(Vatican Radio) In a series of reflections, the Secretary of the Vatican Congregation
for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, Archbishop Arthur Roche, walks
Vatican Radio through the Holy Week liturgies, explaining their significance, symbolism
and place within the history of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection.
He
begins with the Chrism Mass, the first of the liturgies Holy Thursday morning, that
leads us towards the Holy Triduum. Listen:
“On the first Holy Thursday when Our Lord in the Upper Room, celebrated the Eucharist
with his disciples…he ordained his first bishops, his first priests. On that day
every year, in every diocese throughout the world, the bishop together with his priest
gather together to celebrate Mass together. It’s called ‘the Great Concelebration’.
It’s a very unique event, in the life of the Church because the priests renew their
promises to serve the Lord, in the various ministries that they have been given.
But they also promise to serve the Lord through the conversion of their own lives
constantly turning towards Him, the source of all life”.
“On this same occasion
the Chrism Mass – chrism is the same word as Christ, Jesus is called Christ because
he is the Anointed One of God – the oils which are used for the celebration of the
Sacraments are blessed and consecrated. The Oil for the Sick… and the Oil of Catechumens…and
the Oil of Chrism is consecrated. Through that oil of Chrism those who are being ordained
bishops or priests will have that oil put either on their head …or hands to show that
they are being set apart in a very special way to minister to the people of God.
They are the ones to bring Christ to the people whom they have been sent to serve”.