26 March 2013

Lentorama 2013: There's a Name for That

Day 36: chrism

Chrism is the oil used to anoint babies at baptism, teens at confirmation, and priests when they take holy orders. It's basically olive oil scented with a perfume or resin (balsam is apparently popular now, myrrh being the more traditional addition).

New batches of chrism are consecrated in a special mass celebrated by the local bishop on Holy Thursday. He apparently consecrates a large batch, with churches getting their supply from it.

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