The Chrism Mass in Holy Trinity Nice

Archdeacon Ian Naylor of France (rt) greeting some of his clergy
Clergy and Readers from France, Monaco and Spain gathered on Tuesday 22 March at Holy Trinity, Nice, for the Chrism Mass. Fr Peter Jackson, the Chaplain of Holy Trinity, was our host for this liturgy.  As always in this scattered diocese, it was a welcome moment for those engaged in ministry and working in relative isolation to connect with their brothers and sisters, to meet new faces, to encourage each other and to pray together.



As the Eucharist began, aware of the violent attacks that had taken place in Brussels that morning, the opening words prayed in penitence by the assembly were particularly powerful, and were uttered in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Belgian capital: "have mercy on us, bind up our wounds and revive us". The absolution contained these words "the Lord defend us in trouble and keep us from all evil".

Fr Peter Jackson proclaims the Gospel
The Gospel for the day (St Luke 4.16-21) was Christ's teaching in the synagogue, in which he applied the words of Isaiah to his own ministry, and thus to ours as his ministers. Again the words of the Chrism liturgy sum this up: "In your wisdom and love you call your church to serve the world, to share in Christ's suffering and to reveal his glory".

Mme Aucuturier addressed the bishop and the people
Although this particular liturgy has a focus on the renewal of the vows of sacred ministry of deacons, priests and bishops, and the renewal of the commitment of Readers, as all ordained or commissioned ministers serve God's people in their ministry in the world, it is fitting that a representative of the laity come before us to address us and remind us of our calling. Mme Valerie Aucouturier, Churchwarden at St John's Menton, was given this task.


But the heart of the liturgy is the blessing of the oils that will be used in the churches of the diocese throughout the year, the oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick and the holy chrism. The three oils are brought in solemn procession to the altar while an ancient hymn is sung, in which this verse, again in the light of the Brussels attacks, had much meaning:
Eternal King, look down and bless
The oil your servants offer here,
And may it be a lively sign
Which all the powers of darkness fear


Following the liturgy Deacon Frances took charge of decanting the oils into bottles to be taken by the clergy back to their parishes, to anoint those beginning their journey in faith, those who need healing in body, mind and spirit, and those who are baptised and become part of the royal priesthood of Christ.


Holy Trinity Church laid on a fine lunch for all, which rounded off the day with fellowship around another table.


Photos are courtesy of Fr Walter Raymond, Chaplain of St Paul's Monaco.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Farewell to the Diocese in Europe

Image
Deacon Frances and I packed up our office yesterday and turned over our official files, emails and equipment. Thus a close working together for 22 years comes to an end. So it is hard to believe that today, St David's day, a new chapter begins, after 44 years of stipendiary ministry, 22 years as deacon then priest and 22 as a bishop.  Here are just a few memories from the last couple of months...   But now it is time to begin a new chapter.  O God, by whose command the order of time runs its course: forgive our impatience, perfect our faith and, while we await the fulfilment of your promise, grant us to have a good hope because of your Word,  even Jesus Christ our Lord. (St Gregory Nazianzus, 330 - 390)
Read more

Archbishop of Canterbury's Pentecost Letter: A European Consequence

Image
In his Pentecost letter, the Archbishop of Canterbury warned of certain consequences for provinces of the Anglican Communion which have failed to stand by the three moratoria . (No authorisation of blessings services for same-sex unions; no consecrations of bishops living in same-sex relationships; and no bishop authorising any ministry within the diocese of another bishop without explicit permission). One consequence would be that representatives from such provinces w ould not be able to participate in the formal international interchurch dialogues of the Communion. One of those dialogues is the Anglican-Old Catholic International Co-ordinating Council ( AOCICC ), the official instrument set up to deepen the relationship of communion established in 1931 between the Anglican Communion and the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht . As the member Churches of the Union of Utrecht are all European, the AOCICC is effectively a European body. (I am one of the members, appo...
Read more

Bishop Austin Rios of California

Image
It was a joyful, colourful, multicultural three-hour liturgy. At Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, the Revd Austin Rios was consecrated the bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of California. I have known Austin from his time as the Rector of St Paul's Episcopal Church in Rome, where he was a great friend and collaborator with our own Church of England All Saints Chaplaincy in that city. The liturgy, appropriately, marked the multiculural make-up of the diocese, with prayers, readings, hymns and songs in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Tonga and Mandarin. The final procession was led by a Chinese dragon! I was told that there were about 300 in the procession and 2000 present in the beautiful gothic cathedral on Nob Hill San Francisco. My good friend and ecuenical colleague from Rome Fr Keith Peckers SJ was also in attenance, so the Church of Rome and the Church of England were both represented! Among the bishop friends present were Bishop Mark Edington of the Episcopal Convocation in Europe, a...
Read more