Anointed to ministry

I liked your editorial "Baptism leads to ministry" (NCR, Jan. 25). Good theology and excellent examples. I have one little quibble. Instead of "leads to," better to say "anoints for" ministry. Anointing with chrism as a symbol for ministry goes back all the way to the Old Testament. It signifies strength, healing and the "fullness and diffusion of grace." The Constitution on the Church says: "The body of the faithful as a whole, anointed as they are by the Holy One ..." This last phrase, taken from 1 John 20, points to the chrism, which in turn recalls the anointed Messiah, the Christ.

WILLIAM J. RADEMACHER

Las Cruces, N.M.

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