Pope urges Christians to be the mercy, peace, strength and gladness of Christ

(April 1, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday morning in St. Peter’s Basilica urging Christians, particularly priests, to be the mercy, peace, strength and gladness of Christ, of which the Holy Oils are a sign. The annual Chrism Mass is the celebration of the institution of priesthood by Christ at the Last Supper. It is a day when priests of a diocese gather around their bishop to celebrate their priesthood symbolizing the unity of the local church. Cardinals, bishops and priests joined Pope Benedict in renewing the promises they made on the day of their ordination. The blessing of the Holy Oils or Chrism that are used in the various sacraments during the year takes place during the Chrism Mass.
In his homily at the Chrism Mass, Pope Benedict explained the significance of the Holy Oil, such as nourishment, medicine, beauty and strength, saying, “Even the name that we bear as "Christians" contains the mystery of the oil.” The Holy Oils which are at the centre of the Holy Thursday Chrism Mass, also point to the Garden of Olives, the scene of Jesus' inner acceptance of his Passion, the place from which he ascended to the Father, and is therefore the place of redemption. The Holy Father observed that the Holy Oils are used in four of the seven sacraments – namely, Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and the Anointing of the Sick, where it is offered as ‘God’s medicine’ pointing towards our definitive healing, the resurrection. “Thus oil, in its different forms,” the Pope explained, “accompanies us throughout our lives: beginning with the catechumenate and baptism, and continuing right up to the moment when we prepare to meet God, our Judge and Saviour.
Pope Benedict said that the Chrism Mass speaks of Christ particularly to priests, who are sharers of His priesthood. In this regard the Holy Father examined the origin of the word ‘oil’ which derives from Greek word "elaion" - oil - and the word "eleos" – mercy – indicating the consecrated oil is always the sign of God mercy. “In the lamp of our lives, the oil of mercy should never run dry,” the Pope exhorted his fellow priests, and urged them to nourish it with the Word of God, the reception of the sacraments and personal prayer. Like the olive branch, oil too is a symbol of peace. Hence as Christ wins by conquering hatred and through the force of his greater love, Christians should therefore be people of peace…who recognize and live the mystery of the Cross as a mystery of reconciliation. “As priests we are called, in fellowship with Jesus Christ, to be men of peace, we are called to oppose violence and to trust in the greater power of love,” the Pope said. Since oil strengthens for battle, Christians must be ready to suffer for the good. Like the martyrs, Christians, as good citizens, must keep the law and must not do whatever within the legal system is unjust. “Today too,” the Pope said, “it is important for Christians not to accept a wrong that is enshrined in law - for example the killing of innocent unborn children.” “In this way,” he said, “we serve peace, in this way we find ourselves following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ…” Oil too is a symbol of gladness shown as in Psalm 45. This oil of gladness, which is the Holy Spirit himself, is what Christ was anointed with. In the Christian perspective, this gladness is different from entertainment and from the outward happiness that modern society seeks for itself, the Pope explained. “But entertainment is not everything,” the Pope explained. “It is only a small part of our lives, and when it tries to be the whole, it becomes a mask behind which despair lurks, or at least doubt over whether life is really good, or whether non-existence might perhaps be better than existence.” But the gladness that comes from Christ not only makes us happy, it can also perfectly well coexist with suffering. “It gives us the capacity to suffer and, in suffering, to remain nevertheless profoundly glad. It gives us the capacity to share the suffering of others and… to express tangibly the light and the goodness of God.
Thursday morning’s Chrism Mass, was the first of several appearances of Pope Benedict during the Easter Triduum, or three days in preparation for Easter Sunday. Thursday evening, he was to wash the feet of 12 priests in St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome, in commemoration of Jesus’ gesture of loving service at the Last Supper.