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| November 21, 2008 |
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Chrism Mass ‘stokes fires’ of priestly zealAnnual liturgy brings more than 200 priests, nearly 600 schoolchildren to St. Mary Cathedral. 
Jesuit Father John Handrahan receives a token of appreciation from Archbishop John C. Favalora. MIAMI | Hoping to “stoke the fires” of priestly zeal, Archbishop John C. Favalora turned his homily during the annual chrism Mass into a purposeful jog down memory lane — a jog that served at the same time as a lesson for schoolchildren regarding the various symbols and rituals that mark the ceremony of ordination. “We were so full of zeal and wonderment and love or the Lord. We would at that moment go to the gallows on behalf of him and the church,” the archbishop told more than 200 archdiocesan priests gathered at St. Mary Cathedral March 18, the Tuesday of Holy Week. Joining the priests — and filling the cathedral — were deacons, religious, laity and nearly 600 schoolchildren from 13 archdiocesan elementary schools and four high schools. The children’s presence at the chrism Mass is a tradition begun by Archbishop Favalora. In his homily, he reminded the priests of the moment during the ordination ceremony when they lay prostrate on the cathedral floor as the congregation prays the litany of the saints. “We are imploring the whole world, the heavens and all that is on earth, to make us what the church wants us to be,” the archbishop said. “Today is an opportunity for us to pray fervently and imagine ourselves again on this sanctuary, and ask the Lord to once again fill us with that same kind of love, so that we may radiate Christ with all, or what little, of the energy we have left.” He reminded his fellow priests of the four promises they made during ordination: to work collaboratively with the bishop to celebrate the sacraments; to preach the Gospel and teach the faith as the church teaches it; to consecrate themselves to God and make themselves into “another Christ”; and to obey the bishop and his successors. “We look very foolish in doing that. Only later do we come to realize what that promise (of obedience) really entails. All of us have to struggle with that,” the archbishop said, noting that of his 47 years as a priest, “I found obedience less difficult than these past 23 years as a bishop having to exact obedience from priests.” He urged archdiocesan priests to remember that “none of us possess the priesthood. The church possesses the priesthood.” Neither do priests possess the sacraments. Nor do they possess the Gospel. “We don’t preach ourselves. We do not preach our own opinions. Our people need to know what the church and the Gospel preaches, not what we think or how we feel. That has nothing to do with their salvation,” Archbishop Favalora said. Referring to the oil of chrism, which is consecrated during the annual Mass, he noted how their hands were anointed with that oil at ordination. “Those simple hands and our person are used to bring our God onto the altar,” Archbishop Favalora said. “We can forget what a beautiful moment that was not only for us, but it was also a moment of beauty for the church, a grace-filled moment,” he continued. “At moments like this, it’s important to remember that we resolved certain things and we need to be faithful to that,” despite the crosses and distractions and sufferings of daily life. “The salvation of the world is mediated through our priesthood,” Archbishop Favalora said. “There is no more important thing we can do.” About the Chrism Mass• The Chrism Mass is the annual celebration of the priesthood, where priests renew their vows and those marking anniversaries of ordination are honored. • Meant to be celebrated on Holy Thursday morning, dioceses are permitted to celebrate it on Tuesday of Holy Week for pastoral reasons, mainly so that priests will not be absent from their parishes on Holy Thursday. • The Mass takes its name from chrism, one of three holy oils consecrated or blessed by the local bishop during this ceremony. The oils are then distributed to the parishes, where they will be used throughout the year to administer the sacraments. • The oil of chrism is used in baptism, confirmation, ordination of priests and bishops, as well as in the consecration of churches; chrism is olive oil perfumed with balsam. • The oil of catechumens is used for baptisms. • The oil of the sick is used in the anointing of the sick.
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