By Catholic San Francisco
Priests from across the Archdiocese of San Francisco gathered with Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone at the Cathedral is St. Mary of the Assumption on March 26 for the annual Chrism Mass.
During the Mass, Archbishop Cordileone blessed the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens, and consecrated the sacred Chrism Oil—oils that will be used throughout the coming year in baptisms, confirmations, ordinations, and the anointing of the sick across the archdiocese.
The Chrism Mass also included the renewal of priestly promises, as priests recommitted themselves to their ministry in service of Christ and His Church.
The liturgy traditionally draws clergy and faithful from across the archdiocese and serves as a visible sign of unity each year.
In his homily, Archbishop Cordileone reflected on the meaning of the sacred oils and the priesthood as signs of Christ’s healing and sanctifying presence in the world.
Speaking of the spiritual fatherhood of priests, the archbishop said, “Priests have the awesome and irreplaceable call from God to enter into that secret inner room [of the heart] to be present with God’s people in their joys and sorrows, to celebrate new life and welcome that life into the communion of the Church, to prepare souls to meet their Creator at the end of their earthly pilgrimage and to send them off with prayers and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass once they pass.”
The oils blessed at the Chrism Mass extend the sacramental life of the Church to God’s people through the ministry of the priests.
“The ministry of priests will sacralize these oils to bring about a friendship with God that He makes possible by the reconciling death and resurrection of His Son, something that we could not do on our own,” said Archbishop Cordileone.
The oils were distributed to the priests after Mass and taken back to parishes for sacramental use.
Photos: John Bartolome
