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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

Holy Mystery of Chrismation

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The three Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination initiate a person into the Christian community. These Holy Mysteries make a person a full and active member of the Catholic Church. The three Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination are Baptism, Chrismation, and Holy Eucharist.
Baptism is recived first. Chrismation immediately follows Baptism. Ideally, Baptism and Chrismation are done during a Divine Liturgy and the Holy Eucharist is received at that Liturgy. If Baptism and Chrismation are not done during a Liturgy, the priest gives First Holy Eucharist during Communion time at the first Divine Liturgy attended by the person. This is the reason why this Holy Mystery is sometimes called Holy Communion.

The Holy Mystery of Chrismation is the second Holy Mystery of Initiation. In Chrismation, we receive the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in us and makes us His living temples. We receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We are sealed in our new life with the Holy Spirit and we receive life in the Church through the Holy Spirit., the giver of Life.

Procedure

Immediately after receiving the Holy Mystery of Baptism, the new Christian recives the Holy Mystery of Chrismation.
During the Holy Mystery of Chrismation, the candidate is anointed with Holy Myron (a special mixture of oil and spices) consecrated each year on Great and Holy Thursday by the Patriarch for all the Melkite Greek Catholic Churches.
Oil has become a symbol of the mercy of Holy God

As the priest anoints the person, he says "The Seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit."

In Baptism, the person is reborn into new life in the "Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". The person becomes a Catholic.
In Chrismation, the Christian offers himself/herself, all his/her gifts and potential to Holy God and the Catholic Church.
Then, this Holy Mystery seals the newly baptized in the Catholic Faith, and joins him/her in a mystical way to the whole Catholic Church. The person becomes a full member of the "Body of Christ" and takes his/her place in the Catholic Community.
This Holy Mystery perfects our Christian life with the gift of the Holy Spirit, making us sharers in Christ's priesthood and workers for Holy God's reign.

The Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination consists of

• Exorcism (the person turns away from the devil and unites himself/herself to Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church)
• Anointing (the person is restored, renewed, and recreated in soul and body by the "oil of gladness")
• Immersion (in the baptismal water, the person is "buried" with Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ in the water and raised to New Life)
• Clothing (the person is clothed in a white robe, having "put on" the righteousness of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ)
• Chrismation (the person is "sealed" with Holy Chrism, his/her "personal Pentecost," the person receives the gifts of the Holy Spirit)
• Procession (the person [or representative] carrys a candle and is led by the priest, begins his/her lifelong walk with Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ while the faithful sing the Baptismal Hymn)
• Holy Communion (the person is bonded with Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ and His Body, the Church,)
• Ablution or washing (the person has the Holy Chrism washed off as he/she prays for Holy God to preserve him/her in the faith and life of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ)
• Tonsuring (strands of the person's hair are cut as a sign of his/her offering of all of his/her self to Holy God) This tonsure represents the child’s first offering to Holy God.

Requirements and Conditions

The Holy Mystery of Chrismation can be recieved at any age. Ideally, a person in a Catholic family receives the Holy Mystery of Chrismation as an infant.

Ideally, a person receives the three Holy Mysteries Christian Illumination in immediate succession.
Ideally, the first two Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination: Baptism and Chrismation, are performed during a Divine Liturgy and the priest gives First Holy Eucharist during Holy Communion time.
When the first two Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination are not given during a Divine Liturgy, the priest gives First Holy Eucharist during Holy Communion time at the first Divine Liturgy attended by the person. That is the reason why this Holy Mystery is sometimes called Holy Communion.

The Holy Mystery of Chrismation is administered by a priest.

The Holy Mystery of Chrismation is received only once.

The Holy Mystery of Chrismation is NOT received during Great Lent and Great and Holy Week.

Liturgical Text

English Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination Text The Melkite Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand, a Microsoft Word .doc file
Arabic Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination The Melkite Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand, a Microsoft Word .doc file

Holy Mysteries Our Lady of Redemption, Warren, Michigan

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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles) and Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000 and Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-givng Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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Last Updated: Sunday, January 01, 2006, 09:24:41, PST
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