May 2011 - Archdiocese of Glasgow

FLOURISH • MAY 2011
NEWS 5
Carrying the sacred oils
Pictures by Paul McSherry
Archbishop Conti is joined by
over 100 priests around the altar
Chrism Mass
tribute to our
devoted priests
PRIESTS serving in areas
of multiple deprivation
within the Archdiocese of
Glasgow have been singled
out for thanks.
At the Chrism Mass in St
Andrew’s Cathedral, Archbishop
Mario Conti paid tribute
to those who chose to
serve and “who want to continue
to serve” in poorer
parishes.
He suggested the task of the
pastor in these areas was more
critical as “straying sheep tend
to be more plentiful”.
The Archbishop also commended
those priests who
“seek every opportunity” to
engage with ministers from
other Christian communities
in promoting the unity of the
Church.
Over 100 priests were present
at the Mass on the morning
of Holy Thursday as they
renewed their ‘yes’ to God’s
call and commitment to his
service.
In his homily, Archbishop
Conti reflected on priestly formation,
focussing in on the
call to holiness.
He described holiness as
“fulfilling what in each particular
vocation is required of us
for integrity of life and the unlimited
love of God and neighbour”.
By Vincent Toal
Outlining a series of virtues
required of priests - goodness
of heart, sincerity, strength
and constancy of character,
zealous pursuit of justice and
civility - he stated that these
were “greatly manifested”
among the priests of Glasgow.
And, with a final word of
encouragement, the Archbishop
stressed: “I am full of
confidence for the wellbeing
of the Church over which the
Lord in these years has placed
me, his unworthy servant.”
The Chrism Mass is also the
liturgy where the holy oils
used in the Sacraments are
blessed - the oils for anointing
catechumens and for anointing
the sick, and the chrism used
in confirmation and ordination.
The oils were carried
through the cathedral and presented
to Archbishop Conti by
young people, carers of the
sick and deacons.
Around the same time as the
Mass in St Andrew’s Cathedral,
Pope Benedict was celebrating
the Mass of Chrism for
the Diocese of Rome at the
Basilica of St John Lateran.
In the oil of catechumens,
which is used before baptism,
is indicated “a first way of
being touched by Christ”, the
Pope said. It reflects humanity’s
restless search for God
who anoints us with his generous
love.
“Let us remain constantly
on a journey towards him,
longing for him, always open
to receive new knowledge and
love,” Benedict encouraged
The oil for anointing the
sick underlines the Church’s
mission to bring healing to
broken hearts.
“Since apostolic times, the
healing vocation has matured
in the Church, and so too has
loving solicitude for those who
are distressed in body and
soul,” Pope Benedict said.
And he thanked those sisters
and brothers who place themselves
alongside the suffering,
and bring healing and love to
the sick.
Chrism is a mixture of olive
oil and aromatic oils which is
used in confirmation and ordination.
It symbolises the call
of God’s people to be witnesses
to his presence in the
world.
In this regard, Pope Benedict
posed a series of pointed
questions: “Do we open up the
pathway to God for others or
do we conceal it Have not we
- the people of God - become
to a large extent people of unbelief
and distance from God
“Is it perhaps the case that
the West, the heartlands of
Christianity, are tired of their
faith, bored by their history
and culture, and no longer
wish to know faith in Jesus
Christ”
He urged: “We have reason
to cry out at this time to God:
‘Do not allow us to become a
‘non-people’! Make us recognise
you again!
“Grant that the power of
your Spirit may become newly
effective in us, that we may
bear joyful witness to your
message!”
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Empty places at table
In the Basilica of St. John
Lateran, Pope Benedict used
his homily at the Mass of the
Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday
to plead for Christian unity and
confessed that the faithful’s
prayer for his Petrine ministry
is essential in his life.
He alluded to the countries
of the West, saying that Jesus
“knows all about empty places
at table, invitations refused,
lack of interest in him and his
closeness.”
“For us,” he said, “the empty
places at the table of the Lord’s
wedding feast, whether
excusable or not, are no longer
a parable but a reality, in those
very countries to which he had
revealed his closeness in a
special way.”
The Pope spoke of Christ’s
prayer—repeated four times—
for unity. “How deeply it must
have concerned him!” he said.
“It remains his constant prayer
to the Father on our behalf.”
And the Pope reflected on
the Eucharist as the sacrament
of unity.
“The Eucharist is the
mystery of the profound
closeness and communion of
each individual with the Lord
and, at the same time, of
visible union between all,” he
said.
“The Eucharist is the
sacrament of unity. It reaches
the very mystery of the Trinity
and thus creates visible unity.
Let me say it again: it is an
extremely personal encounter
with the Lord and yet never
simply an act of individual
piety. Of necessity, we
celebrate it together.”
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