In more recent years on Tuesday of Holy Week, our Bishop presides at a most special Mass at our Cathedral, called the Chrism Mass. According to the Roman Missal, this Mass which the Bishop concelebrates with his presbyterate is intended to be a manifestation of the Priests’ communion with their Bishop. Hopefully as many of the priests of our Diocese as is possible will be present at this Mass. Wearing a common chasuble expresses the oneness that we as Priests have with our Bishop. Whenever there is a celebration in our Diocese at which the Bishop presides, we as priests are expected to wear our Diocesan chasubles as an expression of the oneness of our Priesthood.
The Chrism Mass celebrates the anniversary of Christ’s institution of the Priesthood. Two significant observances occur at this Mass. First, all priests who are present renew our commitment to serve our Lord’s People in the priestly ministry. All who are present are invited to pray for our Bishop and Priests.
Also at the Chrism Mass, our Bishop blesses the three oils that are used in the celebration of four of the seven Sacraments of the Church. Each Parish in our Diocese is invited to have three representatives attend this Mass. These persons would bring the oils that the Bishop blesses back to the Parishes from which they come.
According to the US Catholic Catechism for Adults, anointing with oil has many meanings, such as cleansing as part of a bath, limbering up the muscles of athletes and healing the wounds of the sick. In Baptism, the Oil of Catechumens is used to signify cleansing and strengthening. Persons to be baptized are strengthened by Christ to resist the power of Satan and to reject evil in all its forms. The Oil of the Sick is applied in the celebration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and expresses healing and comfort. The Sacred Chrism, which only the Bishop can bless, is used in Sacraments that can be received only once, namely in Baptism, Confirmation and in Holy Orders when one is ordained as a priest and/or as a bishop. The effects upon persons who are anointed with the holy Chrism are expressed in the following prayer developed by the USCCB in 2016: “Through anointing with this perfumed Chrism, may children and adults who are baptized and confirmed and those ordained as priests experience the gracious gift of the Holy Spirit.”
It is appropriate that these three Oils which are blessed by the Bishop during the Chrism Mass be presented to and be received by the local parish community. A meaningful time to do this is before the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. This action expresses the bond of unity that each Parish in our Diocese has with our Bishop and with every other Parish in our Diocese.
Dioceses all over the world celebrate the Chrism Mass during Holy Week. May this observance serve to remind all of us of the three dimensional nature of the Church, that of the Parish, the Diocese and the Universal Church. May our awareness and experience of this reality serve to deepen and to strengthen our own Faith in the Lord!
Have a Blessed Holy Week!
Fr. Nelson Beaver – Pastor