UPDATE HOLY THURSDAY 2013 : POPE FRANCIS CELEBRATES CHRISM MASS AS BISHOP OF ROME.............

At this hour in Vatican City Pope Francis is joined in the Concelebration of the Chrism Mass with Cardinals, Bishops, and Priests as the Bishop of Rome.  This annual Mass at which the Holy Oils of the Church are consecrated - Sacred Chrism for Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders; Oil of the Catechumens for Sacramental Christian Initiation; and the Oil of the Infirm for the Anointing of the Sick and Dying.  Traditionally celebrated on Holy Thursday morning throughout the World, for the past 40 years most dioceses have held the Chrism Mass on a day in the week before Holy Thursday, given the size of dioceses and the travel distances involved.  It is also the Mass each year where the Institution of the Priesthood is commemorated and when the Priests in each Diocese renew their Commitment to Service in the Ordained Priesthood of Jesus Christ.  Pope Francis in his Homily at the Chrism Mass for the Diocese of Rome spoke of how, "the sacred robes of the High Priest are rich in symbolism".  Given how the names of the Children and Twelve Tribes of Israel are embedded on the Ephod, the ancient forerunner of the priestly vestment, the Chasuble; so too do Catholic-Christian Priest "celebrates by carrying on his shoulders the people entrusted to his care and bearing their names written in his heart".   Pope Francis continued, "When we put on our simple chasuble, it might well make us feel, upon our shoulders and in our hearts, the burdens and the faces of our faithful people, our saints and martyrs of whom there are many in these times"...The Holy Father preached about good priests are recognized by how they have "anointed" the People of God, in their presiding and preaching with, "the oil of gladness", and the challenge we face as faithful priests to do exactly that.  The Roman Pontiff also focused on the need we have to, "go out then to experience our own anointing, its power, and redemptive efficacy : to the "outskirts", where there is suffering, bloodshed, blindness looking for sight, and prisoners in thrall to many evil masters".  Thus on this day commemorating the Ordained Priesthood of Jesus Christ, Pope Francis calls us to be Anointers of the Good News and to be Servants of the Anointed People of God throughout the Church in the World, by virtue of our mutual Baptism, a share in the Common Priesthood in Christ, as God's People.  Happy Holy Thursday.............Fr.  Troy