There are three oils that are blessed or consecrated: -The Oil of Catechumens (oleum catechumenorum or oleum sanctorum) -The Oil of the Infirm (oleum infirmorum) and -The Holy Chrism (sacrum chrisma)The Oil of Catechumens is used during Baptisms, in the consecration of churches, in the blessing of Altars and in the ordinations. During the Baptism liturgy, there is a Prayer of Exorcism where we ask to be delivered from Original Sin. This prayer is followed by an anointing on the chest with the Oil of Catechumens:
"We anoint you with the oil of salvation in the name of Christ our Savior; may He strengthen you with His power, Who lives and reigns forever and ever.”It represents healing and strength for the person being anointed. The Oil of the Infirm is the same oil that is used for the Anointing of the Sick, as it represents healing. When a person receives this Sacrament, the priest will pray:
"Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in His love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit.”The priest then anoints the person's hands, saying,
“May the Lord who frees you from sin, save you and raise you up.”Depending on the person's illness another body part may also be blessed. Finally, the Holy Chrism is a mixture of olive oil and balsam. This oil is also used at Baptism, but also for Confirmation, Ordinations and at the consecration or dedication of Churches. It represents strength. The symbolism dates back to the time of the gladiators where they would grease themselves to show how strong they were. In the same way, oil symbolizes strength. During the Chrism Mass, the blessing of the Holy Chrism is different than that of the other two. Symbolizing the Holy Spirit descending, the bishop breathes over the vessel of chrism. At this time, the con-celebrants at the Chrism Mass extend their right hands toward the chrism as the bishop says the Consecration Prayer. This year, let's thank the Lord for the gift of His Sacraments and pray for your local bishop as he joins the priests of your diocese that they may continue to be faithful servants, guided by the Holy Spirit.
In this month of June, the Holy Father invites us to pray that the world might grow in compassion, that each one of us might find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from his Heart, learn to have compassion on the world.
Gianpaolo gives us a behind the scenes look at his upcoming Behold segment on the York University Catholic Chaplaincy.
On Sunday, June 8, 2025, Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for the Jubilee of Movements, Associations, and New Communities and spoke about how the Holy Spirit helps the apostles overcome "their fear, shatters their inner chains, heals their wounds, anoints them with strength and grants them the courage to go out to all and to proclaim God’s mighty works."
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents, and the Elderly and referred to Pope Francis and mentioned spouses who have been beatified and canonized, like the parents of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.
Pope Leo XIV chose his name primarily to highlight his most recent namesake Leo XIII, whose "historic encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question" to the challenges of his time. What concerns does the encyclical address? How does it speak to its time? And what has been its legacy 134 years later?