What is Mass of the Oils about?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roseeurekacross
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The oils that are used throughout the year for Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, etc. are blessed in a beautiful Mass and ceremony.

It is called the “Chrism Mass”.

I first went about twelve years ago, and have been going ever since. So beautiful and inspiring!
 
It is a beautiful Mass. I’ve only been able to attend a few times as our diocese is huge (1/2 the size of Texas) and there is no way to get to the Cathedral and back in a day. It’s a 602 mile drive (including at least 150 miles of dirt road) + a 1 hour 45 minute ferry from my home to the Cathedral. For some priests it’s even further, at least 300 miles further.

In order to accommodate all the priests our Bishop celebrates the Chrism Mass about 2 weeks before Easter and builds a retreat/study days into the days before.
 
Phemie said:
It is a beautiful Mass. I’ve only been able to attend a few times as our diocese is huge (1/2 the size of Texas) and there is no way to get to the Cathedral and back in a day. It’s a 602 mile drive (including at least 150 miles of dirt road) + a 1 hour 45 minute ferry from my home to the Cathedral. For some priests it’s even further, at least 300 miles further.

In order to accommodate all the priests our Bishop celebrates the Chrism Mass about 2 weeks before Easter and builds a retreat/study days into the days before.
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Yes, our diocese is large in area also (although not nearly the size of yours), and the Bishop changed the day of the Mass to Tuesday of Holy Week from Holy Thursday because it was too difficult for priests to drive to the cathedral and be back in time for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Sometimes adjustments have to be made.
 
Here its called the Chrism Mass…big deal, bless the oils for every church in the diocese.
 
Wow, Phemie, that’s huge :eek:

The Chrism Mass in my archdiocese always takes place on Tuesday of Holy Week, in the evening. I don’t know why. But it is a beautiful Mass, and I encourage everyone to attend it at least once in their lives. Many people who took my advice ended up making it a habit to attend each year thereafter 😉 I have only missed one Chrism Mass since my first attendance. (To be fair, I live ten minutes from the cathedral by car.)
 
Thanks for answering. Phemie I can only imagine how beautiful Canada is.

Our Mass of the Oils is tonight. The Diocese has been hit by wild weather, with more on the way, I am definately going to put sails on the car and try to get to the Mass now. 😇

Have a fruitful Holy Week.
 
Roseeurekacross said:
Thanks for answering. Phemie I can only imagine how beautiful Canada is.

Our Mass of the Oils is tonight. The Diocese has been hit by wild weather, with more on the way, I am definately going to put sails on the car and try to get to the Mass now. 😇

Have a fruitful Holy Week.
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I like to attend the Chrism Mass/Mass of the Oils, yet in my Diocese, it takes place on Holy Thursday Morning every year. And it is quite early (6AM) so I will have to wake up earlier than usual. I would prefer attending the Evening Mass later that day.

I guess I will watch their Chrism Mass live coverage in the Cathedral’s Facebook Page.
 
GoGoDiego said:
I like to attend the Chrism Mass/Mass of the Oils, yet in my Diocese, it takes place on Holy Thursday Morning every year. And it is quite early (6AM) so I will have to wake up earlier than usual. I would prefer attending the Evening Mass later that day.

I guess I will watch their Chrism Mass live coverage in the Cathedral’s Facebook Page.
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If I could I would attend both. Two different focuses (foci?).

Unfortunately, in all my 63 years, only twice did I ever live close enough to the Cathedral to allow this and that only for a total of 3 years. I was in my early 20s and strictly a “meet your Sunday obligation” Catholic. I didn’t even know about the Chrism Mass.
 
Phemie said:
If I could I would attend both. Two different focuses (foci?).

Unfortunately, in all my 63 years, only twice did I ever live close enough to the Cathedral to allow this and that only for a total of 3 years. I was in my early 20s and strictly a “meet your Sunday obligation” Catholic. I didn’t even know about the Chrism Mass.
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Yet sadly the Cathedral is quite a distance from the house. It would take a 2 hour drive or a 2 hour and a half bus ride (with stops) to go to the Cathedral.
 
Daughter and I are attending our first Chrism Mass tomorrow night! So excited, those oils will be the same to confirm / baptise us at the weekend too!

Like others have said, I’ve been told it’s a beautiful servi and well worth the journey. Thankfully, we’re only about 30 miles away from the cathedral so not as far a trek as some people!
 
I have the notion in my head (but cannot lay hands on a definitive documentation) that it is most proper for the laity to transport the newly blessed oils from the Chrism Mass to their parishes? (Though of course clergy may do so when necessary, as I expect might be the case in such diocese as those mentioned above, where distance/time/expense of travel may be involved)

In any case, I know it is late to this party, but anyone going to a Chrism Mass may want to let their pastor know, in case such service is needed?

(I do not know, however, if it is proper for a candidate/catechumen such as [user]Kirst[/user] to do so? But don’t let that stop you going! (I did take my son to the Chrism Mass the year he was to be Confirmed – He thought it was very cool))

I have been the oil porter for my parish for a few years, but am happy someone else has volunteered to do so this year, freeing me up to participate with the KofC Color Corps :tiphat:

tee
 
tee_eff_em said:
I have the notion in my head (but cannot lay hands on a definitive documentation) that it is most proper for the laity to transport the newly blessed oils from the Chrism Mass to their parishes? (Though of course clergy may do so when necessary, as I expect might be the case in such diocese as those mentioned above, where distance/time/expense of travel may be involved)

In any case, I know it is late to this party, but anyone going to a Chrism Mass may want to let their pastor know, in case such service is needed?

(I do not know, however, if it is proper for a candidate/catechumen such as [user]Kirst[/user] to do so? But don’t let that stop you going! (I did take my son to the Chrism Mass the year he was to be Confirmed – He thought it was very cool))

I have been the oil porter for my parish for a few years, but am happy someone else has volunteered to do so this year, freeing me up to participate with the KofC Color Corps :tiphat:

tee
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It’s my understanding that the Oils are supposed to be received by the priest, from his Bishop. That’s not to say that it doesn’t get done otherwise, you know, innovation.

I’ve been the “official” recipient of the Oils twice before and flew home with them. Once I was simply given custody of the Oils to take home for 4 parishes after the Bishop noticed me at Communion and invited me to do so in the announcements at the end of Mass. Those were times when our Pastor, for whatever reason, had opted to skip the Chrism Mass and I was the only person there from our parish.

The Roman Missal allows for a ritual reception of the Oils into the parish either before the Mass of the Lord’s Supper or at another appropriate time.
 
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