CHRISM. - From as early as the 5th century the Greeks were accustomed to mix aromatic substances with the holy oil, and the Latins, a little later, balsam (v.). Thus chrism, called Myron by the Greeks, is a mixture of oil and balsam.

In its consecration, which the bishop performs solemnly at the Mass of Holy Thursday (cf. also CIC, can. 734), a eucharistia is recited, that is, a prayer of thanksgiving, in the manner of a Preface; and it is for this reason that in ancient times it was called oil of eucharist (Didaché, new fragment; St. Hippolytus, Traditio apostolica, II, 109, ed. Funk, Tübingen 1902). As an effect of the consecration, the positive sanctification and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the soul are noted. Chrism is used in Baptism, in Confirmation (cf. also CIC, cann. 780-81), in the consecration of a bishop, of a church, of an altar, of the chalice and the paten, in the coronation of the emperor or the king, even in the blessing of bells. It symbolizes the communication of grace (Catechismus Romanus, p. II c. 3, n. 6). The chrism must be renewed every Holy Thursday, and kept in a special vessel.

Bibliography5 works

BIBL.: F. Cabrol, Huile, in DACL, VI, 2777-91; A. Franz, Die kirchlichen Benediktionen im Mittelalter, I, Freiburg 1909, pp. 335-61; L. Eisenhofer, Compendio di Liturgia, Turin 1940, p. 49; Ph. Oppenheim, Ius liturgiae baptismalis, ibid. 1942, pp. 164-70; Ph. Hofmeister, Die heiligen Öle in der morgen-und abendländischen Kirche, Würzburg 1948.

Filippo Oppenheim

@incollection{ec4_crisma, author = {Oppenheim, Filippo}, title = {Crisma}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {IV}, pages = {881--882}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1950}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/crisma} }

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