Chrismation: Anointed In The Holy Spirit
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Anointed In The Holy Spirit- by Fr. Anthony Hernandez
Having been baptized, the neophyte (newly-baptized) is anointed with perfumed oil called Chrism. The anointing is called the Mystery of Chrismation or sometimes Holy Myron.
In administering Chrismation, the priest immerses an anointing brush or his right thumb into the holy Chrism, and as he anoints the newly-baptized, says: "The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen." The priest anoints the person with the Holy Chrism on the forehead, eyelids, nostrils, mouth, ears, chest, hands and feet. Each part is anointed by being traced with the Sign of the Cross. In his teaching on the holy anointing that follows Baptism, Saint Cyril of Jerusalem said:You were made christs (anointed ones) when you received the seal of the Holy Spirit . . . Christ was baptized in the river Jordan [and] when He came up out of the waters, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. In the same way, you came out of the water when you were baptized. Then you received the Anointing. This Anointing was a sign of the anointing which Christ Himself received from the Holy Spirit. All this was foretold by the blessed Prophet Isaiah (Is. 61:1), who said:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor." Isaiah 61:1
Anointing in the Old Testament
Christ was truly crucified, was buried, and raised up. In Baptism you too were crucified, buried, and raised together with Him. And as He was anointed with the spiritual oil of gladness, the Holy Spirit, so were you anointed with chrism, and have been made christs with Christ.
(Mystagogical Catechesis, simplified text)
Throughout the ages, God has given important roles to various persons, and has equipped them to perform their roles effectively and for the good of His people.
In Old Testament times, the roles of priest, king, and prophet, were of great importance.- The priests of Israel served the people of God by offering their sacrifices to the Lord in the temple and by leading them in prayer.
- Kings served God's people, Israel, by establishing justice according to the law of God.
- Prophets also served the people by teaching them God's holy word, and challenging the people to fulfil their duties to God and to their fellow human beings.
Anointed Servants
Jewish priests and kings were always anointed with holy oil. Sometimes prophets were also anointed. In all cases, these men were not anointed for their own sakes, but for service to God's people. Olive oil mixed with balm (an aromatic spice) was a precious and expensive substance in ancient times. Above all, anointing with oil was a sign of God's pledge to be with the anointed ones and to support them in their service.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor." Isaiah 61:1
"He has anointed Me" - Jesus the Christ
Just as the priests, kings and prophets of the OId Testament were anointed for service, so Jesus the Christ was anointed in the Holy Spirit to be the savior of the world. Although He was God, Christ made Himself a servant for the sake of mankind. Jesus said that He "came not to be served, but to serve." (Mt. 20:28).
Christ served people with a merciful love. He healed their ailments, expelled demons, and taught them how to live right with God and with other people. Above all, Christ served the human race by laying down His life for us on the cross and by rising from the dead.
Since we have been chrismated, we can humbly say with Jesus: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me ... He has sent me." We are called Christians because we share in the anointing of Christ, and in the same Holy Spirit.
"He has sent Me"
Although Jesus bore the exalted title of Messiah (the Christ), He made Himself truly a servant of others. As Christians, God's anointed people, we must also place ourselves in loving service to others in the Church and in the world. The Holy Spirit will guide us and strengthen us to do what He wants us to do. Before Christ ascended into heaven He promised to send His Holy Spirit upon His Disciples:"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Through holy Baptism we are made to share in Christ's life. Through Chrismation we also become partakers of Christ's mission to the world.
(Acts 1:8)
Chrismation
The Apostles received power from Christ to confer the Holy Spirit upon those who believe. Bishops and priests, those who continue the ministry of the Apostles, give the Gift of the Holy Spirit through the Mystery of Chrismation.
After the Baptism, the priest says a prayer over the holy Chrism. He prays that through Chrismation a person may be preserved in holiness, strengthened in the true faith, and delivered from the influence of the evil one. He continues to pray that the one to be anointed also be preserve in purity, righteousness, reverential fear of God, and that anointed one might please God in word and action.
The bishop or priest anoints the following parts of the newly baptized:- The forehead, that we are marked as belonging to God
- The eyes, in order to be able to behold “with unveiled face the glory of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18)
- The ears, to be prepared to listen to the teachings of the Gospel
- The nostrils, that, perceiving the sweet aroma of chrism, we may become “a sweet aroma of Christ” - 2 Cor. 2:15)
- The mouth, to be able to boldly profess the true faith
- The chest, that having put on “a breastplate of righteousness” (Eph. 6:14) we may stand firm against the wiles of the evil one
- The hands, since every Christian must “be ready to do good works” (Tit. 3:1) and
- The feet, since we have to “walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit.” (Rom. 8:4)
Saying after each anointing, "The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen." - The priests of Israel served the people of God by offering their sacrifices to the Lord in the temple and by leading them in prayer.