More than 130 concelebrating diocesan priests stretch out their
hands to participate in the blessing of the oils. (HENRIETTA GOMES
| CATHOLIC HERALD)
A long line of priests waited patiently, each with a small box in hand,
at the parish hall of the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington last
Thursday morning. The priests waited as three seminarians stationed in
front of three large vessels of oil, carefully filled the priests' empty
glass bottles with oils consecrated earlier that day by Arlington Bishop
Paul S. Loverde during a two-hour, standing-room-only Chrism Mass, concelebrated
by more than 130 diocesan priests.
The three oils: oil of the sick, oil of catechumens and sacred chrism, made of
olive oil, will be used throughout the year for administering the sacraments.
According to the tradition of the Church, along with the blessing of the oils,
the Chrism Mass manifests the communion of the priests with their bishop in the
same priesthood and ministry of Christ.
Referring to Pope Benedict XVI's second encyclical letter, “Spes Salvi,” “Saved
in Hope,” Bishop Loverde urged his brother priests to be "heralds
of hope." He said, "We must proclaim the Gospel of hope and be heralds
of that hope whose heart is Jesus Christ Himself.
"The Lord Jesus must be the source of our hope, and that hope must be rooted
in prayer. Only in prayer will you and I be strengthened and transformed by Christ,
our hope," he said.
It is only through prayer, Liturgy of the Hours, daily Holy Hour and daily celebration
of Mass, that their priestly service will be sustained and bear fruit, the bishop
said.
Through prayer, "we are purified of the obstacles that prevent us from drawing
closer to the Lord."
During the Mass, celebrated on Holy Thursday, the day Christ instituted the Eucharist
and holy orders, the priests renewed their commitment to their priestly service.
Addressing the hundreds of laity in the congregation, the bishop reminded them
that genuine hope is “anchored” in Christ. He urged them to read
the pope’s encyclical if they had not already. Being a people of hope he
said, dispels darkness and pessimism. In hope, he said, “let us keep our
eyes fixed on Jesus."
Henrietta Gomes can be reached at hgomes@catholicherald.com.
