that he is becoming the property of his Crucified Redeemer, whose doctrine he is to carry in his heart, and to profess openly. 4. The blessed salt, which is put into his mouth, is an emblem of Christian wisdom, and of preservation from the corruption of sin. 5. By the exorcisms, which are repeated several times, the power of the devil, 'who has the empire of death' (Heb. ii. 14), is broken in the name of the Blessed Trinity, 6, The laying of the Priest's hand upon the person to be baptized signifies the protection of God; and the stole laid upon him, and his being led by it into the Church, is a sign of the ecclesiastical power, in virtue of which the Priest admits him into the Church. 7. The touching of the child's ears and nostrils with spittle, in imitation of our Saviour (Mark vii. 33), signifies that, by the grace of this Sacrament, his spiritual senses are opened to the doctrine of Christ. 8. After having renounced the devil and all his works, and all his pomps, he is anointed with holy oil on the breast and between the shoulders, because, as a champion of Christ, he has now manfully to fight against the devil and the world. 9. After the Baptism, the crown of the head is anointed with chrism, to intimate that he is now a Christian — i.e., an anointed of God, etc.
21. What should Sponsors, or Godfathers and Godmothers, be particularly mindful of?
Sponsors should bear in mind that they become, as it were, the spiritual parents of the infant that is baptized, and make in his name the profession of faith and the baptismal vows; that therefore —
1. They should be good Catholics themselves;
2. They should take care that the child be instructed in the Catholic religion, and well educated, if his natural parents should neglect their duty in this respect, or be prevented from performing it; and
3. That they cannot marry their Godchild; but they are not forbidden to marry each other.
22. How many Godfathers and Godmothers does the Church admit?
The Church generally admits but one Godfather for a boy, and one Godmother for a girl; or, at most, one Godfather and one Godmother for one person to be baptized. The others who may be admitted besides are only
