Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has called on Christians to pray for the country as they complete the observance of the Lenten season and prepare for Easter celebrations. Onaiyekan made the call yesterday during the 2018 Chrism Mass, as part of Holy Week activities of the Catholic Church at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Abuja.
“As we go about the Holy Week let us pray for Nigeria. Let us pray for peace and tranquility in the country so that the era of senseless killing will soon be over,” he said. He explained that the Chrism Mass “is a special celebration that focuses on the Holy Orders is the feast of the ordained and the anointed.” “All are called to the priesthood of Jesus Christ; however, some people are called and consecrated. The mission of priesthood in the church is exercised within the sacred order…Any mission outside the order is not valid and fruitful.
“…The anointing, which God himself imparts on the people through the Holy Order is the significance of the Pascal mystery, the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which we celebrate and to which we are all called to participate.”
The Archbishop said that all Christians were expected, during the Lenten period and the Hold Week, to share in the suffering and passion of Jesus Christ “so that they will have a share in the glory of the resurrection.” While stating that the greatest of all sacrifice was Jesus to shed his blood on the cross of Calvary, Onaiyekan noted that Jesus was obedient to his father, even unto death on the Cross. He said the Feast of Chrism “is used as an opportunity for priests to renew their priestly vow of obedience to the Bishop and all authority with the church.”
The Archbishop also disclosed that the oils used by the church for baptism, ordination of priests and anointing of the sick are blessed during the Chrism Mass. Highpoint of the celebration was the renewal of priestly vows by all the priests from all the parishes in the archdiocese as well as the blessing of the oils.
