RENEWAL OF PRIESTLY PROMISES AT THE CHRISM MASS,
Monday April 18, 8pm
Cathedral basilica of the Sacred Heart
Newark
At the Chrism Mass, which is usually the largest annual gathering of clergy and faithful, priests are invited to renew the commitments they made at their ordination.
The Mass, which takes its name from the most eminent of the three holy oils which the local bishop commissions for use in his diocese’s parish churches during the coming year, will be celebrated by Archbishop John Joseph Myers on Monday, April 18 at the Cathedral basilica of the Sacred Heart on April 14 at 8pm.
It will find priests of the Newark Arcdiocese renewing their priestly vows to God and to the bishop, in the presence of their colleague priests and laity as well.
It also provides an opportunity for the faithful to show support for their priests, and to pray for them.
Unlike the Oil of the Sick, used for those who seek anointing, and the Oil of the Catechumens, which is imposed on those seeking baptism — which are simply “blessed,” the sacred Chrism, used at the ordination of priests and bishops, and at baptisms, confirmations and the consecration of altars and blessing of churches, is “consecrated.”
All of the priests present participate in this by extending their right hand toward the vessel containing the Chrism, as the bishop recites the prayer of consecration.
Because holy Chrism is used to anoint a priest’s hands during his ordination, the Church sees a direct link of the Chrism Mass to priestly ministry, and an apt time for renewal of priestly service.
“While as priests there is a constant daily renewal because we have been taught to say every Mass as if it was our first, when we gather with each other and the bishop each year at the Chrism Mass, each of us has the opportunity to recall and reflect on our own priesthood — for me, 19 years — and consider the past, who we are today, and our future ministry,” said one of the priests of St. Joseph Parish.
“And in those 19 years I have never failed to attend because I feel it is an important moment in our priesthood, to show the unity among our priests, a unity with our bishop and a unity in the Church for all to see,” he added.
The renewal of the commitment made at priestly ordination, “reminds each of us priests of the promises we made that day to serve God, his Church and his people,” he said.
The importance of the great unity of the Church and its members is brought home to every parish because each parish receives four invitations for parishioners to attend the Mass and its moving prayers and ceremonies. “We have no trouble finding people interested in attending and hearing the renewal of promises by their parish priest and all priests,” he reported.
Traditionally, the attending parish priest collects the holy oils earmarked for his parish following the Mass.
As part of the consecration of the Chrism, balsam is poured into the oil, which gives it a sweet smell intended to remind those who encounter it of the “odor of sanctity” to which those priests and people and things marked with it, and by extension all of us, are called to strive for.
In the early Church, Maundy Thursday became the focus of many final daytime preparations before the sundown beginning of the Triduum that led over three days to Easter. During that evening the holy oils were blessed in time for use at baptisms at the Easter Vigil Mass.
Because most priests are involved with the ongoing preparations and ceremonies of holy week, many dioceses currently bless the holy oils and take the renewal of priestly vows earlier in the week. The liturgy finds the bishop asking his priests several questions, all to which the priests answer, “I will, with God’s help.”
The presiding bishop then prays and imposes a blessing to which the priests respond “May God bless you and support you in your sacred office.”
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