also is the sealing of the hundred and forty-four thousand before the four winds shall blow upon the earth. S. Thomas, in saying that the character is impressed, not on the essence of the soul, but upon its powers, means on the intellect by way of light, and on the affections by way of love.
It signifies, therefore, a work of the Holy Ghost, the Illuminator and Sanctifier, upon the soul. But it signifies not only the universal and uniform work of the Holy Ghost, as in Baptism and Confirmation, but a special and singular work wrought upon the Soul of those only who, by ordination, share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ. The three Sacraments, which impress a character, create and constitute each severally a special relation of the soul to God—Baptism that of sons, Confirmation that of soldiers, Orders that of priests; and these three spiritual relations once constituted are eternal, and therefore indelible. Whether in the light of glory or in the outer darkness, we shall be sons, soldiers and priests, accepted or cast out eternally. And to these three relations a special and commensurate grace of the Holy Ghost is attached. Therefore, S. Thomas says that the character is the formal cause or source of sacramental grace.[1] The character of son has in it all grace needed for the life of a son of God; the character of
- ↑ P. iii. lxix. 10.
