St. Athanasius on Penance:

“As the man whom the priest baptizes is enlightened by the Holy Spirit, so does he who in penance confesses his sins, receives through the ministry of the priest, forgiveness of sins in virtue of the grace of Christ.”

”St. John the Baptist tells us that not man but Christ baptizes us, saying: ‘There comes after me He who is mightier than I, … And He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’ (Lk. 3:16) For this reason, when the priest baptized us, he did not say, ‘I baptize you,” but rather, ‘The servant of God N. is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.‘ This way the priest showed that it was not he who baptized us, but God in the Blessed Trinity.” (ct. St. John Chrysostom, Baptismal lnstructions XI, 13-14)

INITIAL PRAYER

O Holy God, You formed man out of the dust of the earth, You fashioned a woman from his rib and joined her to him as a helpmate, for it pleased your great generosity that man should not be alone upon the earth. Now, O Master, stretch forth your hand from your holy dwelling place and join these your servants N. and N., for You alone join the wife to her husband. Unite them in one mind and in one flesh, granting them fruitfulness and rewarding them with good children.

For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

“As Christ after His baptism and descent of Him of the Holy Spirit went forth and defeated the adversary, so likewise you, having received the Holy Baptism and Mystical Chrism, stand firm against the power of the enemy (devil) and vanquish it, saying: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (et. St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Ibid., 4)