Chrism oil blessing turns ordinary into extraordinary

St. Joseph Cathedral filled with priests and catechumens and elect and deacons and religious sisters and others who wanted to witness and participate in the blessing of the sacred oils that will be used for healing, baptism and consecration. The annual Chrism Mass on April 15, brought a sense of unity and renewal for the Diocese of Buffalo.

The Lenten tradition sees the bishop blessing the oils of the sick and catechumen, and consecrating the chrism oil to be used throughout the diocese over the next year. It is also a day where priests renew their commitment to the work of the Church and healing in this Year of Hope.

In his homily, Bishop Michael W. Fisher said the annual Chrism Mass was one of his favorite celebrations of the year.

“It gives us an opportunity to come together to reflect on our ministry and what is central to what we are celebrating this particular week,” he said.

Bishop Fisher shared that his doctor often tells him to follow a Mediterranean diet.

“Do you know how hard it is to follow a Mediterranean diet in the Diocese of Buffalo?” he asked. “All of the wonderful food that we have and that we’re so proud of.”

Mediterranean diets involve a lot of olive oil, as do the holy oils. 

“The olive, we might say, is a marvelous thing given the many uses it is given. It could hardly be more common. It’s in every kitchen and just about every table, isn’t it?

“So, the oil we bless this evening is nothing if not ordinary. It’s precious. Yet, once we bless it in the name of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, this oil becomes something that is not magical, but something that is extraordinary. It becomes the oil of the sacraments, again those unique moments of that saving encounter between God and us in Christ. That’s what a sacrament is, isn’t it? That personal encounter that each one of us has with Christ. Every sacrament is an encounter with our living Lord.”

The bishop said we too are ordinary, created by God, but of the earth.

“Yet, once the spirit is breathed into us and we are incorporated into that body of Christ, the Anointed One. We too, like the blessed oil, become extraordinary. Like the oil, not because of anything we have done, but because of what God has done for us.”

As the bishop did for the oil, God separates us from the earth and uses us for His own purposes.

The priests who had gathered, wearing white robes, filling every seat to the left and right of the main pews, renewed their priestly promise, resolving to be more united with the Lord and to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God in the Holy Eucharist.

Deacon Michael Katilus was one of six deacons who carried the three heavy copper vats of oil to the altar for the bishop to bless. Ordained just under a year, he assisted in something that will touch every parish across the diocese.

“I’m so touched and blessed,” he said after Mass. “I can’t believe that eight or nine months since ordination I have this incredible honor to be up here with all these holy men in front of this congregation. I just feel so blessed.”

Also assisting was Greg James, sacristan at St. Gregory the Great Parish in Williamsville and Eucharistic Pilgrim, was one of six altar servers.

“It was awesome. This was my first time at the Chrism Mass,” he said. “It was beautiful to be there serving in the cathedral. This was my first time serving in the cathedral as well. Then also being in the midst of the holy men who have been called to the priesthood and are living out that vocation as they renew their promises. It’s a very powerful moment to witness, to see that powerful vocation as they commit to that.”

Following the Mass each of the priests collected bottles of the oils to bring back to their parishes.

The St. Joseph Cathedral Choir, the Cathedral Brass, and the Blessed Trinity Choir performed at the Mass.