By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
ROCKFORD—Bishop David Malloy called it a “sacred task” for the lay men and women who were to receive the sacred oils blessed during the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday morning, April 2, for use this coming year.
Those included the oil of the sick to bring “grace and consolation” to “so many with various illnesses,” he said, noting the oil of catechumens “is to give wisdom and strength to those preparing for baptism.”
Finally, “those who are anointed with (the sacred chrism) will become before God priest and kings, prophets and martyrs (and) make of those who receive the Holy Spirit, temples of God’s glory, in baptism, confirmation and priestly and episcopal ordination,” he said.
Before that blessing of oils, the priests of the diocese who were present renewed their priestly vows, and all were encouraged by Bishop Malloy “to pray joyfully for their priests … You must know that your prayers for us priests on this day are both powerful and welcome.”
He quoted Pope Leo to encourage the priests, in spite of daily challenges of their service, “to know and love the Master, to dedicate ourselves daily in prayer and sacrifice, and to love the Church, the faith and the faithful that Jesus has entrusted to us.”
He encouraged them to find the joy in their parish work, to work together in communion with their fellow priests in priestly unity, and place special emphasis “on what (Pope Leo) calls ‘proximity to the young’” by reaching out and fostering in them a love for and a confidence in the Church and
her teaching.
“We seek to follow Pope Leo’s reminder to know the gift we have received. Through all our challenges, we seek once more to rekindle that gift.”
Recipients of the boxes of oils included every parish and a handful of other Catholic entities including, for the first time, OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center in Dixon.
