Why is the Chrism often referred to as God’s seal upon the soul?

A seal was a common sign of ownership. Some of those devoted to pagan gods would sometimes seal themselves with a mark on their bodies, bearing the name of the god to which they belonged and by which they are protected. Baptism in the Spirit is the unseen seal of incorruptibility in Christ.¹³⁹³

St. Cyprian says, “‘And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption’ (Eph. 4:30). ‘In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory’ (Eph. 1:13–14).”

He also says, “… those who are baptized in the Church are offered to the bishops of the Church and, through our prayer and the imposition of hands, may receive the Holy Spirit and be signed with the seal of the Lord.”¹³⁹⁴

And he says, “See how you partake in the name of Christ and how the seal of the Holy Spirit was given you.”¹³⁹⁵

“… for those who had been baptized in Samaria, at the coming of the Apostles Peter and John, only as hands were imposed upon them did they receive the Holy Spirit … those who had believed in Samaria had believed in the true faith and had been baptized within by the deacon, Philip, whom the same Apostles had sent, in the Church, which is one and to which alone it is permitted to give the grace of baptism and to absolve sins (Acts 8:14–17). And, therefore, it was not necessary for those who had received legitimate and ecclesiastical baptism to be baptized again, but only that which was lacking was supplied by Peter and John, after having prayed for them and imposed hands upon them that the Holy Spirit should be invoked and infused into them.”¹³⁹⁶

1391 St. Cyprian of Carthage, The Epistles of Cyprian 73.9 (FOTC 51:273).

1392 St. Augustine of Hippo, On the Holy Trinity 15.26 (NPNF I/3:224).

1393 Jerome Bible, p. 344.

1394 St. Cyprian of Carthage, The Epistles of Cyprian 73.9 (FOTC 51:274).

1395 St. Cyprian of Carthage, Epistle 73.

1396 St. Cyprian of Carthage, The Epistles of Cyprian 73.9 (FOTC 51:273).

St. Ephrem the Syrian says, “Just as the owner seals his flock with a special seal by which he can identify them, so does the Holy Spirit seal whoever belongs to Him in baptism through the anointing of the holy oil which they receive in baptism.”¹³⁹⁷ “All the faculties of your soul are sealed with the Holy Spirit seal … The King put His message on you, sealing it with the fiery seal, so that no stranger can read it and distort it.”¹³⁹⁸

St. Didymus the Blind says, “The Holy Spirit grants us through His salvific seal to regain our first image. For if a flock is not distinguished, it becomes an easy prey for wolves since it is not aided by the seal and cannot be distinguished like the flock that belongs to the Good Shepherd.”¹³⁹⁹

St. Ambrose says, “God anointed you, Christ sealed you. How? Because you were sealed unto the form of the cross itself, unto His passion.”¹⁴⁰⁰ “You have received a spiritual seal. God the Father sealed you; Christ the Lord confirmed you, and gave a pledge, the Spirit, in your hearts.”¹⁴⁰¹ “So recall that you have received a spiritual seal, ‘the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and of piety, the spirit of holy fear’ (Isa. 11:2).”¹⁴⁰² “There follows a spiritual sign which you heard read today, because after the (baptismal) font there remains the effecting of perfection, when at the invocation of the priest the Holy Spirit is poured forth.”¹⁴⁰³

St. John Chrysostom says, “As a seal is imprinted on soldiers, so is the Holy Spirit imprinted on the believers.”¹⁴⁰⁴

St. Gregory Nazianzen says, “But if you would fortify yourself beforehand with the Seal, being signed both in your bodies and souls with the oil (chrism) and the Spirit … what then can happen to you? The flock that is sealed are not easily snared, but those who are unmarked are an easy prey to thieves … You would be able to lay down your life in peace, having suffered no loss of the help which God gave you unto salvation.”¹⁴⁰⁵