Sacred Chrism Mass

You may never see olive oil in the same way again 🫒

The Mass of the Sacred Chrism took place yesterday for our Diocese @salforddiocese in the beautiful @salfordcathedral it was lovely to watch especially whilst I am not feeling too well (praying it’s not covid and waiting for tests as I have avoided it for so long).

The Sacred Chrism Mass is one of the most solemn and important masses of the liturgical year, in a display of unity with the Bishop three oils are prepared for use in the sacraments in the church year, the oil of catechumens is blessed (oleum catechumenorum / oleum sanctorum), the oil of the sick is blessed (oleum infirmorum) and holy chrism (sacrum chrisma) is sanctified by the bishop and the priests in attendance.

Olive oil holds a sacred place in physical and spiritual life throughout the Bible. In everyday life people used oil as we do today, for cooking, lighting lamps, for beauty, for use with homeopathy and other natural medicinal uses. Spiritually oil was used for anointing, to make one holy, in worship and other holy practice and preparing the dead.

The most important oil, is the oil of Sacred Chrism. The Bishop mixes a sweet perfume (usually balsam) with the olive oil and breathes across the oil as the sanctification takes place. A symbol of the Holy Spirit breathing new life into those anointed with it.

Oils today will be distributed throughout the diocese and used in pastoral care and the sacraments.

So next time you are about to put a splash of olive oil into your frying pan, remember it’s enormous significance, legacy and use today not for physical needs but spiritual needs too. An oil of priests, prophets and kings right there present on your table.

Gives a lot for your cooking to live up to doesn’t it! 😉