Eucharist and priesthood: Two sacraments 'indissolubly linked'

By Archbishop Thomas Wenski - The Archdiocese of Miami

Archbishop Thomas Wenski preached this homily at the annual chrism Mass where priests renew their ordination promises and the holy oils – of catechumens, of the sick and of chrism – are blessed before being taken to the parishes for use in the coming year. The Mass was celebrated April 4, 2023, at St. Mary Cathedral.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me for he has anointed me.”

At this Mass, we bless the Holy Oils and consecrate the Sacred Chrism. Since the itinerary of our lives as Catholics is marked by various anointings, today’s Mass is a celebration for all God’s people.

As we were prepared for baptism, we were anointed with the Oil of Catechumens; then, in baptism and confirmation, with the Sacred Chrism. Please God, at the end of our lives, we will receive a final anointing with the Oil of the Sick so that, at that hour, the Spirit will strengthen and console us. These transitional deacons’ hands will also be anointed with Chrism on the day of their ordination next month as were the hands of all the priests here today at their ordinations.

These oils then are closely linked to the Paschal Mystery — for through them the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, through them the Holy Spirit conforms us more perfectly to Christ, so that we might spread the fragrance of his presence throughout the world as we grow in the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity.

But even as this Mass is a celebration for all God’s people, this Chrism Mass also reveals the deep bond that exists between the Eucharist and the ministerial priesthood.

And if Holy Thursday’s Mass of the Last Supper concentrates on the Mystery of the Eucharist and the presentation of the New Commandment of Love, the Chrism Mass – traditionally celebrated Holy Thursday morning – gives prominence to the ministerial priesthood. As Pope St. John Paul wrote: The Eucharist and the priesthood are “two sacraments ... born together and their destiny is indissolubly linked until the end of the world.”

In the United States, the bishops have called us to a Eucharistic Revival. Next year, in July 2024, there will be a Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. I encourage you and your people to participate if you can. But more importantly I urge you to promote Eucharistic Revival in your parishes – do it in your preaching, in your catechesis, in better and more faithful attention to the ars celebrandi.

As the Second Vatican Council affirms, using the words of the great Saint Augustine, the Eucharist is the “sacramentum pietatis, signum unitatis, vinculum caritatis” [sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity] (Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 47). The Eucharist holds the central place in the Church because it is “what makes the Church.” And so, a Eucharistic Revival will bring about a revived Church and a revived presbyterate.

The rediscovery of what St. John Paul II called “Eucharistic amazement” will necessarily result in a greater appreciation and esteem for the ministerial priesthood without which there would be no Eucharist and no Church.

And so, this Chrism Mass is an opportunity for all us – both members of Christ’s faithful as well as all of us priests - to thank God for the gift of the priesthood. At the same time, we priests will reaffirm our determination to be a more and more faithful image of Christ, the High Priest. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls us to follow his example and day after day to offer our life for the salvation of the flock entrusted to our care.

We honor our jubilarians who for many years have been among the flock. These men, like all of us priests, carry an immense treasure – the mystery and gift of the priesthood – in the vessels of clay of our fallen human nature. These priests have borne the heat of the day – some for 60, some for 50 and others for 25 years.

Celebrating 60 years – you might understand that they are excused because of age –are Joseph Maroor, George Duffy, Fernando Compaired and Dan Kent. Celebrating 50 golden years are Alexander Ekechukwu, Paul Vuturo, Msgr. Michael Hippee, Edmond Prendergast, Inocencio Llamas and Msgr. Juan Quijano. And our silver jubilarians celebrating 25 years are Luis Silva, Yaw John Aduseh-Poko, Peter Claver Sutinga, Juan Velez Giraldo and Fernando Carmona.

In long years of priestly ministry, they have acquired, as Pope Francis would say, the “smell of the sheep.” Their presence among us today shows how God is faithful to his promises as when he promised Ezekiel, “I will give you shepherds after my own heart.” I pray that their example inspires the 50 young men who are in the seminary – and those who are discerning a possible vocation to the priesthood – to respond with courage as these men have.

Brothers, the people of God do love their priests. They love us “warts and all.” They can and do put up with our faults and our shortcomings and our various accents – and they will forgive us when we fail them – if they sense the authenticity of our commitment: that we are true shepherds and not merely hired hands. What we say and the way we act must enable those who meet us to experience God’s faithful and merciful love. This is a tall order – but this is essentially what we signed up for when we first answered the bishop “I am” when on the days of our ordinations he asked us several times: “Are you resolved?” Our resolve is strengthened each day as we grow in our friendship with the Lord, our resolve is nurtured each day by prayer.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me for he has anointed me. May this Chrism Mass remind each one of us that every believer is anointed to become an offering pleasing to the Lord.