Chrism Mass 2018

Excerpt from Archbishop Romulo G. Valles’ homily during the Chrism Mass last March 29, 2018 at San Pedro Cathedral.

Lent will end today before the Lord’s supper.

Why does the church place the Chrism mass on the last hours of Lent? We saw our sinfulness… our being ashes as we begin lent. At the end, we have been anointed by the Lord, grace is at work.

In the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons, let us deepen our sense of appreciation and gratitude to the priests, they are a gift to us, they are our source of joy pride and inspiration. Thank you for serving the Church.

To Priests and Consecrated, we are the center of this Chrism mass… we are anointed graciously that being made sharers of consecration… God’s grace works. Of course of the anointing during our baptism, shared of the anointing of Jesus.

Today let us ask ourselves as priests and religious, ang atong pag-alagad sa katawhan tinuod ba gayud nga nakatabang sa ilang pagkasantos, pagkabalaan? Holy people, Priestly people and Royal people… What a beautiful truth unta ang mga priests and religious nakatabang sa holiness. Day, doy, abog ra gyud ta but within you is a gift of the grace of God.

Oil of catechumens, the oil of beginnings… Oil for endings when we are about to face death. The oil reminds us of our beginning and endings…. the grace of the Lord that really work in us and for us.