The Chrism Mass

April 4, Tuesday of Holy Week, Chrism Mass

Readings -- Is. 61:1-3, 6, 8-9; Ps. 89:21-22, 25, 27; Rev. 1:5-8; Lk. 4:16-21. 

 1. Some Notes on the Chrism Mass -- The Chrism Mass is one of the most important liturgies in the Church. With the priests around him, the bishop blesses the Holy Oils of the Sick and of the Catechumens and consecrates the Sacred Chrism. The holy oils are used for Anointing the Sick, for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders, as well as for the dedication of altars and churches. 

 2. The Chrism Mass is celebrated in the morning of Holy Thursday. But in many dioceses, it is celebrated on another day of Holy Week, so that the priests from distant parishes can return home with their holy oils on the same day. In the Archdiocese of Cotabato, the Chrism Mass is celebrated on Holy Tuesday afternoon, preceded by a Clergy Meeting on Monday, Recollection and Confessions on Tuesday morning. 

 3. The historian, Hippolytus, c. 200 AD, described a ceremony taking place during the Easter Vigil at which the bishop blessed 2 holy oils and consecrated a third. In the 5th century, the ceremony of the oils was transferred to Holy Thursday. 

 4. During the time of Pope Pius XII, a separate Mass for the blessing of the Holy Oils was promulgated. This was to emphasize Christ's institution of the Priesthood, with Jesus' words at the Last Supper, "Do this in memory of me." For this reason, the priests renew their priestly commitments at the Chrism Mass. Pope Paul VI said, "The Chrism Mass is one of the principal expressions of the fullness of the bishop's priesthood and signifies the closeness of the priests with him." 

 5. Chrism is made of olive oil and is scented with sweet perfume, usually balsam. Newly anointed priests are anointed with Chrism on the palms of their hands. Newly ordained bishops receive an anointing of chrism on their foreheads. In the old rite, bishops were anointed both in the head and in the hands with Chrism. 

 6. 1st Reading, Is. 61:1-3, 6, 8-9 -- Isaiah declares: "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, to announce a year of favor from the Lord... to comfort all who mourn" (vv. 1-3). "You yourselves shall be called 'Priests of the Lord,' 'Ministers of our God'" (v. 6). A new identity for Israel, implying a new mission of serving others. "For I, the Lord, love justice... an everlasting covenant I will make with them" (v. 8). Their descendants will be known as blessed by the Lord (v. 9). 

 7. Resp. Ps. 89:21-22, 25, 27 -- The Lord sets up David as a leader. He anoints David with holy oil (vv. 21-22). God's faithfulness and mercy will rest in him (v. 25). He shall cry to God, "You are my father, my God, the Rock of my salvation" (v. 27). 

 8. 2nd Reading, Rev. 1:5-8 -- John gives greetings to the "seven churches of Asia," i.e., the churches in the Roman province in western Asia Minor, now modern Turkey. The 7 churches are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (see Rev. 1:11). Grace to you and peace "from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us and has freed us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen" (vv. 5-8). 

 9. Gospel, Lk. 4:16-21 --Jesus preaches in the synagogue of his own hometown of Nazareth for the very first time. He reads a scroll, "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" (vv. 18-19). Sitting down, Jesus declares, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing" (v. 21). His meaning is obvious to his hearers. Jesus, anointed by the Spirit of God, is the fufillment of Old Testament hopes and expectations. 

 10. This being the Chrism Mass, a Mass that highlights the priestly vocation, the words, "anoint," "priests," recur in the Liturgy of the Word. Isaiah is anointed by the spirit for mission. God calls his people, "Priests of God." God anoints David as king. By his blood, Jesus has made us into a kingdom of priests. The Spirit of God anoints Jesus for mission. As our priests renew the commitments they made at their ordination, let us pray for them to be holy, faithful, and zealous in their ministry of shepherding us on our journey to God. 11. Prayer -- O God, you anointed your Only Begotten Son with the Holy Spirit and made him Christ and Lord. Graciously grant that, being made sharers in his consecration, we may bear witness in this world to his Redemption. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Collect for the Chrism Mass). 

 Prayers, stay safe, God bless!