Chrism Mass
THE CHRISM MASS
Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
This beautiful Mass manifests the unity of the priest in the diocese with their Bishop. Here the bishop blesses three oils — the oil of catechumens (oleum catechumenorum or oleum sanctorum), the oil of the infirm (oleum infirmorum) and holy chrism (sacrum chrisma) — which will be used in the administration of the sacraments throughout the diocese for the year. This tradition is rooted in the early Church as noted in the Gelasian Sacramentary (named after Pope Gelasius I, d. 496), but was later absorbed into the Holy Thursday evening Mass; Pope Pius XII issued a new Ordinal for Holy Week, which reinstituted a special Mass of the chrism distinct from the evening Mass. Don’t miss out on this amazingly beautiful Mass. Join us for a reception following the Chrism Mass, in the Family Center.
