Chrism Mass at Cathedral

Tuesday evening, the "Chrism" Mass, a longstanding Holy Week tradition in the Catholic Church and the Diocese of Cleveland served as a gathering time for the priests of the Diocese to prayerfully observe this most sacred time on the Church Calendar. Cleveland Bishop, Most Rev. Richard Lennon, was the chief celebrant along with the priests of the diocese.

The chrism is a mixture of olive oil and balsam (or balm) which is blessed by the Bishop. The holy oil is then used for various sacramental administrations in the parish churches, all this, related to Jesus Christ---The Anointed One---who is the source for all the sacraments of the Catholic Faith.