‘Jesus Christ is the One who loves us’

Every year just before Holy Week, the faithful of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston gather at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston for the celebration of the Chrism Mass — one of the most solemn and significant events of the liturgical year.

On April 15, at least 1,400 attended the Mass presided by Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez to witness when all of the oils used in sacramental ministry throughout the 10-county Galveston-Houston Archdiocese were blessed and the Sacred Chrism was consecrated by Archbishop Vásquez.

Hundreds of priests from the Archdiocese joined Archbishop Emeritus Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, in concelebrating the Mass. The priests also renewed their promises at this Mass. Nearly 50 gallons of oil were blessed with the consecrated Chrism.

After the Mass, the oils and Sacred Chrism were subsequently sent to the parishes to be used in the upcoming year for the celebration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and the Anointing of the Sick.

The Chrism Mass is an ancient celebration that traditionally takes place on Holy Thursday morning. But many dioceses, including Galveston-Houston, celebrate the Chrism Mass on Tuesday evening earlier in Holy Week so that more people can attend.

At Chrism Mass, prior to saying the Prayer of Consecration over the Sacred Chrism, Archbishop Vásquez breathes upon the vessel containing the oil and balsam. This action is a sign of the Holy Spirit during which the bishop recalls the Spirit of God “moving over the face of the waters” at creation and Jesus’ appearance to the disciples post-resurrection when He “breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (Jn 20:22).

In his first celebration of the Chrism Mass as Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, Archbishop Vásquez preached the homily in English and partly in Spanish and explained how deeply symbolic and important the Chrism Mass was to the sacramental and spiritual life of the Archdiocese.

“The Chrism Mass is a sign of our unity and communion with Christ,” he said. “Jesus Christ is the one who loves us.”

He emphasized that through Baptism, all members of the Church are anointed as priest, prophet and king, and are called to grow in holiness and live a life in Christ. 

“Each member of the Church has a special dignity given by Christ, and each member is anointed to grow in holiness and live a life in Christ,” he said. “Each one of us is to grow in likeness to Christ, and it’s by the spirit that we have received that we can do that.”
He reminded the congregation that “the anointing of the Holy Spirit we receive in the Sacraments is for mission.”
“The anointing makes us one with Christ, one with His body, the Church. The anointing we receive sends us forth to become bearers of good news. Christ proclaimed good news in the synagogue in Nazareth, so we too are to become proclaimers of God’s goodness,” he said. “We are to show His compassion for all, particularly the poor, the suffering, and the abandoned. All around us, brothers and sisters, many people struggle, many people suffer. It is up to us to reach out to them. Christ proclaimed good news. Let us also proclaim good news and do the works of Christ.”

A powerful moment during the Chrism Mass happens when the priests renew their priestly promises as their responses boom and echo throughout the walls of the co-cathedral.
Archbishop Vásquez recalled the Lenten Day of Prayer he spent with the priests of the Archdiocese.

In a heartfelt message to the priests of the Archdiocese, he also called on the priests to renew their priestly promises and to be rooted in the love of Christ, which will sustain them in their vocation.

“Dear sons, in this Jubilee year, renew your hope in Christ Jesus,” he told the priests. “No matter whether you have been ordained many years or less than one year, recall the day you heard the voice of the Lord asking you to be His priest. In His love and mercy, Christ called you. May you always rejoice in your priesthood. Remember, the calling you have received from Christ is a gift to you and to the Church. I am truly proud to serve as your bishop. Please continue to pray for me so that I may serve you well. Together, we shepherd and care for God’s people.”

Then, after the Mass, volunteers led by the Office of Worship and staff swiftly moved into action to distribute the newly consecrated oils to parishes, which were used at Easter Vigil later that week.