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Chrism

INTRODUCTION The olive tree is the most common tree in Palestine and grows most abundantlyChrism in Galilee. Its was widely used: in the prepar- ation of food, as fuel for lamps, for healing and massage and as a cosmetic to make the skin lustrous. The use of oil in sacred rites was common in the semitic world of the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures. Jacob (about 1800 BC) erected a pillar at Bethel, where God had appeared to him, and anointed it to be a sanctuary – ‘the house of God’ (Genesis 28:10-22). When Aaron (about 1250 BC) and his sons were consecrated as , they were anointed as were the Tent of Meeting and the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 30:22-31). Kings were anointed with oil: Saul, David (about 1000 BC), Solomon - either by or (e.g. I Samuel 16:12,13). The purpose of was to dedicate a person or object as sacred in God’s service.

JESUS, THE “ANOINTED ONE”

The Hebrew word, “messiah”, and its Greek translation, “christos”, from which we derive the name “” means ‘the anointed one’. At the start of his ministry, in the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus attributed the words of Isaiah to himself: ‘The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me …’ (Luke 4:18). St Peter expresses his faith that Jesus is the messiah or christos (anointed one) in the words: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’ (Matthew 16:16). The Catechism of the states: “Jesus Christ is the one whom the Father anointed with the and established as priest, prophet, and king. The whole People of God participates in these three offices of Christ and bears the responsibilities for mission and service that flow from them” (783).

ANOINTING WITH CHRISM Following scripture and tradition, the Church celebrates the of , and Ordination to the presbyteral (priest) and episcopal () orders using an anointing with Chrism Oil. These sacraments give a permanent, irremovable character: the seal of the Holy Spirit which lasts to eternity. They confer an intimate identity with Christ, conforming us, in the depths of our being, more closely to his person and his mission as priest, prophet and king. The anointing is the sign that a person has been chosen and consecrated to fulfill a specific role in God’s plan under the influence of the Holy Spirit. The Oil of Chrism is also used by a bishop when consecrating or dedicating physical objects for holy purposes: (a) to anoint the crosses on the walls of a church when it is newly consecrated; (b) to bless a new ; (c) it is poured on an when it is dedicated; etc. THE MASS OF CHRISM The blessing of oil for use in the above-mentioned areas is very ancient, indeed! There is documented evidence of the Mass of Chrism from the earliest centuries of the Church. Therefore, when the laity, members of consecrated life, deacons, and priests of a respective diocese gather at the cathedral church to celebrate the with their local shepherd or bishop, they are continuing a profound and rich tradition! The Mass of Chrism liturgy focuses on three aspects of our Roman Catholic tradition: (1) the blessing of the used for the respective sacraments as signs of healing, unity, anointing, and mission; (2) the offices of Christ that each baptized person shares in (i.e. priest, prophet, and king) and the mission and service that flow from them; and (3) the specific offices of Christ that and priests have conferred on them in ordination (i.e. to teach, to sanctify, and to govern). Because bishops are direct successors to the apostles and the mission left them by our Lord, the bishops of the world (e.g. Bishop Wiesner) share in the fullness of Christ’s priesthood. Through ordination, priests, in turn, are given a share in the fullness of their local bishop’s priesthood. Hence, at the Chrism Mass each year, the priests, with their bishop, renew their priestly commitment to fulfill their offices in the Church, to serve the Lord and his people. After the renewal of priestly service, the oils are brought forward in procession and the bishop blesses them. (A) The Oil of the Sick: is of plain . It is normally carried in procession by one who is ill or one who is a medical professional. The bishop blesses this oil praying: ‘May your blessing come upon all who are anointed with this oil, that they may be freed from pain and illness and made well again in body, mind and soul’. (B) The : is of plain olive oil. It is normally carried in procession by one preparing for baptism. The bishop blesses this oil praying that God will ‘give wisdom and strength to all who are anointed with it in preparation for their baptism’. (C) The Oil of Chrism: is of plain olive oil with balsam added. It is normally carried in procession by one preparing for confirmation or priestly ordination. The bishop breathes on this oil to invoke the Holy Spirit and consecrates it praying: ‘make this mixture of oil and perfume a sign and source of your blessing. Pour out the gifts of your Holy Spirit on our brothers and sisters who will be anointed with it. Let the splendour of holiness shine on the world from every place and thing signed by this oil’. After the Mass, the oil stocks from the respective diocesan parishes and missions are filled. They are then taken back to the parish communities/missions by their delegates. It is a custom in some parishes to present the oils to the pastor or pastoral life director and faith community on Holy Thursday. At 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 11, 2011, the People of God in the Diocese of Prince George (the laity, members of consecrated life, the priests, and our bishop) will gather at Sacred Heart Cathedral for the celebration of the Chrism Mass. We will do so to: (a) celebrate our baptism into the priestly, prophetic, and kingly mission of Jesus Christ; (b) celebrate the gift of the ordained priesthood for the life and mission of the Church; and (c) give thanks for the sacramental grace that is so generously given by our merciful and faithful God.