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Mass of Chrism 2007

 

  1. The Mass of Chrism announces Jesus to be the Anointed one, the Christ. “The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me”, Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah at the Synagogue in Nazareth. Then, with the eyes of everyone on him, he added, “This text is being fulfilled even as you listen.” He was presenting himself to the Jewish people as the saviour they longed for, as God’s Holy One, as the Christ. Christ means anointed.  Jesus is the Saviour, the Christ, the Anointed One. We believe in him, we trust in him, we follow him.

 

  1. We are gathered here in our Cathedral for the Mass of Chrism. At this Mass the Oil of Chrism will be blessed. The word chrism comes from the name of Christ. When we are anointed with chrism, we can be said to be “Christed”. In the sacraments, the Holy Spirit forms us in the image of Christ. Chrism is used in the sacrament of Baptism. Washed clean in the waters of baptism, we are then first anointed with chrism: through baptism we are reborn in Christ, we are in Christ Jesus and made part of his holy people, his Church, in which eventually we will participate in the Eucharist and receive Jesus in Holy Communion. Chrism is used too in the sacrament of Confirmation, when the Holy Spirit seals us with his gifts so that we can be more conformed to the image of Christ, be more fully part of his Church, and be Christ’s witnesses in the world through our faith and love.

 

  1. This Mass of Chrism then calls us to believe more deeply in Jesus the Christ, the Anointed One; to grow in holiness,  and goodness; to be more and more his witnesses through a life dedicated to the love of God and to the practical service of our neighbour. And all this happens within the Church which gathers together especially on a Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist. The Mass of Chrism reminds us of our anointing in Baptism and Confirmation and calls all of us to love the Lord, to love his Church, and to love and serve our fellow human being, not least the poor and the needy.

 

  1. Oil will also be blessed at this Mass for the Anointing of the Sick, that Christ may heal and strengthen the sick and bring the dying to eternal life. I think it is right that we should acknowledge at this Mass the patient and often prayerful witness of so many sick people, and pray for them and for their carers and helpers. The Lord is close in as special way to those who suffer with faith.

 

  1. When you, the lay faithful, receive these sacraments, you usually receive them from your priest, so let me come back to the oil of Chrism, which is also used in the sacrament of Holy Orders when men are made priests. Through the laying-on of hands and prayer by the bishop, followed by the anointing with chrism, priests are ordained to be among us in the person of Christ the shepherd, to preach in his name, to celebrate the sacraments, especially the Eucharist in his name, and to be the shepherd of Christ’s people in his name. This is a wonderful vocation. This is a joyful vocation. This is an absorbing life-enhancing vocation. Your priests are gathered here this evening as a sign of their total commitment to Christ and to you. In a moment they will renew that commitment in your presence. They serve the Lord joyfully, thoughtfully and well. They are grateful for your prayers, your support and your affection.

 

  1. When I became bishop, I asked you to pray before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament for vocations to the priesthood. It fills me with hope that there are early signs that the Lord is answering our prayers. Ordinations are still some years away, but they are now a possibility we can begin to speak about. Once again, this Mass of Chrism is for me an act of trust that the Lord will continue to provide enough priests for his Church. It would be the greatest joy for me to ordain more priests for this diocese.

 

  1. And, finally, my dear brothers and sisters, this Mass is an act of thanksgiving for the fruitful Catholic life of so many men, women, young people and children throughout the diocese who, in the sacraments, have been anointed with the oil of chrism in the name of the Anointed One, Jesus the Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

St. Mirin’s Cathedral

4th April 2007

 
© 2008 Diocese of Paisley | Scottish Charity No: SC013514