Leviticus — Chapter 8

The consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests prefigures the ordination of Christian priests. Lapide cites St. Ambrose and St. Isidore: the washing, anointing, vesting, and the placing of hands all correspond to elements of Christian ordination. The Pontifical still retains these rites. Aaron himself is a supreme type of Christ the High Priest, who washes, anoints, and consecrates the Church.

Moses anointed the tabernacle and all its furnishings, then Aaron and his sons, with the holy anointing oil (Lev. 8:10-12). Lapide: this anointing is the figure of Confirmation and of the anointing of the sick — the sacramental uses of holy chrism in the Church. The oil signifies the grace of the Holy Ghost, which strengthens the anointed for spiritual warfare. The consecration of sacred vessels with oil figures the blessing of churches and altars in the Catholic rite.

The blood of the ram of consecration was applied to the tip of Aaron's right ear, the thumb of his right hand, and the great toe of his right foot (Lev. 8:23). Lapide follows Origen (hom. 6 in Lev.): the ear figures the obedience of faith; the hand, the works of righteousness; the foot, the whole conduct of life. The Christian analogy is exact: at baptism (and confirmation) the whole person — hearing, acting, walking — is consecrated to God through the blood of Christ. The sacrament of orders similarly consecrates the entire person of the priest.