
restrains the meaning of the word “mass” too much, when he
supposes that it denoted the Communion Office only.