Eucharist for the Blessing of Oils

Recitation of the Middle Hour and Eucharist for the Blessing of Oils presided over by His Excellency Archbishop

All morning celebrations are suspended

You can follow the celebration in streaming on this Site (www.duomomilano.it) from the YouTube channel Duomo Milano Tv.

On the morning of Holy Thursday, the Duomo is transformed into the authentic liturgical centre of the entire Ambrosian Church: the diocesan presbytery converges here for the solemn Chrism Mass presided over by the Archbishop, during which the Chrism is consecrated and the Oil of the Catechumens and the Oil of the Sick are blessed.

White is the colour of the vestments used by the Archbishop, the only ritual exception on these days. An Ambrosian characteristic for the whole of Holy Week is, in fact, the use of the liturgical colour red: rather than the penitential aspect, which predominated during Lent, the accent therefore shifts to the Mystery of the Body given and the Blood shed, as well as the centrality of the Cross and the redemptive Passion.

In front of the altar are arranged the amphorae containing the Oils, the blessing of which has preserved, in the Ambrosian liturgy, its traditional location: before the Eucharistic Prayer the consecration of the Chrism and the blessing of the Oil of the Catechumens, and only before the Eucharistic Prayer concludes the blessing of the Oil of the Sick. In addition, at the moment of consecrating the Chrism, the Archbishop infuses the amphora with balsams and perfumed essences.

At the end of the Mass, the blessed Oils are kept in the Sacristy of the Cathedral, where they remain at the disposal of all the parishes of the Diocese, for the administration of the Sacraments throughout the year.