Chrism
Chrism, also called
Name
The English chrism derives from
The
Chrism can be also a Myron[clarification needed] or myrrh. Myron is an oil that is blessed by a bishop.[citation needed]
Early Christian usage
Multiple early Christian documents discuss the "ordinance" or "several ceremonies...explained in the Apostolical Constitutions" of "chrism", including documents by Theophilus (d. 181) and Tertullian (d. 220).
The most detailed version of the practice is by
Western Christianity
Latin Catholicism
Chrism is essential for the Catholic
In the ancient Liturgy prior to the reforms that followed the
Before the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, chrism had to be used to
Chrism is made of
These holy oils are usually stored in special vessels known as chrismaria and kept in a cabinet known as an ambry. When the oils are distributed to a priest for him to use in his ministry they are kept in a smaller vessel with three compartments, known as an "oil stock". There is also a type of oil stock that is shaped like a ring, to make the anointing easier. The "jewel" of the ring is a container with a removable lid.
Holy oils were also used, in the older form of the Roman Rite, for the anointing of kings during ceremonies of coronation. Several local rites allowed for the use of chrism in those coronation rites (e.g. in the pre-reformation English coronation rite the anointing was with chrism; Napoleon was anointed with chrism by Pope Pius VII, etc.). However, the general coronation rite of the Roman Liturgy, codified in the Roman Pontifical of Pope Clement VIII, prescribed the use of the oil of cathecumens for the anointing of kings.
The
Anglicanism and Lutheranism
The primary use of chrism in Anglican and Lutheran churches is for the rite of chrismation, which may be included as a part of baptism, even for infants.
The oil of chrism is also commonly used in
The use of chrism in Anglican and Lutheran ordination liturgies is similarly presented as an option in most provinces. In the liturgy for the ordination of priests in the Church of England, for example, the instruction is: "The bishop may anoint the palms of the hands of each newly ordained priest, saying 'May God, who anointed the Christ with the Holy Spirit at his baptism, anoint and empower you to reconcile and bless his people'."[11] There is a similar instruction for the ordination of bishops, who are anointed on the head rather than the palms of the hands.[12]
An important and specific use of chrism is in the anointing during the
Its other notable use is in the consecration of church buildings, where it may be used to anoint the walls, the altar/table, and the place for reservation of the eucharistic sacrament for the sick.
As in other traditions, chrism is usually based on
Chrism is usually consecrated by the bishop of the
Latter Day Saints
Members of the Latter Day Saint movement also practice ritual anointing of the sick, as well as other forms of anointing. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consider anointing to be an ordinance.[15]
Members of the LDS church who hold the Melchizedek priesthood may use consecrated oil in performing the ordinance of blessing of the "sick or afflicted", although the blessing may be performed without oil if it is unavailable. The priesthood holder anoints the recipient's head with a drop of oil, then lays their hands upon the head and declares the act of anointing. Then another priesthood holder joins in, if available, and pronounces a "sealing" of the anointing, and other words of blessing. Melchizedek priesthood holders are also authorized to consecrate any pure olive oil, and often carry a personal supply in case they have need to perform a blessing. Oil is not used in other blessings, such as for people seeking comfort or counsel.[15][16] The word "chrism" is not used.
In addition to the James 5:14–15 reference, the Doctrine and Covenants contains numerous references to the anointing and healing of the sick by those with authority to do so.
Eastern Christianity
Eastern Orthodox Church
Within the Orthodox Church chrism plays a part in many liturgical services and sacraments. The first sacrament that uses chrism, the sacrament of
The Orthodox Church makes chrism during
[...] into each vessel of new myrrh are poured a few drops of the old myrrh [...] This is done in token of the uninterrupted connection of the Russian Church with the Greek, from which she received [...] the first consecrated myrrh.[20]
On completion, chrism is distributed to all the bishops, who, in turn, give it to their parishes when needed. It is not made on a yearly basis, but only when supplies run short.[citation needed]
The Orthodox
In Byzantine times the official responsible was the Grand
Oriental Orthodox Churches
In the
The Armenian Apostolic Church consecrates myrrh every seven years in autumn at Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Armenia.[27][28][29]
See also
- Anointing of Jesus – Gospels event
- Charisma – Charm that can inspire devotion in others
- Ghee – Type of clarified butter from India
- Holy Ampulla – Glass vial containing the chrism for French coronations from 1131 to 1774
- Misha (Mandaeism) – Anointing oil used in Mandaeans religious rituals
References
- ^ a b c Oxford English Dictionary, 1st ed. "chrism, n." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1889.
- ^ Eric Segelberg, "The Benedictio Olei in the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus", (Oriens Christianus 48, 1964)
- ^ "Chrismatory". Metalwork. Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
- ^ Le Goff, Jacques; et al. Le sacre royal à l'époque de Saint-Louis d'après le manuscrit latin 1246 de la BNF (in French)
- ^ See Jean-Claude Bonne 2001, examining the coronation ordines from Charlemagne to Charles V, who commissioned a Livre du sacre, as C. Meredith Jones remarked, in reviewing Sir Francis Oppenheimer's monograph of the Holy Ampulla.
- ^ La Sainte Ampoule et le sacre des rois de France, leblogdumesnil.unblog.fr
- ^ [1] Content of the Holy Ampulla kept at the archbishopric of Reims
- ISBN 0-7151-2102-2, page 129.
- ISBN 0-00-599180-3, page 393.
- ^ Liturgia da Igreja Lusitana (Catolica Apostolica Evangelica), Igreja Lusitana 1991 (privately published), page 246.
- ISBN 978-0-7151-2130-6, page 50.
- ISBN 978-0-7151-2130-6, page 75.
- ^ "Sacred coronation oil will be animal-cruelty free". BBC News. 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ a b Coughlan, Sean (3 March 2023). "Sacred coronation oil will be animal-cruelty free". BBC News.
- ^ a b "613 Administering to the Sick[dead link]", LDS.org Gospel Topics.
- ^ "Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings". Family Guidebook. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. February 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
- ISBN 9789004203921.
- ISBN 9780226284606.
- ISBN 9780823274215.
- ^ Sokolov, Dmitry Pavlovich (1899). A Manual of the Orthodox Church's Divine Services. New York: Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Co. p. 103. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
[...] into each vessel of new myrrh are poured a few drops of the old myrrh [...] This is done in token of the uninterrupted connection of the Russian Church with the Greek, from which she received [...] the first consecrated myrrh.
- ^ Alfeyev, Hilarion (2001) Le Mystère de la foi (Cerf, Paris)
- ^ "The Sanctification of the Holy Chrism – Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America". Retrieved 2009-09-19.
- ^ "Church performs consecration of holy chrism". Matters India. 2018-03-25. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
- ^ "The Holy Myron". mosc.in. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
- ^ "Chrismation | The Holy Sacraments/Mysteries | Orthodoxy | Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church". www.neamericandiocese.org. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
- ^ "The Holy Myron". mosc.in. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
- ^ "Armenia: Myrrh Blessing". WelcomeArmenia.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-27. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ "Once-In-Seven-Years Experience". ArmeniaNow.com. 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ Vassiliou, Tara (2012-04-03). "Muron' Olive Oil 1,700 Years in the Making". Olive Oil Times. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
External links
- Chrism—from the Catholic Encyclopedia
- Chrismatory—from the Catholic Encyclopedia
- On Chrism by St. Cyril of Jerusalem
- The Sanctification of the Holy Chrism—Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 273–274.