Five Things to Know about Archdiocese of Baltimore’s annual Chrism Mass

Five things to know about the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s annual Chrism Mass:

When and where will the Chrism Mass be held?

The Archdiocese of Baltimore’s 2024 Chrism Mass will be held Monday, March 25, 7:30 p.m., at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, 5200 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21210. The Mass will be livestreamed and recorded for the cathedral’s YouTube page – https://www.youtube.com/@cathedralofmary

Who will attend?

At last year’s event, more than 1,000 joined the celebration – including about 140 priests, 70 deacons and 60 seminarians and candidates for the permanent diaconate. Similar numbers are expected this year. In addition, a 30-member choir and instrumentalists will be on hand.

The Mass will be open for anyone to attend. While those coming into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil are invited, seats are not being reserved online as they were in the past. All the laity of the Archdiocese of Baltimore are encouraged to attend the Chrism Mass. 

Julie Grace Males, director of the Office of Divine Worship, Archdiocesan Music and Cathedral Music Ministries, said it’s a good idea for the general public to arrive early since seats are only being reserved for the clergy, religious community members and their immediate families.

“It’s first-come, first-served. We recommend that they arrive early to acquire a seat,” Males said, “The cathedral fills up quickly for this event.”

What happens at the Chrism Mass to make it a unique liturgy?

At the Mass, Archbishop William E. Lori blesses the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens, and consecrates the Holy Chrism, which are then used sacramentally the rest of the liturgical year.

In addition, the priests of the archdiocese renew their vows, pledging to unite with the Lord and more closely conform to him, as well as to be faithful stewards of the Eucharist and teaching the faith. 

Males said last year that her office poured 21 gallons of oil, separated it and labeled it for parishes to pick up after Mass.

“This Mass is only done once a year; so it’s a special event,” Males said. “It’s very exciting because virtually all of the priests of the archdiocese are there.”

What is the spiritual significance of the Chrism Mass?

In addition to most of the clergy in the archdiocese renewing their vows, the blessing of the oils connects the entire archdiocese. “The blessing connects the archbishop to every sacrament in the archdiocese,” Males said.

In his 2022 chrism Mass homily, Archbishop Lori offered the following reflection: “The blessing of the holy oils reminds us that when they are used to baptize us, or confirm us, or ordain us as priests, the Holy Spirit consecrates us, makes us sharers, in the life and mission of Jesus Christ. Anointed by the Holy Spirit, we are united with one another in Christ Jesus, ‘…who (as Scripture says) loves us, and has freed us from our sins by his Blood, who has made us into a Kingdom, priests for his God and Father.’ This does not merely mean that we are members of a kingdom ruled by Christ, but rather, that the whole People of God shares a royal priesthood – a priesthood they exercise in various ways by partaking of Christ’s own self-giving love. By prayer and immersion into the church’s sacramental life, we tap into a hidden source of strength, namely, the Christ who lives in us and ardently desires to speak and act through us. The blessing of the holy oils teaches us that we dare not go it alone, lest busyness, burnout, and even serious illness overtake us. Rather, through the anointing of the Spirit, we are incorporated into Christ and into his Body, the church. The Spirit enables, strengthens, and encourages us to offer ourselves to others, together with Christ, indeed, ‘through him, with him, and in him.’ Through daily prayer, we need to re-discover the source of our joy and strength. As St. Paul says, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’”

What are the highlights of the rest of Holy Week?
The chrism Mass is one of the highlights of the most sacred and solemn week of the church calendar. Chrism Masses often are held on Holy Thursday morning, but the archdiocese shifted its celebration to Mondays several years ago for pastoral reasons. 

Holy Week opens with Palm Sunday Mass, and the reading of Christ’s Passion during the Gospel (March 24). The week also includes Holy Thursday (March 28), the first day of Easter Triduum that commemorates the Last Supper; Good Friday (March 29) with many parish’s hosting Veneration of the Cross and Stations of the Cross; Holy Saturday (March 30) with the celebration of the Easter Vigil; and concluding with Easter Sunday (March 31) and the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord. In addition to those staples, many parishes offer penance services on Tuesday (March 26). 

For Holy Week services, worshipers should visit their individual parish’s website for Holy Week Mass times and other events. A full list of Easter Mass times throughout the archdiocese will be available at archbalt.org as well as a link to a livestream of Easter Mass at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org

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