Anointing within the Sacramental Rite of Ordination: A brief note.

“May Christ the High Priest by this holy anointing pour on you the fullness of spiritual blessing”.  Book of Common Prayer (CPWI), page 440 

The practice of anointing persons with oil is steeped in antiquity and is a feature of many of the world religions.

Anointing has become a sacramental practice that carries tremendous significance and is valuable at many levels depending on the context. Of course as Kevin Irwin states, “Context is everything in liturgy”.

The chief purpose of anointing is either to bring about healing in instances of illness or to consecrate or sanctify a person or an object for a holy purpose.

There are many instances of the anointing of objects in the Old Testament, for example Jacob anoints a stone at Bethel (Genesis 28:28).

When we read In Old Testament texts we will take note that  anointing is associated with the appointment of Kings and priests (See 2 Samuel 10: 1; 16:13. Exodus 8:30; Leviticus 8:12).

Anointing is also associated with Christian initiatory rites, such as Baptism and Confirmation; however for our purpose we are highlighting its association with the consecration of persons for a particular ministry in the church.

In the New Testament our Lord, Jesus is the Christ (Χριστός) meaning the anointed one. He is the one filled with the Holy Spirit and is to proclaim the Good News to all the people.

Liturgical historians tell us that from around the 8th century anointing began to be used in connection with ordination. 

In current practice the hands of the priest are anointed with chrism and the head of the bishop similar to the Old Testament practice of the the setting apart of the High Priest. (Psalm 133:2)

There is a rubric (rubrics are protocols that tell the celebrant what to do) in the Book of Common Prayer that says 

One Bishop will bring the chrism and the Archbishop will anoint the head of the new Bishop

For Juan Mateos, the service of consecration of a bishop involves symbolic rituals, for example, the giving of a bible, cross, ring, mitre and staff which marks the individual as a leader in community.  

Gerald Ellard maintains that these ritual practices ought also to intensify the meaning of the ordination for the candidate.

According to the findings of the Sixth International Liturgical Consultation (2001), a renewed model of episcopal leadership is emerging.

Is is considered to more fully reflect the servant ministry of Jesus and the baptismal calling of the whole people of God.

We pray for Michael our Bishop, members of his family and for the entire Diocese that our Church may continue to demonstrate leadership at this most crucial time in history of our nation and that peace and concord will be hallmarks of our national life.

The Rev'd Canon Noel A. Burke is a Presbyter of the the Anglican Church in Barbados. The Rector of the St. David's Church and Chairman of the Commission on Liturgy, Spirituality and Music.