Chapter II.
The baptized are signed with the Holy Spirit, to whom all virtues belong, but in a certain special right, seven especially pertain: to the same baptized, when he approaches the altar, his blind eyes, described in the Gospel of John, are anointed with mud, by which the confession of sins is signified; in this place, with those who deny themselves to be sinners confuted, it is shown that the eyes are opened to see spiritual things by this imposition of mud.
Following is the spiritual sign that you have heard today being read (De Consec., dist. 4, c. Accepisti, § Sequitur); for after the font it remains for perfection to be made; when at the priest's invocation the Holy Spirit is poured out, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and fortitude, the Spirit of knowledge and piety, the Spirit of the fear of the Holy Spirit: the seven quasi virtues of the Spirit (Isaiah XI, 2).
And indeed all virtues pertain to the Spirit, but these are like the cardinal virtues, like the principal ones. For what is so principal as piety? What is so principal as the knowledge of God? What is so principal as virtue? What is so principal as the counsel of God? What is so principal as the fear of God? Just as the fear of the world is weakness, so the fear of God is great strength.
These are the seven virtues when you enumerate them. For as the holy Apostle says: 'Because the wisdom of our God is manifold' (Ephesians 3:10). And just as the wisdom of God is manifold, so is the Holy Spirit manifold, who has diverse and varied virtues. Therefore, God is also called the God of virtues, which can be attributed to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But this is a discussion for another time, and another occasion.
After this, what follows? You have come to the altar (Ps. 79:5). Because you have come, you have the ability to see what you did not see before, that is, the mystery that you read in the Gospel; if indeed you have not read, surely you have heard. The blind man offered himself to the Savior to be healed: and He, who healed others only with a word and a command, restored the light of his eyes; yet in the Gospel book that is written according to John, who truly saw great mysteries above all others, and pointed them out, and explained them; this mystery he wanted to foreshadow in him. Indeed, all the holy evangelists, all the apostles except for the traitor, all the saints; however, Saint John, who wrote the Gospel last, as though necessary, requested and chosen by Christ, with a greater trumpet, poured out eternal mysteries. Whatever he spoke, it is a mystery. Another one said that a blind man was healed, said Matthew, said Luke, said Mark: what does John alone say? He took clay and spread it on his eyes, and said to him: Go to the pool of Siloam. And he arose and went, and washed, and came seeing (John 9:6, 7).
Consider also the eyes of your heart. You saw what is physical with physical eyes, but what is sacramental you could not yet see with the eyes of your heart. Therefore, when you gave your name, he took clay and anointed your eyes. What does this signify? That you should confess your sin, recognize your conscience, and repent of your offenses. In other words, that you should acknowledge the condition of the human race. For even if one who comes to baptism does not confess their sin, by seeking to be baptized, they fulfill the confession of all sins, that they may be justified, that is, that they may pass from guilt to grace.
Do not think that it is idle. There are some, I know for certain that there was someone who said, when we would say to them: In this age you should be baptized more, he would say: Why should I be baptized? I do not have sin. Have I contracted sin? This mud did not have, which Christ did not remove from him, that is, he did not open his eyes to it; for no man is without sin.
Therefore, he recognizes himself as a human who seeks refuge in the baptism of Christ. And so, he put clay on you, that is, modesty, prudence, consideration of your weakness; and he said to you: Go to Siloam. What is Siloam? It is translated as 'sent', that is: Go to that fountain in which the cross of the Lord is proclaimed: go to that fountain in which Christ redeemed the errors of all.
You, who have been baptized, have come to the altar, and have begun to see things which you had not seen before. This happened when your eyes were opened by the fountain of the Lord and the preaching of His passion. You, who were blind in heart, have begun to see the light of the sacraments. Therefore, beloved brethren, we have come to the altar for a more extensive discourse. And because time does not permit us to begin a complete discussion now, it is enough that what has been said today has been said; and tomorrow, if it pleases the Lord, we will discuss the sacraments themselves.
Book Four