it, the balsam is carried by a subdeacon, etc. the oil for the chrism
and that for the catechumens by two deacons: and meantime the choir
sings appropriate verses. The bishop blesses the balsam, and mixes
it with some oil; he then breathes three times in the form of a cross
over the vessel of chrism, as do the twelve priests also. Next follows
the blessing, and then the salutation, of the chrism: the latter
is made 3 times by the bishop and each of the twelve priests in
succession, saying, Hail holy chrism, after which they kiss the vessel
which contains it. The oil of catechumens is blessed and saluted
in like manner: and the procession returns to the sacristy; in the
mean time the bishop concludes the mass; and thus this solemn rite
terminates.

[Sidenote: Origin of the blessing of the oils.]

The oil of the sick is mentioned in the well-known passage of St.
James V, 14 "Is any man sick among you; let him bring in the priests
of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in
the name of the Lord etc." At the beginning of the fifth century also,
Pope Innocent I observes that it is the office of the bishop to make
or prepare (_conficere_) this "holy of chrism" or unction: and in the
Sacramentary of Pope Gregory the great the rite; by which this oil was
blessed and administered to the sick, is described. Chrism and the
oil of catechumens also are mentioned by many ancient Fathers. (See
Turnely T. 7 de Sacram. Bapt. et Confirm, etc.)[61] St. Basil in the
4th century attributes the origin of the custom of blessing the oils
to tradition. "We bless the water of baptism and the _oil of unction_,
as well as the person who receives baptism. By what scriptures? Is
it not from silent and secret tradition?" (De Spir. S. c. 27). It is
mentioned also in the second and third councils of Carthage, by S.