The Chrism Mass is a celebration of two remarkable gifts of God, the gift of the priestly ministry and the gift of joy signified by the oils which are blessed for use in the celebration of the Sacraments during the ensuing liturgical year.

The Holy Week liturgy celebrates in a very special way the historical reality of our religion. Jesus was a real historical man and, like all of us, had to undergo the experience of death in order to return to his Father. Yet his return to the Father did not mark an end of God's communication of grace through the historical reality of our life on earth.

Thus Jesus continued his ministry through his disciples and apostles: he relied on us weak human beings and not on angels. Thus, too, he gave us the sacrament of the Eucharist, so that in the visible signs of bread and wine, we would become one with him.

The reading from Isaiah speaks of "the oil of gladness". Union with Jesus through the sacramental anointing of Baptism and Confirmation is a great joy for us, a joy that gives us strength and wisdom.