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The Forgotten Mystery: The Ecclesial Consequences of Holy Chrismation
Fr. Vasileios ThermosPublished Sebastian PressFr. Vasileios Thermos Translated from the original Greek by Fr. Peter A. Chamberas The almost complete forgetfulness of Chrismation, along with its detachment from the ancient Church practice when it was a bishop's duty, led us priests to celebrate it in literally a few seconds and our lay fellows to ignore its inner power. We hope that the Holy Spirit guides the readers of this book in discovering the forgotten treasure that He implanted in their hearts, and develop it further in accomplishing their vocation in 978-1-936773-27-5 2016Number of 190Number of color 1
190 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2016
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May 13, 2021Going across the Bible, priests, prophets, and kings are anointed into their roles. King David was anointed and “the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward” (1 Sam 16:1-13.) A Messiah, “an anointed one, a prince” is prophesied by Gabriel to Daniel (9:25) and is
explicitly identified by the Fathers with Christ. Jesus is Christ, the Anointed One. While Christ was not anointed by oil, but with the Holy Spirit, Christ becomes the agent and the root of our
anointing to holiness through the Mystery of Chrismation.
Throughout The Forgotten Sacrament, Fr. Thermos details the broad patristic witness that teaches our Chrismation makes us “little Christs,” plants in us the charisms of Holy Spirit, and anoints us into the Royal Priesthood of all believers. Energizing these embedded charisms is not automatic,
he reminds us. It requires a combination of God’s freely given Grace and the sacrificial alignment of one’s personal will with God, as well as our active, synergetic cooperation with the Spirit. Bringing this to fruition also requires that we follow the Church’s wisdom in preparing ourselves for the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the gifts that God might grant us. What is it that takes place for us during Baptism and Chrismation that enables us to share in holiness? The perfecting of birth that takes place in Baptism is capped by the “Seal of the Holy Spirit” that unites the baptized to the Spirit. We are anointed and sealed with Christ Himself, who sacramentally present in the Holy Myrrh.
Thermos is a foe of the accretions that have built up over time that hamper the ability of the laity to participate fully in the Liturgy, for instance, the “silent prayers” unheard by the people and choral music that can discourage participation. He champions reinvigorating the Priesthood of believers
through reclaiming the meaning of Chrismation. The Laity are not simply those who are not clergymen, but are charismatic Christians who constitute the holy and precious members … of the body of Christ. With Holy Chrismation one acquires the active attribute to be a
member of the People of God… (46)
He calls out some of the attributes of the charismatic Royal Priesthood:
Responsibility for one’s own person including ruling over one’s passions
Responsibility for the organization and historical existence of one’s parish and all the Church, which is one’s true home
Preserving one’s prophetic responsibility through the
proper concelebration of the Liturgy with the sacramental clergy, as well as one’s defense of the faith. Within a laity that feels pressed from many sides in today’s world, rediscovering and reclaiming one’s own “locked-in” and God-given potential should be truly invigorating.
explicitly identified by the Fathers with Christ. Jesus is Christ, the Anointed One. While Christ was not anointed by oil, but with the Holy Spirit, Christ becomes the agent and the root of our
anointing to holiness through the Mystery of Chrismation.
Throughout The Forgotten Sacrament, Fr. Thermos details the broad patristic witness that teaches our Chrismation makes us “little Christs,” plants in us the charisms of Holy Spirit, and anoints us into the Royal Priesthood of all believers. Energizing these embedded charisms is not automatic,
he reminds us. It requires a combination of God’s freely given Grace and the sacrificial alignment of one’s personal will with God, as well as our active, synergetic cooperation with the Spirit. Bringing this to fruition also requires that we follow the Church’s wisdom in preparing ourselves for the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the gifts that God might grant us. What is it that takes place for us during Baptism and Chrismation that enables us to share in holiness? The perfecting of birth that takes place in Baptism is capped by the “Seal of the Holy Spirit” that unites the baptized to the Spirit. We are anointed and sealed with Christ Himself, who sacramentally present in the Holy Myrrh.
Thermos is a foe of the accretions that have built up over time that hamper the ability of the laity to participate fully in the Liturgy, for instance, the “silent prayers” unheard by the people and choral music that can discourage participation. He champions reinvigorating the Priesthood of believers
through reclaiming the meaning of Chrismation. The Laity are not simply those who are not clergymen, but are charismatic Christians who constitute the holy and precious members … of the body of Christ. With Holy Chrismation one acquires the active attribute to be a
member of the People of God… (46)
He calls out some of the attributes of the charismatic Royal Priesthood:
Responsibility for one’s own person including ruling over one’s passions
Responsibility for the organization and historical existence of one’s parish and all the Church, which is one’s true home
Preserving one’s prophetic responsibility through the
proper concelebration of the Liturgy with the sacramental clergy, as well as one’s defense of the faith. Within a laity that feels pressed from many sides in today’s world, rediscovering and reclaiming one’s own “locked-in” and God-given potential should be truly invigorating.
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