Archbishop Lori invoked challenges, joys as chrism Mass celebrates renewal of priesthood and blessing of oils

With grand swells from the organ, the choir and congregation sang “We Glory in the Cross of Christ” and “To Jesus Christ Our Sovereign King,” as the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s 2024 chrism Mass began with a procession of seminarians, deacon candidates, deacons, priests and bishops.

Archbishop William E. Lori breathes over chrism as he calls down the Holy Spirit and consecrates the oil during the March 25, 2024, chrism Mass at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

The March 25 liturgy at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland marked Monday of Holy Week with the traditional Mass in which the sacramental oils are blessed for use all around the archdiocese for the following year. The priests of the archdiocese also renewed their priestly promises, uniting with Archbishop William E. Lori in ministry to the people of God.

The Mass, which was livestreamed, included readings and songs in Spanish and English, and was interpreted in American Sign Language.

The cathedral was filled nearly to capacity, with more than 1,200 attending. Cardinal Edwin F. O’Brien, archbishop emeritus of Baltimore and retired grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher, was also present in the sanctuary, on the 28th anniversary of his ordination as a bishop.

In many dioceses, the chrism Mass is held on the morning of Holy Thursday, the anniversary of the establishment of the Eucharist and the priesthood. But in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, due to the distances involved, the Mass is held on Monday so that priests and deacons can be at their parishes on Holy Thursday to celebrate the Liturgy of the Lord’s Supper. All are invited from around the archdiocese to join the chrism Mass, especially those who will receive the sacraments of initiation – baptism, first Communion and confirmation – in their own parishes at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.

Among them were twins Camila and Mia Soto, 14, who will receive first Communion and confirmation Saturday.

Father Jesse Bolger, top row, center, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fullerton, and fellow priests, bless the oils and chrism during the March 25, 2024, chrism Mass at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Their mother, Ana Soto, brought her daughters – Camila, Mia and 7-year-old Alexandra – to the chrism Mass from St. Joseph Parish in Hagerstown, which brought a group to the cathedral. “I wanted to come and see the beautiful church,” she said in Spanish, with Camila translating. Ana wanted her children to learn more about their religion, especially because her twins would be receiving the sacraments this week.

During the Mass, Archbishop Lori blessed the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens, and consecrated the Holy Chrism, a ritual that unites the church because parishes, schools and chaplaincies use oils throughout the year that have all been blessed during the cathedral liturgy.

After the homily and the renewal of the priests’ promises, deacons brought forward large jars of the oils to be prepared, plus balsam which would be added to the chrism.

The archbishop first prayed over and blessed the Oil of the Sick, and then the Oil of Catechumens. Putting on his miter, he then added the balsam to the vessel containing the chrism and stirred it. In the quiet cathedral, you could hear the archbishop’s breath as he blew over the vessel in the shape of a cross, calling on the Holy Spirit to sanctify the chrism. Only a diocesan bishop can consecrate chrism.

He then extended his hands over the vessel, as the priests in the congregation extended their hands at the same time. He invoked the prayer of consecration over the chrism, which will be used for the ordination of priests and bishops, as well as for the sacraments of baptism and confirmation.

In his homily, Archbishop Lori noted that he could not have imagined when he was ordained the problems or challenges he would face as a bishop. He surmised that his brother priests would say the same.

“I can’t say that my fellow seminarians and I weren’t told that there would be challenges and difficult days in the priesthood,” he said.

“So often I think, isn’t it a good thing that the Lord allows us to experience life day by day or year by year rather than showing us everything all at once.”

The archbishop wondered whether the priests gathered had a similar experience. “Could you have foreseen the challenges and the pressures which you and your brother priests face on a daily basis? Let me mention two of them: the Seek the City (parish planning) process and the Chapter 11 reorganization of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, not to mention the daily cares and the daily anxieties of ministry and administration.”

Archbishop William E. Lori speaks directly to his fellow priests during his chrism Mass homily March 25, 2024, at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

He said that it is not that priests in general are unhappy or lacking hope or that the vocation they pursued is a mistake. “Far from it. Despite the challenges we face, we are a joyful bunch of people.”

He said that most every day, priests encounter consolations in prayer and in the people they are privileged to serve.

“If we continue to pray and are steadfast in our vocation, the Lord’s grace informs our day-to-day experience, imparting to us a wisdom and a strength we did not have at the outset,” Archbishop Lori said.

“Through our experience, including through misunderstandings and challenges, and yes, through our suffering, we will grow in the ways of his wisdom and love.”

The archbishop said any priest can think of a thousand interactions with those who are searching or alienated, and that is when the mission of Jesus comes alive as they share in his priesthood. This is a “mission that continues unabated,” he said.

“At the solemn blessing and consecration of the oils, let praise and thanksgiving fill our hearts. As we are renewed – not merely in the promises we made, but in the anointing we received to carry forward the mission of Jesus, whether in season or out of season – it is in the strength that comes from the anointing of the Spirit and from the Eucharist that we celebrate day by day that we find the strength for ministry and mission – at this time, in this place, under these circumstances,” Archbishop Lori said.

Tracie Le, a single mother who attends Mass weekly at the cathedral with her children – Renee Nickerson, 10, and Lance Nickerson, 6 – noted that she felt compelled to come to the Mass, because “I’m going through a difficult time, and I feel I need to go to church and pray.” She said she has never been to a Mass like this.

The deaf community prays and sings using sign language during chrism mass March 25, 2024, at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Young Renee said, “We’ve never been here when it’s dark. We always come in the morning.”

Rob and Kathleen Judge made the 90-minute trip from Hagerstown, where they are parishioners of St. Mary’s.

“We just wanted to be part of the celebration with other Catholics and the priests of the archdiocese” to mark Holy Week, which began with Palm Sunday the day before, Rob said. “It gives us a sense of the universal church.” Although they have been to the cathedral before, this was their first time at the chrism Mass.

After the recessional hymn, a festive and jovial atmosphere enveloped the plaza in front of the church, where clergy and laity greeted each other with smiles, hugs and handshakes in the cool air. Representatives also picked up the blessed oils to be taken back to their parish for use throughout the year.

Updated March 27, 8:30 a.m. to correct information on the uses for chrism and to correct typographical error in a name.

Email Christopher Gunty at editor@CatholicReview.org.

To view more photos from Chrism Mass, click through the slideshow below: