Celebrating an April 11 Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C., Cardinal Wilton Gregory led priests in renewing their ordination promises and blessed sacramental oils that will be used in parishes throughout The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.

“These oils come from a tree that symbolizes peace and endurance,” Cardinal Gregory, referring to the olive oil that was blessed during the Mass. “May all of us see ourselves as genuine agents of peace and reconciliation.”

Noting that the blessed oils would be used “in the worship life of the Church” in the coming year, Cardinal Gregory said that “all the people who will receive the blessed oils and the clergy who will use these oils are invited to view them as sacred and summoned to live in peace as the branches of this blessed tree that provided the oil itself signifies.”

“The olive tree is a symbol of strength, of joy, of peace, and may the olive oil we bless bring that symbolism – that sacramental reality – to full harmony and harvest in the life of our Church,” the cardinal said.

The Mass – traditionally offered during Holy Week – commemorates the founding of the priesthood and the institution of the Eucharist. During the liturgy, the cardinal thanked his “servant minister” priests for “each and every day of your devoted pastoral care of God’s flock.”

Calling olive tree branches “an ancient symbol of harmony,” the cardinal prayed that priests would “extend the work of the olive tree through their lives.”

“As He began the last hours of His earthly life, Jesus went to an olive grove… in that garden even today many olive trees still continue to grow, still continue to bear fruit, still produce branches that symbolize peace,” Cardinal Gregory said. “May the land of Israel – the very homeland of Christ Jesus – finally be blessed with an enduring peace, even as it continues to cultivate and grow the olive trees that represent a peace that is such a special treasure and promise for all of us.”

In attendance at this year’s Mass were Washington Auxiliary Bishops Mario Dorsonville and Roy E. Campbell Jr.; Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop emeritus of Washington; and Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States. 

Attending the Mass were nearly 200 priests, the largest gathering of priests for a Chrism Mass in two years. COVID-19 quarantine measures delayed the celebration of the Chrism Mass in 2020 (a smaller observance was held in September of that year), and ongoing pandemic concerns severely limited the number of priests who attended in 2021.

Also in attendance were deacons, seminarians, and men and women religious. Numerous people followed the Mass remotely via social media.

Cardinal Gregory called it “a splendid vision – it’s not the heavenly vision – but it brings such joy to my heart to see so many priests, deacons and men and women in consecrated life and so many of our seminarians. Thank you for truly making this the official end of the pandemic.”

“Please pray for our brother priests and pray for me that together we will always care for the Lord’s people with joy, zeal and trustworthiness that everyone then in this Church will then feel the very presence of Christ through our ministry and our service in His name,” the cardinal asked those in attendance at the Mass.

During the Chrism Mass each year, priests of the archdiocese renew their priestly promises, which Cardinal Gregory said, is “in remembrance of that day when Christ our Lord conferred His priesthood on His Apostles and on us.” Traditionally, the Chrism Mass is offered on Holy Thursday, the day the Church celebrates the fact that at the Last Supper, Jesus Christ instituted the Eucharist and the priesthood. Because of pastoral reasons, the Mass is often celebrated earlier during Holy Week.

Calling the priests “beloved sons, my brothers” and “generous servants of their sisters and brothers,” Cardinal Gregory asked them if they are resolved to be “more united with the Lord Jesus and more closely conformed to Him” and “faithful stewards of the mysteries of God in the Holy Eucharist and the other liturgical rites.”

Addressing the laity, whom he called “dearest sons and daughters,” Cardinal Gregory asked the faithful to pray for priests that “the Lord may pour out His gifts abundantly upon them, and keep them faithful as ministers of Christ, the High Priest, who is the source of salvation.”

Cardinal Gregory also asked the faithful to pray for him that as archbishop of Washington, “I may be made day by day a living and more perfect image of Christ, the priest, the Good Shepherd, the teacher, and the servant of all.”

“May the Lord keep us all in His charity and lead all of us – shepherds and flock – to eternal life,” he prayed.

At the Mass, Cardinal Gregory also blessed the oils that all parishes in the archdiocese will use to administer the sacraments for the upcoming year. The consecrated oils will be used for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Anointing of the Sick, and will also be used during the sacrament of Holy Orders, when new priests are ordained.

The cardinal prayed that God would “bless and sanctify this oil, so that all who are outwardly anointed with it may be inwardly transformed and come to share in eternal salvation.”

The Chrism Mass was one of several Holy Week and Easter liturgies to be celebrated by the cardinal at the cathedral that will be livestreamed. The day before, he celebrated an April 10 Palm Sunday Mass at the cathedral.

Cardinal Gregory’s Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be livestreamed (https://youtu.be/rQ_-pjjgBbo) from the cathedral at 5:30 p.m. Thursday April 14.

On Good Friday, April 15, Cardinal Gregory’s will celebrate a livestreamed (https://youtu.be/2wPw4h6JRzs) Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord at 1 p.m.

On Holy Saturday April 16, Cardinal Gregory will celebrate a livestreamed (https://youtu.be/pisScKULK80) Easter Vigil at St. Matthew’s Cathedral at 8 p.m.

Then on Easter Sunday April 17, the cardinal will celebrate a livestreamed (https://youtu.be/jlUVgak5uh4) Mass at the cathedral at 9 a.m.

Later on Easter Sunday, Cardinal Gregory will celebrate a noon Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception that will be televised on the Eternal Word Television Network and livestreamed on the basilica’s YouTube channel that can be linked through the National Shrine’s website at www.nationalshrine.org.