Chrism Mass: Laying down our lives for our people

Brothers, we gather together as a presbyterium prior to the celebration of the Sacred Triduum. At this Mass, where we renew our priestly promises, we are aware that it was at the Last Supper that Christ established the priesthood when he entrusted the celebration of the Holy Eucharist to them. He said to them, “Do this in memory of Me”. He entrusted the Twelve with the role of enabling what was to occur at Calvary to be sacramentally offered for and to the people. The Mass is above all the Sacrament of the Sacrifice.

We gather tonight in proximity to the Last Supper, and our Mass tonight is deeply linked to what the Lord did in transforming the Jewish Passover ritual into the sacrament of the Eucharist by his words of institution.

Brothers, we gather together as priests along with representatives of the lay faithful. As at every Mass, but especially in Holy Week, we give expression to our understanding of the significance of the redeeming death of our Lord Jesus Christ. This week we will contemplate once again the profound mystery of Jesus, the suffering servant, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

We are also aware that our culture has taken a path away from its Christian roots. Many now claim to have no faith at all. Sadly, the numbers of the faithful who participate weekly at Sunday Mass is dramatically declining. In the past 20 years the number of Catholics attending Mass each week in Tasmania has halved. More concerning is that 42% of those attending Mass each week in Tasmania at present are over 70 years old.

We know this only too well in our parishes. We know that causes of this decline in Mass attendance are complex – there are factors within the society as a whole and factors within the Church itself. I know and you know that we have tried hard to draw people to the sacramental life of the Church, especially families and young people. But like the story of the fishermen in the early part of Luke’s gospel, we have worked hard and caught nothing.

We experience a powerlessness in the face of the decline in faith that we witness. We have tried but cannot find the ways to stop the decline. We know that we cannot do it in our own strength.

Brothers, I know the burden you carry for the future of the Church. It is something that is the constant subject of my prayer as, I am sure, it is of yours. In the face of our experience we look to God. We know God loves all people and desires that all be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (see I Tim 2:4). We know God loves his Church and will never abandon it.

In the face of our struggles God is there, and will come to our aid. 

Brothers, is there a way in which we can be more effective instruments of the saving action of God among Tasmanians? Tonight, at this Chrism Mass, I wish to propose a way for us.

In this holy week we commemorate above all else the sacrifice that Christ was prepared to make for the redemption of humanity. He knew his calling. He did not come to be served, but to serve. And that service he spells out clearly in these words: “and to give his life as a ransom for many”. (Mt 20:28) And to give his life as a ransom for many.

Brothers, can we in a small way give our lives as a ransom for many? We already have chosen to sacrifice our lives. In our priestly commitment, which we will renew in a few moments, we declare ourselves prepared to sacrifice our lives. We will be asked: “Are you resolved to be more united with the Lord Jesus and more closely conformed to him, denying yourselves…”? And you answer “I am”. We are prepared to deny ourselves. We know that this is what is asked of us as priests.

Brothers, our life is already a sacrifice. But tonight I want to invite you to a path of special sacrifice. I propose to have a Holy Year for Priests, commencing on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, Friday 24 June, continuing to the Feast of the Sacred Heart, 2023.

During this Holy Year I invite you to undertake some special penances for the sake of the people. As priests we model ourselves on the Lord who was the Good Shepherd prepared to lay down his life for his sheep. (see Jn 10:11) Thus, we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice for the people we are called to serve.

I propose the following for this Holy Year:

1. We observe each Friday as a day of abstinence from meat.
2. We observe each Friday as a day of fast.
   1. We eat only one meal on that day
   1. We fast from alcohol
   1. We fast from television, including sport.
3.  We undertake a holy hour at 3pm each Friday, interceding for the people.

Brothers, I invite you to join me in this Holy Year for Priests that we might implore God’s mercy upon the people of Tasmania, and that by His grace people may return to him and embrace once again the sacramental life of his Church.

Jesus made the complete offering of himself for our salvation. He clearly saw the nature of his life: “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”. (Mt 20:28) This year I invite you to join me as we share in this offering and in a small way sacrifice ourselves for the sake of the people.

Archbishop Julian Porteous

Tuesday, 12 April 2022