Bishop Duca Blesses Holy Oils During Chrism Mass

The sacred oils that church parishes, Catholic schools and institutions in the Diocese of Baton Rouge will use for the next year in their mission of anointing, healing and comforting the sick and dying were blessed by Bishop Michael G. Duca at the Chrism Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge on April 12.    

The Chrism Mass was celebrated prior to the Holy Triduum, the most solemn time of the liturgical year focusing on Christ’s Passion and death. 

The congregation enthusiastically joined the St. Joseph Cathedral choir in singing the opening hymn “Ode to Joy” during the processional, which included priests and deacons from throughout the diocese.

“Today as we bless these oils it is one of the most powerful moments in which we see the church renewed each year,” said Bishop Duca in his homily. “We bless fresh oils and in these oils is the fundamental mission of the church.”

“If you think about it the two oils we use for baptism, the oil of catechumen and chrism, establish the primary call of every Christian to be a disciple of Jesus Christ,” said the bishop.

He noted how pure olive oil is used to anoint babies at baptism to protect them from evil spirits and for catechumens entering the church for strength for their journey to fully embrace the Catholic faith. In confirmation, the oils seal the recipient with the Holy Spirit in recognition of Christ as priest, prophet and king. 

Priests are anointed with chrism when receiving the sacrament of Holy Orders. As specially ordained ministers of God they are “altar Christus” or “another Christ” in administering the sacraments and serving the community, Bishop Duca said.

The priests are given the oils to anoint the sick and comfort the dying as they prepare for their journey from this life to the next and to strengthen people and “to cover us” in times of trial against special temptations that come when we are sick, or in distress, according to the bishop.

“It’s the oil of the sick that gives us the blessing of the church and that anointing of Christ that we might be comforted with strength and special graces in those times of trial,” he said.

Bishop Duca told the priests “The oils remind us that as priests we have been anointed. Our hands have been anointed, I myself have been anointed on my head as bishop. And we have been given that ministry to carry out that anointing of Christ in the world.

“These oils mark the way in which you are especially called as priests as an anointing that brings out the holiness and goodness God placed in the world that is often clouded in the darkness of sin.”

He commended the priests for their ministry, especially coming out of the challenges posed by COVID-19 during the past two years. He further noted that one of the graces of being a priest is to bring the oils of healings and sacraments, particularly the Eucharist to give people hope in moving on.

Bishop Duca urged the priests to strive for unity with himself as bishop, their fellow priests and the people.

“Let us pray these oils we bless today will continue to be an instrument of God’s grace in our lives so that we might be renewed each day in the Gospel and that we might trust in the Lord every day of our lives,” the bishop said.

Clergy members then renewed their commitment to the promises they made at their ordination. The assembly then recommitted their baptismal life to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

Shortly before the conclusion of the Mass, the oils were distributed to representatives of church parishes, Catholic schools and institutions to bring back to the places they represent to use at the places they represented.

As the bells peeled and the closing hymn “Lord You Gave the Great Commission” jubilantly resounded, attendees poured out of the cathedral and greeted their pastors and visited with each other.