Bishop Wester invites all to the Chrism Mass

I invite all in the Diocese of Salt Lake City to celebrate the Chrism Mass with me on Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. This Mass is one of the most beautiful celebrations in the year of grace and I encourage you to attend. It is a Mass that underscores the unity of our local Church.

Because the bishop is the only one who can bless the sacred oils, the Chrism Mass underscores the ministry of the bishop and his service to the people of God through the oils to be used in the celebration of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and the Sacrament of the Sick. Clearly, one of the main characteristics of this ministry is unity. The bishop symbolizes Christ who gathers the people together into one fold, one Church, one community of believers. Because the bishop blesses the holy oils that will be used throughout the diocese in the coming year, each celebration of those sacraments is united to the bishop and is a reminder of the bond he has with all the faithful throughout the diocese as he is symbolically present through the ministry of the priests and deacons.

Another great theme in the Chrism Mass is that of the Priesthood. Because the priests of the diocese, who share in an intimate and sacramental way in the ministry of the bishop, are the ones who will be using the blessed oils throughout the diocese, the Church invites them to renew their union with their bishop and to renew their priestly promises to remain united to Christ and his people, whom they are ordained to serve. The Chrism Mass gives the people of God a wonderful opportunity to witness the renewal of these promises and to deepen in their appreciation for the priests who have dedicated their entire lives to them. It also offers the faithful a chance to pray for their priests and to show their encouragement and love.

In our diocese we also include a chance for the deacons, religious and lay leaders to renew their commitment of service to the Church. In this way, the theme of unity is completed and all of God’s people, gathered with their bishop and priests, around the one altar, renew their commitment to serve the community. They also give thanks to God for his many gifts, so beautifully symbolized in the oil of the catechumens, the oil of the sick and the sacred chrism, representing those who will be initiated into the Church through Baptism and Confirmation, those who are anointed in their time of sickness and those who will be ordained. As Father Paul Turner, a sacramental theologian, has stated, "The Mass of Chrism gathers the faithful of the diocese at their mother church with their shepherd to prepare for celebrations of Christ in all our churches throughout the year."

Please make every effort to attend this beautiful and grace-filled liturgy this year. I hope to see you on Thursday, April 10, at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.