(Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash)
MADISON — In a sign that Easter was only a few days away, St. Maria Goretti Church in Madison was filled with people the evening of April 15 for the annual Chrism Mass.
At this Mass, the bishop blessed the Sacred Oils, which are used in administration of sacraments in parishes throughout the diocese in the coming year. Priests of the Diocese of Madison also renewed their commitment to priestly service.
The Madison Diocesan Choir began the evening with a prelude, followed by the procession hymn with the antiphon “Lord you have given my heart greater joy than at a harvest of wheat, wine, and oil.”
The procession was led by the Knights and Ladies of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, along with the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard from Assembly 1200 Madison.
Mass servers — diocesan seminarians and Cathedral Parish servers — deacons of the diocese, along with concelebrating priests then processed in with Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison.
Bishop Morlino welcomed everyone to the Chrism Mass and thanked them for “coming to pray hard.”
He also thanked his brother priests for being at the Mass, saying it’s “good for our people” to see so many of them from around the diocese.
‘Glad tidings’
Bishop Morlino began his homily with the words, “glad tidings,” then reflected on “the oil of gladness” and “a mantle of glory” as the gifts to those who have been baptized, confirmed, and “those of us who have been blessed to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders.”
“That oil of gladness with which we have been anointed and that mantle of glory, with which we have been cloaked, enable us to go out in service to all of our brothers and sisters through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist,” he said and adding all of those help to “squelch a listless spirit.”
The bishop addressed the priests of the diocese and said, “Today the Church often exhibits signs of a listless spirit, rather than joy. That’s why the work of evangelization is clearly placed in our hands today because the joy that we are blessed as priests to offer squelches the listless spirit. We are all about joy.”
He used the example of the Lord’s Prayer where to find that joy, quoting the line, “Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven.”
“In doing God’s will we find joy,” Bishop Morlino said. “The joy is to be found when God’s will is done . . . and God’s will is made known to us through the Church, through our Holy Mother, through her doctrine, and through her discipline.”
“Let us pray that the listless spirit will be lifted from our shoulders,” the bishop added.
After Bishop Morlino’s homily, the priests of the Diocese of Madison stood up and renewed their commitment to priestly service.
They committed to renew the promises they made at their ordinations, to be more united with the Lord Jesus, and to not seek gain, but be moved only by zeal for souls.
Blessing the oils
Following the commitment, the oils were brought up to the altar. Deacons Dick Martin and Jerome Buhman from St. Maria Goretti Parish, along with transitional Deacons Scott Jablonski and James Leeser, placed the oils before the bishop. Deacons Jablonski and Leeser will be ordained to the priesthood later this year.
Mixing a perfume with the oil, Bishop Morlino blessed the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of the Catechumens and consecrated the Sacred Chrism.
Before consecrating the Eucharist, Bishop Morlino incensed the altar. Then, the priests of the diocese all stood up during the Eucharistic Prayer and prayed with the bishop.
After Communion, each parish was called forth by its vicariate to receive the oils, which were blessed and consecrated. They were used at each parish during the Easter Triduum and will be used throughout the year.
The pastor from each parish, along with a representative of the parish community, came forward as each vicariate was called.
Following the Mass, a reception was held in the parish hall. There, many parishioners visited with priests and got a chance to catch up with some priests who had previously served at their parishes.