What is the mystery of opening?

The answer

St. Ambrose tells us about a ritual called “the opening.” It is performed by the priest, immediately before the entry of the candidate for baptism into the font. In that ritual, the priest touches the candidate’s ear and nostrils. St. Ambrose explains what this ritual meant: “These mysteries of ‘the opening’ were celebrated when the priest touched your ears and nostrils. What does this signify? In the Gospel, our Lord Jesus Christ, when the deaf and dumb man was presented to Him, touched his ears and his mouth: the ears, because he was deaf; the mouth, because he was dumb. And He said: ‘Effetha’ (Mark 7.34). This is a Hebrew word, which in Latin means Adaperire (Open). Therefore, the priest has touched your ears, that your ears may be opened to the sermon and exhortation of the priest. But you say to me, ‘Why the nostrils?’ … that you may receive a sweet savor of eternal godliness, and that you may say, ‘We are the good odor of Christ’ (2 Cor. 2:15), as the holy Apostle said; and there may be in you the full fragrance of faith and devotion.”¹³⁵¹

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty