Have you checked out the Ambry yet?
Ever wondered where those three holy oils come from and what they're made of?
Traditionally, the Chrism Mass is celebrated by the Ordinary (Daniel Cardinal DiNardo) in the cathedral on Holy Thursday (or on another day during Holy Week) to celebrate the Eucharist, renew priestly commitment, and bless the three holy oils that will be distributed to all parishes for the upcoming year.
Annually, at the Chrism Mass, the priests will renew their promises to their Ordinary (bishop of the diocese) and the people of God, that they made when they were ordained. In addition, the bishop will bless the oil of the sick and then the oil of catechumen. After that, he will consecrate the Sacred Chrism. The oils will be in large vessels that will be carried in by deacons or priests.
I want to focus on the consecration of the Sacred Chrism because it is a beautiful rite where the bishop along with his priests pray the blessing together at the latter half of the prayer. Before the bishop consecrates the Chrism, he will mix the sweet-smelling balsam into the vessel containing the olive oil with what appears to be a large paddle ... (I was pretty far from the altar to see clearly). By the way, since all three holy oils are olive oil, the sweet smell distinguishes the Chrism from the other two oils.
After that, he invites those present to pray ... basically calling us to attention, something important is about to happen. Then the bishop breathes into the vessel that contains the Sacred Chrism. This action points us back to Christ as he breathed onto his disciples and said: "Receive the Holy Spirit" (cf. John 20:22).
After that, the bishop will say a prayer that recalls the importance of olive oil in salvation history; he thanks God for his creation of the olive tree! The prayer even references the Great Flood that wiped out the sins of the world except for Noah and his family. The announcement that there was peace in the world was a dove that returned with an olive branch. The Rite of Baptism is exactly like that- the waters wipe out our sins and then we are anointed by the Sacred Chrism made from the olive tree. Finally, all priests present extend their right hands toward the Chrism to pray with the bishop.
Remember that olive oil was a worthy substance for the ancients and still is worthy today to make into Sacred Chrism to be used in Baptism, Confirmation, ordaining a priest, consecrating a bishop, and consecrating the altar at every church (the bishop "massages" the Chrism into the altar at its dedication).
Continue to pray for the Ordinary and his priests and pray for them in the Chrism Mass on April 16, 2019, at 7:00 PM at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Downtown.
For the prayer of consecration visit:
http://www.ibreviary.com/m/preghiere.php?tipo=Rito&id=543#chrismnew1