April 2, 2026
Holy Thursday – Chrism Mass
Gospel: Luke 4:16-21

Today is Holy Thursday. In accordance with the Church’s tradition, our beloved Holy Father and the clergy of the Holy See will celebrate a concelebrated Mass to bless the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens, and the Sacred Chrism for the Diocese of Rome. Similarly, our diocesan bishop, together with the priests under his care, will bless these same oils for the current liturgical year during the Mass celebrated in his cathedral.

The Gospel reading for the Chrism Mass is taken from St. Luke’s account of Jesus returning to the synagogue in Nazareth, where He proclaims His messianic mission. I would like to offer some reflections on this passage.
If we attend to the prophecies about the Messiah in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, we find that Isaiah indicates the Messiah is to proclaim God’s word to four groups of people: the poor, those with broken hearts, captives, and prisoners. The “poor” are not merely those of lowly status but also those marginalized and excluded for various reasons. Those with “broken hearts” are not just those distressed by trivialities of worldly life but those whose sins have grieved the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. The “captives” are not only those taken prisoner in battle but those whose souls are held captive by the devil due to human weakness. The “prisoners” are not merely those deprived of freedom by violating human laws but those whose souls are enslaved by sin, unable to draw near to God.

Today, our Lord Jesus Christ declares in His hometown synagogue: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; therefore He has anointed me. He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and release to prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord” (cf. Lk 4:18-19). He not only acknowledges His mission but fulfills it through all He does as the Messiah, the Son of God. Our Holy Father and the clergy in communion with him faithfully follow the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, shepherding worthily the flock entrusted to their care by God. Like us, they are flesh and blood, experiencing trials and hardships. Let us, therefore, offer a prayer for all clergy:

O God, who anointed your Only Begotten Son with the Holy Spirit and made him Christ and Lord, graciously grant that, being made sharers in his consecration, we may bear witness to your Redemption in the world. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica