Publisher's Synopsis
"Oil", says St. Augustine, "signifies something great." Through the ages and in many a land it has always played a mystical and religious part. Soothing and restoring by its very nature, it symbolizes the healing wrought by the Holy Spirit (Extreme Unction); a source of light, it denotes the graces of the Holy Spirit which enlighten the heart; flowing and penetrating it represents the infusion of the Holy Spirit into souls (Baptism, Confirmation); softening in its effects, it shows forth the action of the Holy Spirit, who bends our rebellious wills and arms us against the enemies of our salvation. The Holy Spirit is especially represented by the olive oil, according to the Blessings of Oil and of Palms, because the dove, a symbol of the Holy Spirit carried an olive branch in his beak; because the Holy Spirit came down upon Christ the anointed One; and because the olive branches cast by the Jews in our Lord's path foreshadowed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which was to be given to the Apostles at Pentecost. The balm which is added to the oil to make the sacred Chrism signifies by its sweet perfume the good odor of all Christian virtues. Also it preserves from corruption; another respect in which it is a symbol of supernatural graces that protects us from the contagion of sin. This Missal is the sixth in a series on the revised Ambrosian Rite. It is designed to be used by priests who directly participate in the Chrism Liturgy. The ritual prayers are extremely ancient and pre-date the 8th century. There is a great amount of Gallican influence in the blessing and consecration of the Holy Oils. Because the Liturgy is done in the evening, the Lucernarium ceremony is included with its most ancient prayer "Phos Hilarion". This prayer has been dated back to the early second century. This volume will also be of great interest to Liturgical Scholars and those who wish to better aquaint themselves with the more ancient Ambrosian Liturgy in its revised modern form.
