AMBROSE
Ambrose (AD 340-397) was an archbishop of Milan, referred to by Augustine as “a faithful teacher of the Church, and even at the risk of his life a most strenuous defender of Catholic truth.”[1] In a lengthy and detailed description of the church’s practice of baptism, Ambrose makes mention of an interesting renunciation component to the process of baptism. Ambrose describes the new believer, immediately before baptism, facing west and renouncing “the devil and his works, the world with its luxury and pleasures.” After this renunciation towards the devil, “as it were to his face,” Ambrose describes the initiated Christian turning to face to the east and “to Christ, and beholds Him face to face” as he prepares to enter into baptism.[2] This renunciation is similar in form to exorcism and renunciation rites communicated by Tertullian (c.AD 145-220), Hippolytus (AD 170-236), Origen (AD 185–254), Cyprian (AD 200-58), and Augustine (AD 354-430).[3]
[1]Philip Schaff, “Prolegomena to St.Ambrose” (NPNF2 10:12), accessed December 30, 2013, http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf210.iii.html.
[2]“After this the Holy of holies was opened to you, you entered the sanctuary of regeneration; recall what you were asked, and remember what you answered. You renounced the devil and his works, the world with its luxury and pleasures. That utterance of yours is preserved not in the tombs of the dead, but in the book of the living. . . . You entered, then, that you might discern your adversary, whom you were to renounce as it were to his face, then you turned to the east; for he who renounces the devil turns to Christ, and beholds Him face to face.” Ambrose, On the Mysteries (NPNF2 10:315), accessed December 30, 2013, http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf210.iv.v.html.
[3]“And a deacon should carry the oil of exorcism and stand on the left hand of the presbyter, and another deacon shall take the oil of the thanksgiving and stand on the right hand of the presbyter. And when the presbyter has taken hold of each one of those who will be baptized, let him command him to renounce [apostassesthai], saying: ‘I renounce thee, Satanas, and all thy service and all thy works.’ And when he has renounced all these, let him anoint him with the oil of exorcism, saying, ‘Let all spirits remove far from thee.’ And then let him give him to the bishop named, or [to] the presbyter who stands at the water for baptizing.” Hippolytus, Apostolic Traditions in Kelly, The Devil at Baptism, 89; “The idea of renunciation is, of course, present in all religious conversions and initiations. When a person turns from one form of life to embrace another, the old ways must necessarily be rejected, especially those practices most inimical to the new beliefs and style of life.” Kelly, The Devil at Baptism, 94-105.