Old Traditions, New Mode: Chrism Mass During COVID
In addition to my work in portraiture and weddings, I also do photojournalism for the Diocese of Knoxville and today had what in most years is a “typical” assignment but today looked and felt very different.
In the liturgies of the Catholic Church, the Chrism Mass is a special time when the oils used by priests in administering the Sacraments are blessed for the year ahead. These are the oils used to anoint people coming into the Church as new members, to anoint men joining the ranks of the clergy in ordination, and to anoint the sick and dying. The Chrism Mass is also a time for priests to renew their vows and recommit themselves to their vocation.
Usually, the Chrism Mass is held during Holy Week, the days between Palm Sunday and Easter. By the time Holy Week came about this year, the state of Tennessee was already in lockdown and no public Masses were being held. As a measure of caution, it was delayed - until today.
The priest and the deacons came and sat three to a pew, in every other pew in the Cathedral, to effect social distancing. Face masks were worn. And during this Mass, a priest from Poland, Fr. Martin Gladysz, was incardinated, meaning he became a priest of the Diocese of Knoxville; usually after that is done, the Bishop would give him a fraternal hug but today, well, it was an elbow bump.