St Andrew’s Cathedral was packed for the Mass of Chrism on Holy Thursday, belying (as had the RCIA service at the beginning of Lenten) the pessimistic who see only apathy. People were there to support their Archbishop and their priests.
As they gathered, the St Mungo Singers and harpist Catherine Walker provided quietly meditative music. The service then began with the procession of clergy with their Archbishop into the Cathedral to the joyful Canticle from Colossians – Let’s give thanks to God our Father.
Every year this service reminds us of the joy of our faith, as we sing the Gloria for the first time since the beginning of Lent, listen to the voices of our priests renewing their commitment to their service to God’s people and hear the congregation present confirm in turn their commitment to pray for their priests and their Archbishop.
In his homily just before the priests renewed their promises of commitment, Archbishop Nolan reflected on his recent visit to the Holy Land with fellow bishops, when they had met with Christians in the village of Aboud which is closed off by Israeli control gates at each end. The visiting bishops could not do anything for them but they had been so happy that the bishops were visiting that they had procured flags of each country including Scotland. The people appreciated what he called this “ministry of presence”.
Addressing the priests present, he said that what he saw in his visits to parishes in the Archdiocese was this “ministry of presence” , of priests with their parishioners in the happy and the difficult times, carrying on the ministry of Jesus. As Emmanuel – God-with-us – he does not take away suffering or difficulties but is with us in them, and perhaps that is why so many people attend the Good Friday liturgies.
He told the priests present that they were the presence of Christ among people. He acknowledged that this could be a great challenge as people expected them to treat them as Christ would , and there would be days when this was difficult for them. So this ministry of presence was both a great privilege and a great challenge for priests as well as a great blessing for people and the Church.
After the renewal of promises, the blessing of the oils – the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens and the Oil of Chrism – followed as the choir sang Dr Noel Donnelly’s lovely Chrism Mass Song, asking the Lord to
Bless us with your oil of healing, bless us with your healing balm
Make us whole… in your Body, Lord.
The Mass ended with what has become a traditional hymn for this Mass and for many ordinations – Lord, you have come to the seashore.
