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A Short Guide to the Chrism Mass
In Luke’s gospel, Jesus begins his public ministry with words from Isaiah that we hear in both the first reading and in the gospel for the Chrism Mass: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord (Luke 4:17-19; Isaiah 61:1-2). The work of our redemption began in earnest with those words of the Lord Jesus. The saving action of Christ continues through the sacramental life of the Church which we celebrate anew during each year of grace.
The Chrism Mass, in usual times, is celebrated at the beginning of Holy Week because the Sacred Chrism and Holy Oils used in the sacraments at Easter and all through the year are blessed and consecrated by the Bishop as we directly prepare for the Sacred Triduum and Easter. While “born out of due time” (1 Corinthians 15:8) as Saint Paul might write, this year’s Chrism Mass nonetheless renews our focus on the saving action of Christ in the sacraments. The Chrism Mass also emphasizes the communion of the local church which is maintained through the ministry of the Bishop, as well turning our attention toward the ministry of priests sharing in the fullness of the Bishop’s priesthood. All of the faithful join together in this Mass to rejoice in their salvation in Christ and to pray for their Bishop and priests.
Sacred Chrism, the Oil of Catechumens, and the Oil of the Sick, are used in four of the seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, and The Anointing of the Sick. These consecrating and healing oils unite us in the communion of the Church through the action of Christ celebrated by his ministers and thus uniting all of the faithful in faith, hope, and love.
The use of oil in the Bible is frequent but the focus of Chrism Mass relates to the preaching of Jesus from Isaiah: “The LORD has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor”(Isaiah 61: 1). Through the use of Sacred Chrism, the faithful are consecrated to God in Baptism, the fullness of Christian initiation is realized the Confirmation, and through Holy Orders priests are consecrated to offer sacrifice, and bishops consecrated to teach, govern, and sanctify the People of God.
Sacred Chrism holds pride of place among the oils used by the Church. Sacred Chrism may only be consecrated by the Bishop who exercises the High Priesthood of Christ in the local church. Sacred Chrism is used to consecrate persons, churches, and altars for exclusive dedication to the purposes of Almighty God.
At the consecration of the chrism, the Bishop mixes fragrant perfume into the oil, breathes on the chrism as a sign of the action of the Holy Spirit, and all of the priests extend their hands at the time of consecration with the Bishop as a sign that they are joined with him as co-workers in the Lord’s vineyard.
The Oil of Catechumens is closely linked to the celebration of baptism and is used to prepare the elect for celebration of the sacrament and to guard all candidates for baptism from the power of the evil one. The Oil of the Catechumens and the Oil of the Sick are blessed rather than consecrated and may be both be blessed by priests in certain circumstances.
The blessing of the Oil of the Sick includes invocation of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete to strengthen the sick, to heal them, and to release them from every infirmity. Benedict XVI called the oil of the sick “the medicine of God.” The Anointing of the Sick makes present the comforting and healing power of God among us.
Following the homily of the Chrism Mass, the Bishop Invites priests renew the promises made at the time of their ordination. The Chrism Mass celebrates the unity of ministry between the Bishop and his priests: “All priests, in union with bishops, so share in one and the same priesthood and ministry of Christ that the very unity of their consecration and mission requires their hierarchical communion with the order of bishops” (Presbyterorum ordinis, 7).
As a part of the Renewal of Priestly Promises, the faithful are invited to pray for the Bishop and their priests as a reminder that the Body of Christ is “. . . a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people" (1 Peter 2:9) united through Baptism and sustained by the sacramental life of the Church administered by the Bishop and by his priests in communion with him.
This year’s Chrism Mass, experienced for the first time for many through livestreaming, gives us the opportunity to reflect on the irreplaceable gift to the sacraments in our life of faith and of also praying with our newly consecrated and installed Bishop, The Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney, who gathers us together to celebrate our life of faith and to confirm us in the truth.
Please join us in spiritual communion on July 22, 2020 at 7:00 in the evening at patersondiocese.org to share in this celebration of our local church of Paterson.