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CanticaNOVA Publications

Liturgical Information
Holy Thursday [The Chrism Mass] (ABC)

Liturgical Color: White

Themes: priesthood, ministry, holy oils

Entrance Antiphon [Introit]:

Jesus Christ has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father.
To him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:6 [Roman Missal]

Dilexisti iustitiam, et odisti iniquitatem: propterea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, oleo lætitiæ præ consortibus tuis.
Ps. Eructavit cor meum verbum bonum: dico ego opera mea regi. [Graduale Romanum, p.498]

Afructu frumenti, vini et olei sui multiplicati sunt. [Graduale simplex, p.123]
Verses of Psalm 4 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

Collect:

O God, who anointed your Only Begotten Son
with the Holy Spirit
and made him Christ and Lord,

gra- ciously grant
that, being made sharers in his consecration,
we may bear witness to your Redemption in the world.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Ho-ly Spirit,
God, for ev-er and ev-er. A-men.

Lectionary Readings:

  • Isaiah 61:1-3ab,6a,8b-9 [He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, giving them the oil of gladness. /vv.1,3]
  • Psalm 89:21-22 / 25,27 [R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. /v.2]
  • Revelation 1:5-8 [He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father. /v.6]
  • Gospel Verse: Is 61:1 [The Spirit of the Lord is upon me for he sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.]
  • Luke 4:16-21 [The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. /v.18]
    See CNP's Book of Sung Gospels – 4th Edition

Offertory Hymn:

O Redemptor sume carmen… [Graduale Romanum, p.159]
O Redemptor sume carmen… [Graduale simplex, p.126]

An English translation with chant melody can be found in By Flowing Waters by Dr. Paul F. Ford. This hymn begins:

O Redeemer, hear our singing as we praise you with one voice.
Sunlight makes the olive fruitful…

Prayer over the Offerings:

May the power of this sacrifice, O Lord, we pray,

mer- cifully wipe away what is old in us
and increase in us grace of salvation and new - ness of life.

Through Christ our Lord. A-men.

Preface: [The Priesthood of Christ and the Ministry of Priests]

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

For by the anointing of the Holy Spirit
you made your Only Begotten Son
High Priest of the new and eternal covenant,
and by your wondrous design were pleased to decree
that his one Priesthood should continue in the Church.

For Christ not only adorns with a royal priesthood
the people he has made his own,
but with a brother's kindness he also chooses men
to become sharers in his sacred ministry
through the laying on of hands.

They are to renew in his name
the sacrifice of human redemption,
to set before your children the paschal banquet,
to lead your holy people in charity,
to nourish them with the word
and strengthen them with the Sacraments.

As they give up their lives for you
and for the salvation of their brothers and sisters,
they strive to be conformed to the image of Christ himself
and offer you a constant witness of faith and love.

And so, Lord, with all the Angels and Saints,
we, too, give you thanks, as in exultation we acclaim:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts…

Rite of Blessing of the Oil of the Sick:

[1985 text]
God of all consolation
you chose and sent your Son to heal the world.
Graciously listen to our prayer of faith:
send the power of your Holy Spirit, the Consoler,
into this precious oil, this soothing ointment,
this rich gift, this fruit of the earth.

Bless this oil + and sanctify it for our use.

Make this oil a remedy for all who are anointed with it;
heal them in body, in soul, and in spirit,
and deliver them from every affliction.

[We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.]

Communion Antiphon:

I will sing for ever of your mercies, O Lord;
through all ages my mouth will proclaim your fidelity. Psalm 89:2 [Roman Missal]

Dilexisti iustitiam, et odisti iniquitatem: propterea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus. Jn 12:26 [Graduale Romanum, p.506]
Psalm 45:11,12,13,14,15,16 can also be sung between repetitions of this antiphon.

Dilexisti iustitiam, et odisti iniquitatem: propterea unxit te Deus oleo lætitia. [Graduale simplex, p.128]
Verses of Psalm 45 can also be sung between repetitions of this antiphon.

Prayer after Communion:

We beseech you, almighty God,
that those you renew by your Sacra- ments,

may merit to become the pleasing fra- grance of Christ.

Who lives and reigns for ev-er and ev-er. A-men.

Rite of Blessing of the Oil of Catechumens:

[1985 text]
Lord God,
protector of all who believe in you,
bless + this oil
and give wisdom and strength
to all who are anointed with it
in preparation for their baptism.
Bring them to a deeper understanding of the gospel,
help them to accept the challenge of Christian living,
and lead them to the joy of new birth
in the family of your Church.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rite of Consecrating the Chrism:

[1985 text]
Let us pray
that God our almighty Father
will bless this oil
so that all who are anointed with it
may be inwardly transformed
and come to share in eternal salvation.

God our maker,
source of all growth in holiness,
accept the joyful thanks and praise
we offer in the name of your Church.

In the beginning, at your command,
the earth produced fruit-bearing trees.
From the fruit of the olive tree
you have provided us with oil for holy chrism.
The prophet David sang of the life and joy
that the oil would bring us in the sacraments of your love.

After the avenging flood,
the dove returning to Noah with an olive branch
annouced your gift of peace.
This was a sign of a greater gift to come.
Now the waters of baptism wash away the sins of men,
and by the anointing with olive oil
you make us radiant with your joy.

At your command,
Aaron was washed with water,
and your servant Moses, his brother,
anointed him priest.
This too foreshadowed greater things to come.
After your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
asked John for baptism in the waters of Jordan,
you sent the Spirit upon him
in the form of a dove
and by the witness of your own voice
you declared him to be your only, well-beloved Son.
In this you clearly fulfilled the prophecy of David,
that Christ would be anointed with the oil of gladness
beyond his fellow men.

And so, Father, we ask you to bless + this oil you have created.
Fill it with the power of your Holy Spirit
through Christ your Son.
It is from him that chrism takes its name
and with chrism you have anointed
for yourself priests and kings,
prophets and martyrs.

Make this chrism a sign of life and salvation
for those who are to be born again inthe waters of baptism.
Wash away the evil they have inherited from sinful Adam,
and when they are anointed with this holy oil
make them temples of your glory,
radiant with the goodness of life
that has its source in you.

Through this sign of chrism
grant them royal, priestly, and prophetic honor,
and clothe them with incorruption.
Let this be indeed the chrism of salvation
for those who will be born again of water and the Holy Spirit.
May they come to share eternal life
in the glory of your kingdom.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

** An official, approved English translation of the Offertory Antiphon has never been published. The offertory antiphon used here is from the New American Bible, a Scripture translation approved for liturgical use in the United States.

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