The Sunday Mail
Alvin Zhakata
THE Papal Nuncio to Zimbabwe, Archbishop Marek Zalweski, has urged priests to live a life of fulfilling the vows they took on the day of priestly ordination.
The nuncio made the call as he presided over the chrism mass at St George’s College in Harare last Tuesday.
Chrism mass is a special mass, traditionally celebrated on Holy Thursday — the eve of Good Friday — and at it, priests renew their vows.
At chrism mass, the bishop also blesses the oil of catechumens, the oil of the infirm, and holy chrism for use in administration of sacraments throughout the diocese through the year.
Addressing over 200 priests from the Archdiocese of Harare, Archbishop Zalweski last week said, “Dear priests, you are the representatives of Christ and stewards of God’s gifts and mysteries. Today you will renew your respect and loyalty to the bishop and the pope as a promise to be united more closely with Christ, imitating him in the life of poverty, celibacy, obedience and prayer. It is indeed a difficult task, but not impossible to do.
“As we celebrate the memory of the first eucharist at which our Lord Jesus Christ sat with his disciples, I urge you to live the promises you made on the day of your priestly ordination. Led by the example of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and contemporary saints, among them St Pope John Paul II who visited Zimbabwe in1988, we must continuously pray for God’s grace to help us fulfil these vows.”
To congregants, the nuncio said, “Dear brothers and sisters, this chrism mass that we are celebrating today manifests more than any other mass as we celebrate the communion between priests and the bishop, the bond of love that unites us with God and with one another.
“This communion extends beyond the boundaries of the Archdiocese of Harare and beyond Zimbabwe as all the bishops, including the bishop of Rome participate in this communion.”
After the priests renewed their vows, deans presented the three oils for consecration by the nuncio.
The oil of catechumens and oil of the infirm are olive oil, while holy chrism is a mixture of olive oil and aromatic resin.
The Catholic Church attaches importance to olive oil because of its many practical and religious uses in the Bible,
The oil of catechumens is used for anointing on the chest immediately before baptism, with the priest saying: “We anoint you with the oil of salvation in the name of Christ our Saviour, may he strengthen you with his power, who lives and reigns forever and ever.”
The oil of the infirm in anointed the forehead of an ill person as the priest says: “Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit.” And then anointing the hands, the priest says, “May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.” Holy chrism is linked to sanctification and is used in baptism, confirmation and holy orders. It is is also used in ordination of priests and dedication of new churches.
