58. The occurrence in some of the euchologies
of the words, "the sign of the gift of the Holy Spirit," in
conjunction with anointing when reconciling the repentant is to be attributed
to the interpolation of schismatics. Theodore Balsamon convinced them that any
Latin who seceded to the Greeks should be confirmed again. This is stated by
Gregory Protosyncellus in his Apologia against Marcus of Ephesus (Harduin,
Collect., vol. 9, p. 640). But the use of the words in question is not
prescribed in the many manuscript copies of the Euchologion examined and
compared by Joannes Matthaeus Cariophylus Cydonius, a trustworthy witness,
according to Arcudius, de Reformat., bk. 2, chap. 18. Neither are they found in
the famous Euchologion of Grottaferrata, a point of great importance. Therefore
the Congregations for the Correction of the Euchologion which met in the time
of Urban VII and in Our day decreed with Our approval that the rite of
reconciling penitents should be printed in the revised Euchologion exactly as
it is described in the Euchologion of Grottaferrata; this has been done. At the
meeting of the Congregation on January 7, 1748, the question was raised as to
whether the rite of receiving back apostates on their return to the Church
should be made to conform to the decree of St. Methodius. It was pointed out
that this anointing was to be performed in the way that those who are baptized
are anointed, but that the requirement of saying at the same time the words,
"the sign of the gift of the Holy Spirit," was to be found only in a
few modem euchologies. Therefore the Congregation of February 18, decreed that
"the euchology should be revised to conform to the patriarchal euchology
of Cardinal Bassarion, now of Grottaferrata." On receiving this report, We
examined the matter and gave Our approval to the decree.
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