Oils blessed at Chrism Mass sign of unity

Published: March 22, 2024

En Español

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will celebrate the annual Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock on Monday, March 25 at 5:30 p.m. Priests serving across Arkansas concelebrate this Mass, during which they renew their commitment to priestly service. All are welcome to attend.

Anointing oils to be used for sacraments and dedications are also presented for the bishop's blessing. These include the oil for the sick, used in anointing the sick; the oil for catechumens, used during baptism; and the oil for the sacred chrism, which is the primary anointing oil.

The word "chrism" means "consecrated oil." It is used in the sacraments of initiation and holy orders as well as special acts of dedication, such as consecrating a new altar and blessing church bells upon their installation.

Chrism oil is olive oil mixed with balsam. The oil symbolizes strength, and the balsam represents the “aroma of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:15) "Anointing with chrism oil signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is used to consecrate someone or something to God’s service," explained Simply Catholic.

See "Chrism Mass: The Symbols and Their Meaning" from the Archdiocese of New Orleans to learn more.

"These oils are blessed and consecrated at this one Mass as a sign of our unity as one Church and will be taken from here to all the parishes in our state and used throughout the coming year for the administration of the sacraments in which we all share," explained Bishop Taylor in his 2019 Chrism Mass homily.

"The sacraments in which these oils will be used are all moments of personal encounter with the Lord, not only for our own personal benefit and consolation, but also for the purpose of mission, of being sent forth — empowered in the sacrament of confirmation, healed through the anointing of the sick and ordained to serve in holy orders," said Bishop Taylor.

"It is for this reason that this Chrism Mass focuses both on 1.) the work of God — to set us free from the power of sin and death, through Jesus’ own death and resurrection, into which we are initiated in the sacrament of baptism, and 2.) the consequent work of believers — empowered and enlightened by the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of confirmation to bring that salvation to others, and all the more so for us priests who have been consecrated to the Lord through ordination, hence the renewal of our promises today," he added.

After the Mass, each pastor takes his share of the anointed oils, to be used for the next 12 months, back to his parish. Oils left over from the previous year are removed and replaced with the new oils in an ambry, in Latin “armaria” meaning "cupboard" inside the church, according to Arkansas Catholic.

Any unused chrism from the previous year must be burned. Because the oil of the sick and catechumens is merely blessed olive oil with no additional fragrance added and is not consecrated like the chrism oil, it can be thrown away or used for other purposes. Learn more.