Chrism Mass celebrated in empty cathedral

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press

    Bishop McManus called for renewed zeal at the Chrism Mass, which he celebrated Tuesday in an empty cathedral.
    The absence of the usual large numbers of priests and faithful, the simplified ritual, the bishop’s homily and prayers all pointed to the reason: coronavirus restrictions.    
    The Chrism Mass is an important liturgical moment in the diocese’s life, Bishop McManus told the few clergy, seminarians and lay helpers gathered with him and those watching on television or online. The Mass is where he blesses and consecrates oils used for sacraments, and where priests usually renew the promises they made at their ordination, and jubilarians celebrating significant anniversaries of their priestly ordination are recognized.
    The bishop expressed sorrow at the absence of priests, especially 21 jubilarians. Yet this year’s Mass, celebrated during the pandemic, is a poignant reminder that even in times of sickness and death Christ never abandons the Church, he said. The conquerer of all moral and physical evil, Christ exhorts, “Do not be afraid.”
    Through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, Christ remains with us, Bishop McManus said.
     He acknowledged that listeners have had to refrain from the celebration and reception of the sacraments, especially Communion. As difficult as this Lenten penance has been, he prays that “we have all come to a deeper awareness of how important the sacraments are in the life of our Catholic faith,” he said.
    “May we all pray and long for that day when we will once again be able to celebrate holy Mass publicly and to receive Holy Communion, the very Body and Blood of Christ, and receive it as if for the first time, with increased faith and deep devotion,” he said.
    The bishop noted that one of the oils he was about to bless was the oil of the sick, to be used in anointing. In this time of an unparalleled health crisis, the sacrament of the sick reminds us that, through this anointing, Christ’s grace comes to the sick, and those facing surgery or burdened by old age, to strengthen them spiritually and physically and bring the Holy Spirit’s consolation, he said.
    Bishop McManus implored priests, especially those designated as ministers to the sick, to celebrate the sacrament of the sick “in the face of such a hideous disease” with the same devotion and pastoral zeal as they did as young priests.
    During this prolonged period of isolation, economic loss, anxiety and uncertainty, the bishop urged listeners to echo with renewed faith the words of the Psalm from the day’s Mass: “For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.”
    Instead of the usual Chrism Mass procession, with oils carried up the center aisle by people about to receive sacraments, or by people preparing others to receive them, two deacons simply brought the urns to the bishop to bless or consecrate the oil.
    Deacons Francisco Escobar and Colin M. J. Novick, who serve at the cathedral, then took the oils to a side table and clothed each with a different color of cloth, as is usually done.
    Prayers of the faithful included one for deliverance from the present pandemic, that God might free people from fear and bring them back together in the heart of his Church. Bishop McManus closed with a prayer for a world fractured by fear and sickness, that God would “still our aching hearts and return us to peace of the children of God.”
    At the end of the Mass, viewers were invited to join in the diocese’s Prayer in Time of Pandemic.

To watch the Mass on the diocesan website go to: https://worcesterdiocese.org/holy-week-livestreams