The Chrism Mass

This Friday, Bishop Joensen will celebrate the Chrism Mass. Usually, it is a wonderful gathering of the bishop, priests, deacons, and many different lay people from parishes throughout the diocese. It is most commonly celebrated at the Cathedral, the church of the bishop and during this Mass, the bishop blesses the oils that we will use during the upcoming year. Last year this very special Mass was celebrated with just the Bishop and a couple of other priests of the diocese in a small country parish, and this year it will be again celebrated in a more limited way. Bishop Joensen will have the Chrism Mass at a larger rural parish so that all of the priests would be able to attend. This is significant in the fact that during the Chrism Mass, the bishop renews the promises of the priests, because in a way, it is an anniversary of conferring his priesthood to us. We priests are asked a series of questions from the bishop. “Are you resolved to renew, in the presence of your bishop and God’s holy people, the promises you once made?” “Are you resolved to be more united with the Lord Jesus and more closely conformed to him, denying yourselves and confirming those promises about sacred duties towards Christ’s Church which’ prompted by love of him, you willingly and joyfully pledged on the day of your priestly ordination?” “Are you resolved to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God in the Holy Eucharist and other liturgical rites and to discharge faithfully the sacred office of teaching, following Christ the Head and Shepherd, not seeking any gain, but moved only by the zeal for souls?” These questions renew the promises that I made when I was ordained to the priesthood. Each time I have heard these questions asked again, I am reminded that through the challenges of administration of the parishes, the primary focus of the priesthood is to administer the sacraments, even though most of my time ends up going to the physical and material needs of the parish. The celebration of the sacraments is where I really do find most of the joy of the priesthood, the other stuff is simply the work that I have to do to support the celebration of the sacraments. Within these questions as well, the bishop calls out to the people and asks for all of you to pray for the priests, not just the pastor, but for all of the priests to have the Lord pour out his gifts upon us, he then also asks all the people to pray for him, so that he will be that “living and more perfect image of Christ, the priest, the Good Shepherd, the Teacher, and Servant of all.” The Chrism Mass, while blessing the oils for the year, is also a wonderful reminder of the priesthood as well. Pray for Pope Francis and Bishop Joensen, that they will have that wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and pray that all of the priests of the world, that all of us will be those humble and true ministers of Christ to all his people.

God bless,
Fr. Ken