A chrismarium, chrismal, or chrismatory is a container for holy oils, considered a
sacramental
A sacramental in Christianity is a material object or action (in Latin ''sacramentalia'') ritually blessed by a priest to signal its association with the sacraments and so to incite reverence during acts of worship. They are recognised by the Cat ...
in the
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
.
The chrismarium comprises three individual vessels, which may be shaped like jars,
ampullae
An ampulla (; ) was, in Ancient Rome, a small round vessel, usually made of glass and with two handles, used for sacred purposes. The word is used of these in archaeology, and of later flasks, often handle-less and much flatter, for holy water or ...
, or cylindrical boxes. The first vessel, usually marked I. or INF., contains oil for the
anointing of the sick; the second, usually marked CAT., contains the
oil of catechumens
The Oil of Catechumens, also known as the Oil of Exorcism, is the oil used in some traditional Christian churches during baptism; it is believed to strengthen the one being baptized to turn away from evil, temptation and sin.
The Oil of Exorcism ...
; the third, usually marked CHR., contains
chrism
Chrism, also called myrrh, ''myron'', holy anointing oil, and consecrated oil, is a consecrated oil used in the Anglican, Assyrian, Catholic, Nordic Lutheran, Old Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Latter Day Saint churches in ...
. Each vessel has a sheath or case to hold it, and the three cases are often joined together into a single object. The vessels are usually made of gold or silver, but are sometimes made of other materials such as tin or pewter.
Each
parish
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or m ...
church ordinarily has its own chrismarium, which it refills as needed from the large chrismarium kept in the
cathedral
A cathedral is a church that contains the '' cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denomination ...
. The
bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
consecrates the yearly supply of oils on
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday (also known as Great and Holy Thursday, Holy and Great Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Sheer Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries, among other names) is the day during Holy Week that commemorates the Washing of the ...
, and these are kept in the cathedral chrismarium.
References
See also
*
Christening (disambiguation)
Christening may refer to:
* Baptism, a Christian sacrament of admission and adoption
** Infant baptism, the practice of baptising infants or young children
* Christening, an example of a naming ceremony
* Christening, naming of a vessel, as in cer ...
*
Chrismation
Chrismation consists of the sacrament or mystery in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches, as well as in the Assyrian Church of the East initiation rites. The sacrament is more commonly known in the West as confirm ...
*
Holy oil (disambiguation)
{{RC-stub
Sacraments of the Catholic Church