Holy Week, Thursday, Chrism Mass, 3-28-24, Year B
Readings: 1st Reading: Is 61:1-3ab,6a,8b-9; Ps: 89:21-22, 25, 27; 2nsd Reading: Rv 1:5-8; Gospel: Lk 4:16-21
Theme: God’s Gifts Through Holy Oils
“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me;”
These opening words of today’s first reading from Isaiah sum up the Church’s use of “Holy Oils” within its rites and ministry. From the beginning and throughout time, natural oils were used to anoint a person into the realm of consecrated duty to God. Each new prophet selected by God in the Old Testament was anointed with holy oil by the existing prophet, either to carry on a ministry in that region or because he was coming to the end of his ministry and needed a successor.
Anointings signify the sealing, accepting, and mission of a person into a sacred role or duty set apart from the common people. It is an indelible mark that cannot be erased and is carried by that person for his entire life.
Today, Mother Church uses three specific oils to anoint her faithful in various ways and means. Starting with the Rite of Baptism, we are anointed with the Oil of the Catechumens on our lower neck prior to our actual Baptism with water. Then, after our Baptism, we are anointed with Chrism Oil, or Sacred Chrism, and then again at our Confirmation. Later in our lives, we may be anointed with the Oil of the Sick for various health issues and challenges we face, even unto death.
The significance of these oils is impressive and cannot be overlooked for their powerful connection to the Holy Spirit within the Trinity.
The Oil of the Catechumens (OC) is the oil of salvation. It is pure virgin olive oil. We are anointed with this oil at the beginning of our journey in life as God’s adopted sons and daughters. This oil gives us strength and prepares us to take on life’s challenges with the power of Christ.
The Chrism Oil (SC, Sacred Chrism) is the oil of the Holy Spirit. It also is pure virgin olive oil and is mixed with 57 ingredients, of which balsam is the main ingredient, and gives it most of its fragrance. With the anointing of this oil, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit Himself and all the gifts that come from Him. This anointing is where we are consecrated as Priest, Prophet, and King into the service to our Lord among all peoples. Yes, after this anointing, we are all priest, prophets, and kings in our own special way, with our own special lay faculties to preach the Gospel and bring the good news to all people we meet.
We receive this oil at our Baptism and then again at our Confirmation where we are sealed with it by the words of the Bishop,
“[Name], be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Should some of us be blessed to be called by God to a sacred ministry, as a priest or bishop, we are then anointed again with Sacred Chrism oil into the Sacrament of Holy Orders with special and certain faculties only they are consecrated to do.
It should be noted that even though a deacon receives the Sacrament of Holy Orders, he is not anointed with Sacred Chrism as a priest or bishop is. A deacon’s faculties, although unique to the Office of Deacon, still fall under his original anointing with Sacred Chrism from his Baptism and Confirmation.
Finally, we have the Oil of the Sick (OI, Oil of the Infirmed). In this powerful anointing a person who is sick and suffering, or in danger of death, can receive this sacrament to heal spiritually and physically if it be God’s will. In this oil we are healed spiritually through the forgiveness of all our sins, past and present. It prepares us to be pure and holy for our Lord. In this same oil we ask God in a special way to heal us physically and to guide all those who may be helping us along our way of suffering. It is not a guarantee of physical healing but, rather a special and prayerful request that we put our physical self in God’s hands and accept whatever His will is for us.
We should avail ourselves of this sacrament of Anointing of the Sick as often as we need to help us in our journey here on earth. Never be afraid to ask your paster to anoint you when you are sick or suffering. It is a powerful experience, as is attested to by many people who have received it.
All three of these oils are either blessed (Oil of the Sick and Catechumens) or consecrated (Sacred Chrism) at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday morning before the Mass of the Lord’s Supper by the Bishop of every diocese. These oils are then brought back to each parish to be used throughout the remainder of the year.
Because the Chrism Mass is where the sacred oils are blessed, it is also an appropriate time for the priests to renew their vows of priesthood and the office that they received upon their anointing at their ordination (priest) or consecration (bishops). It is a reminder that their task is not just administrative, but also preaching and teaching as Christ our Lord did so many years ago.
If you ever get the chance to go to a Chrism Mass or be blessed enough to be your parish’s representative to receive and carry back the oils from this Mass, please do it without hesitation. You will be changed by the sacredness of these oils and the celebration of Holy Orders given to each and every priest present.
Saint James Catholic Church 