Chapter I.
When he has sent to do concerning the sacraments, which it was not necessary to explain before, he approaches the mystery of opening, which he teaches designated by Christ in the cure of the deaf and mute.
About the sacraments that you have received, I begin my speech, the reason for which did not need to be mentioned beforehand; for in a Christian man, faith is foremost. Therefore, even in Rome, they are called faithful who have been baptized; and our father Abraham was justified by faith, not by works (Rom. IV, 3). Therefore, you have received baptism, you have believed. It would be wrong for me to consider anything else; for you would not have been called to grace unless Christ had judged you worthy by His grace.
So what did we do on Saturday? Indeed, the opening: which mysteries were celebrated in the opening, when the priest touched the ears and nose. This signifies in the Gospel our Lord Jesus Christ, when a deaf and mute man was brought to Him, and He touched his ears and his mouth, saying: Ephphatha (Mark 7:34). This is a Hebrew word, which in Latin means to open. Therefore, the priest touched your ears so that your ears would be opened to the word and to the conversation with the priest.
But you ask me: Why the nose? There, because he was mute, he touched his mouth; so that because he could not speak the heavenly sacraments, he could receive a voice from Christ. And there, because he was a man; here, because women are baptized, and the purity of the servant is not the same as that of the Lord (for while he forgives sins, the sins of this one are forgiven, what comparison can there be?). Therefore, because of the grace of the work and the gift, the bishop does not touch the mouth, but the nose; so that you may receive the good smell of eternal piety, and so that you may say: For we are the good smell of Christ to God, as the holy Apostle said (II Cor. II, 15); and may there be in you a fragrance full of faith and devotion.