ovement was most majestic. I saw the Apostles noting things down in
the little rolls of parchment which they carried on their persons.
Several times during the ceremonies I remarked that they bowed to each
other, in the same way that our priests do.

MEDITATION IX.

Private Instruction and Consecrations.

Jesus gave his Apostles some private instructions; he told them how
they were to preserve the Blessed Sacrament in memory of him, even to
the end of the world; he taught them the necessary forms for making use
of and communicating it, and in what manner they were, by degrees, to
teach and publish this mystery; finally he told them when they were to
receive what remained of the consecrated Elements, when to give some to
the Blessed Virgin, and how to consecrate, themselves, after he should
have sent them the Divine Comforter. He then spoke concerning the
priesthood, the sacred unction, and the preparation of the Chrism and
Holy Oils.7 He had there three boxes, two of which contained a mixture
of oil and balm. He taught them how to make this mixture, what parts of
the body were to be anointed with them, and upon what occasions. I
remember, among other things, that he mentioned a case in which the
Holy Eucharist could not be administered; perhaps what he said had
reference to Extreme Unction, for my recollections on this point are
not very clear. He spoke of different kinds of anointing, and in
particular of that of kings, and he said that even wicked kings who
were anointed, derived from it especial powers. He put ointment and oil
in the empty box, and mixed them together, but I cannot say for certain
whether it was at this moment, or at the time of the consecration of
the bread, that he blessed the oil.

I then saw Jesus anoint Peter and John, on whose hands he had
already poured the water which had flowed on his own, and two whom he
had given to drink out of the chalice. Then he laid his hands on their
shoulders and heads, while they, on their part, joined their hands and
crossed their thumbs, bowing down profoundly before him--I am not sure
whether they did not even kneel. He anointed the thumb and fore-finger
of each of their hands, and marked a cross on their heads with Chrism.
He said also that this would remain with them unto the end of the world.

James the Less, Andrew, James the Greater, and Bartholomew, were
also consecrated. I saw likewise that on Peter's bosom he crossed a sort
of stole worn round