Chrism Mass to be Celebrated on 7th April
The Church in Goa will celebrate the anticipated Chrism Mass on April 7th at the Se Cathedral, Old Goa. This Mass is celebrated on a Thursday preceding Holy Thursday.The liturgy of the Holy Thursday allows a special Mass of the Chrism in the morning, reinstituted by Pope Pius XII, besides the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. However due to various practical pastoral reasons the Church celebrates this mass on a Thursday closest to Maundy Thursday, thus placing the celebration as close as possible to Easter, as per the requirement.
The main objective of Chrism Mass is to express more clearly the presbyterial communion of the priests with their Bishop.
During this mass the Bishop also blesses the Oil of the Catechumens (Oleum Catechumenorum) and the Oil of the Sick (Oleum Infirmorum), and consecrates the Holy Chrism (Sacrum Chrisma).
In the course of the celebration the Bishop reminds the priests to be faithful to the munus conferred on them on the day of their ordination, and invites them to renew their priestly promises publicly.
The Bishop also appeals to the people to pray not only for their priests but also for himself in the faithful discharge of the apostolic office entrusted to him, as a Good Shepherd, a Teacher and a Servant of all.
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