Priests from across Archdiocese of Detroit gather at cathedral to receive sacred oils to use in baptisms, confirmations, anointings
DETROIT — In the hours before the beginning of the Easter Triduum, Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger celebrated the Chrism Mass on Thursday morning, April 17, during which he consecrated the sacred chrism and other holy oils for distribution across the Archdiocese of Detroit.
In the year to come, parishes will use the sacred oils in baptisms, confirmations, ordinations and blessings of churches and altars across southeast Michigan.
The aromatic oil, the scent of which sweetly lingers in the air and on the foreheads of those baptized and confirmed, is more infused with the Holy Spirit than it is with perfume, Archbishop Weisenburger said in his homily.
“We ordained ministers do our part — we prayerfully, devotedly say the words — we call down the Holy Spirit (and) through human touch, the oil is applied,” Archbishop Weisenburger explained. “But it seems we are not really in charge.”
Scripture and Church history reveal that one cannot control where the chrism ends up, just as one can’t control all things with God, Archbishop Weisenburger told the hundreds of priests in attendance at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
“And so, Fathers or your representatives, as you carry these blessed and consecrated oils back to your parishes and you lock them into those safe little repositories, don’t think for a moment they are really safe — like all things of the Spirit, they will take those they touch wherever the Spirit wills,” Archbishop Weisenburger said.
Being anointed is not a one-time act, Archbishop Weisenburger added; it is to be called or commissioned, and one can see this in examples throughout holy Scripture.
“We see it in those priests, prophets and kings as they are anointed; Moses (is) anointed high priest for the faithful, (and) boom, he is offering priestly sacrifice; David, the boy king, the inexperienced, he is anointed, and boom, he is off leading the troops,” Archbishop Weisenburger said.
The archbishop invited all the faithful to call to mind the anointing they received at baptism and the commissioning it entails.
“Let us be recommitted to living our baptismal call,” Archbishop Weisenburger said. “For I believe that in the end, if each of us truly lives our anointing, then the remnants of our baptism or our ordination will be perceived far less in the gentle scent of perfume that lingers, and witnessed far more powerfully in the pouring out of our lives in a true imitation of Christ.”
