WORCESTER – At Tuesday’s Chrism Mass that nearly filled St. Paul Cathedral, Bishop McManus blessed holy oils and encouraged priests, who renewed their commitment to priestly service and were recognized, along with the bishop, for marking significant jubilees.
The Chrism Mass is celebrated on Holy Thursday morning or an earlier day near Easter by the bishop with his priests, explains the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, usccb.org.
The Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens and the Chrism are carried in procession. The bishop blesses the first two oils, and consecrates the Chrism, which is made by mixing oil and fragrances, usccb.org says. He breathes upon the Chrism’s vessel, recalling how God’s Spirit moved over the waters at creation (Gn 1:2) and how Jesus breathed on his disciples after his resurrection, and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (Jn 20:22)
After the Chrism Mass, parish representatives pick up their oils, which can be presented and explained at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening.
The Oil of the Sick is for healing of body, mind and soul; the Oil of Catechumens for those preparing for baptism, and Chrism for baptisms, confirmations, ordinations and dedications of churches and altars, usccb.org explains.
In his homily at this year’s Chrism Mass, Bishop McManus applied Jesus’ words about his own mission to priests today: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings ... to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” (Lk 4:18-19) The bishop noted the importance and duty of priests to celebrate the sacraments.
Bishop McManus asked the priests to recall their own ordination and to pray they will remain faithful to the promises they made to Christ, despite difficulties. He asked the congregation to pray for priests, and priestly and religious vocations.
He thanked those who helped with the Mass, including musicians from the cathedral, St. Paul Diocesan Jr./Sr. High School and St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury.