Leading priests in renewing their ordination promises, and then blessing sacramental oils that will be used in parishes throughout the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, Cardinal Robert W. McElroy celebrated a March 30 Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C.
Calling it “a joy … to celebrate this great Mass,” Cardinal McElroy said that in the Chrism Mass “we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit in a profound way in the life of our local Church.”
The bilingual Mass – which is traditionally offered during Holy Week – commemorates the founding of the priesthood and the institution of the Eucharist. Usually, the Chrism Mass is offered on Holy Thursday, the day the Church celebrates the fact that at the Last Supper, Jesus Christ instituted the Eucharist and the priesthood. Because of pastoral reasons, the Mass is often celebrated earlier during Holy Week.
Prior to leading priests in renewing their commitment to priestly service, the cardinal reminded them that “it is Christ’s saving love acting in our priesthood that touches people in those moments when they come to us seeking God’s presence.”
He told the priests that “in our priesthood we do have the Spirit of God upon us proclaiming the Good News and helping our people to live out this earthly pilgrimage with the understanding that God is with them, the Church is with them, Jesus Christ is with them, the Holy Spirit is with them and that God’s love touches them without end.”
He thanked the priests, whom he called “beloved sons,” because they “carry out the work of making the saving love of Jesus Christ present to our people.”
Calling the priesthood “a great responsibility thrust upon us,” the cardinal urged the priests to remember when the work is hard and overwhelming, “the power of God works on and knows no bounds.”
“The times when we are tired and worn out, we know it is Christ’s saving love that touches us, and we can be there for (the faithful),” Cardinal McElroy said.
In attendance at this year’s Mass were Washington Auxiliary Bishops Roy E. Campbell Jr., Evelio Menjivar and Juan Esposito, who also serves as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia of the Archdiocese of Washington; Cardinal Wilton Gregory, an archbishop emeritus of Washington; Cardinal Donald Wuerl, an archbishop emeritus of Washington; and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the outgoing apostolic nuncio to the United States and who is being succeeded by Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, who was not at the Mass.
Also attending the Mass – which was open to the public and livestreamed on social media – were nearly 200 priests, and numerous deacons, seminarians, and men and women religious. Music for the liturgy was provided by the Cathedral of St. Matthew’s Schola Cantorum, with readings proclaimed in English and Spanish.
During the blessing of the oils, Cardinal McElroy extended his hands in prayer over the vessels containing the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens and the Oil of the Sacred Chrism, which will be used throughout the upcoming year to administer the sacraments.
Cardinal McElroy said that oils are “part of the sacraments in which we embody and carry out that work of making the love of the suffering Jesus Christ present to his people.”
The blessed oils, the cardinal said, represent “the Spirit of God coming upon those being baptized, those receiving holy orders, those who are sick in need of God’s help and all those in grace.” He also offered a special blessing for those being received into the Church at Easter.
Remarking on the great numbers receiving the sacraments for the first time, Cardinal McElroy said “we are seeing a true rebirth of those entering the Church not just here, but across the country.”
“It is the work of the Spirit,” the cardinal told his brother priests. “In a lot of ways, it represents your work coming to fruition – you have scattered the seeds of the Gospel in the hearts of men and women and children and families … raising them up into the life of the Church in its fullness.”
He also thanked the priests “for welcoming me among you this past year.”
“I have felt immensely welcomed in your midst,” he said. “I feel much at home now and much of that is due to the embrace in which you have welcomed me.”
At the final blessing, Cardinal McElroy said the Mass “unites us, sustains us and pushes us forward in Christ as his priests.” He then greeted each priest personally after which they collected the blessed oils they will use to administer the sacraments in their individual parishes.
The Chrism Mass was one of several Holy Week and Easter liturgies to be celebrated by the cardinal. The day before, he celebrated a March 29 Palm Sunday Mass at St. Stephen Martyr Church in Washington for the Catholic community of George Washington University. The scheduled Holy Week liturgies that will be livestreamed:
Cardinal McElroy’s Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be livestreamed from the cathedral at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 2. (https://youtube.com/live/_J_cL8Jec-o?feature=share).
On Good Friday, April 3, Cardinal McElroy will preside at a livestreamed Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord at 1 p.m. (https://youtube.com/live/e9ZV4vHivng?feature=share). It will be preceded at noon by a reflection on the Seven Last Words of Christ
On Holy Saturday, April 4, Cardinal McElroy will celebrate a livestreamed Easter Vigil Mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral at 8 p.m. (https://youtube.com/live/2L1pzPdzf88?feature=share)
Then on Easter Sunday, April 5, the cardinal will celebrate a noon Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception that will be televised on the Eternal Word Television Network and livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/lo5RJPH4rlA?si=1KgBXHvnwijk_nHu
