Basque ethnography at a glance

Chrism Mass in the cathedral of Pamplona (2024). Author: Fernando Hualde.

The ethnography that surrounds the liturgy of the Catholic Church, that affects us completely, continues to be a topic that those of us who dedicate ourselves to this cultural area continue to have pending and, from time to time, we try to look into it.

Today we will focus our attention on the Chrism Mass, a religious celebration dating back to the 3rd century and directly linked to Easter, located in it, which was always celebrated on the morning of Holy Thursday. Despite this seven-day celebration window, is now most often held on Holy Wednesday, under the presidency of the bishop of the corresponding cathedral, enabling the attendance of priests of the diocese. The purpose of this celebration is to consecrate the Holy Chrism, taking the opportunity to bless the oil paintings of the catechumens and the sick, an act of blessing and consecration reserved only for bishops. In other words, when we see the Pope presiding over this ceremony, it is not by virtue of his status as Pope but by virtue of his status as Bishop of Rome. Each oil painting and chrism have their own specific prayer for this ritual.

Chrism is used within the Church in the administration of its three sacraments: baptism, confirmation and priestly orders; and it is also used when a church is to be dedicated or an altar is to be consecrated. For its part, the use of the oil of catechumens is reserved exclusively for baptismal rituals, while the oil of the sick is used in the rite of anointing the sick.

We must not forget that Christian culture has wanted, for centuries, to administer the Easter Vigil when baptism and confirmation are given to catechumens (new Christians), understanding that at the same time the sacraments come from the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; hence the connection between Holy Mass and Holy Week.

Thus, in addition to this consecration of the Holy Chrism and the blessing of the oil paintings, the presence of all the priests who carry out the pastoral work of the diocese is always sought, since it is an action directed to them since the Second Vatican Council. This is the moment when clergymen take the opportunity to renew their priestly promises and commitments.

Therefore, as a ceremony and as a ritual, we are faced with a religious ceremony that has accompanied the lives of our ancestors since the arrival of Christianity. Curiously, a few centuries ago, in the kingdom of Navarre, instead of blessing the oil of catechumens, they blessed the oil of exorcisms, which helps us to understand the importance given to them here.

The photographs that accompany this article were taken on Holy Wednesday 2024 in the cathedral of Pamplona, ​​a space where the oil has also been used for centuries. It was used in the anointing and proclamation ceremony of the new kings or queens of the old kingdom of Navarre, before being raised on the pavise and displaying the royal attributes: cape, sword, scepter and crown.

Fernando Hualde – Ethnographer