Chrism Mass
For the very first time, I attended Chrism Mass, a mass that happens once a year during the Holy Week. My parish was chosen as the venue, so mum and I decided to go. It's celebrated by the archbishop with priests from his diocese as a sign of unity. During the Chrism Mass, the archbishop blessed three types of holy oils:
- Oleum sanctorum - Oil of Cathecumens - for the Sacrament of Baptism
- Oleum infirmorum - Oil of the Infirm - for the Anointing of the Sick
- Sacrum chrisma - Holy Chrism - for the Sacrament of Confirmation, consecration of churches and bishops, etc.
Three glass vessels were filled with olive oil, and placed on pedestals marked, OS, OI, and SC respectively. If you ever decide to become a Catholic, the OS and SC will be used to anoint you during the baptism and confirmation. The OI is used on the old and the infirm, usually done during hospital visits by the priest. Those three oils will be used by all the churches in the diocese. The blessing of the SC was a bit different compared to rest where Archbishop Julian Leow mixed balsam into the olive oil and later breathed on it. After the mass was ended, there was a short fellowship. Managed to get myself a pack of vegetarian rice for dinner.
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