My dear Parishioners,
Peace! The second article of the Apostle’s Creed is “And in Jesus Christ, His only son our Lord.” There are four (4) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding this article of the Creed. The following is a reflection on article 453.
“Christ” is not Jesus’ last name. Saint Joseph is not Mister Joseph Christ. The Blessed Virgin is not Mary Christ. The word “Christ” is a title, like Duke, Earl, Esquire… When we profess our faith in Jesus Christ in the Creed we are affirming our belief that God saves (Jesus) us in the Anointed One (Christ) (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 Peter 2:9).
The literal translation of the Greek word which is the origin of “Christ” means “anointed one.” We who are followers of Jesus Christ are anointed ones in Him who is the Anointed One. Priests and Kings of old receive an anointing as part of the inauguration of their responsibilities (cf. Exodus 29:29; Leviticus 4:16; 8:12; 1 Samuel 10:1; 15:17; 16:13;Isaiah 61:1). We are anointed with various sorts of Holy Oil in the different Sacraments. Baptism involves both the Oil of Catechumens (or just plain Holy Oil) on the breast-bone and Sacred Chrism (which is a mixture of olive oil and balsam) on the forehead; Confirmation and the Holy Orders of Priesthood and the Episcopate both involve anointing with Sacred Chrism (on the palms of the hand and on the crown of the head respectively); Anointing of the Sick whose name includes the action of anointing uses the Oil of the Sick (normally applied on the palms of the hand and on the forehead). All of these Holy Oils are blessed by the Bishop in his Cathedral Church during Holy Week at the Mass of the Chrism. With them we are more configured to Christ Himself.
Anointing has a rich symbolic meaning: protective (e.g. sun screen protects from UV, ancient wrestlers are said to have been anointed so as to slip through the grasp of opponents); curative (e.g. Topical medicines like Neosporen or Aspercream); relational (when applied by another)… Christ the Anointed One in whom we are anointed ones protects, cures and draws us into relationship with Himself, the Eternal Father and Holy Spirit as well as with the other members of Mother Church through all of these Sacraments.
The Hebrew based term “Messiah” similarly means “anointed one.”
The Catechism cites three (3) passages of Sacred Scripture when addressing our faith in Christ: Luke 7:19; Acts 10:38; 28:20. These passages respectively refer to Jesus being “anointed with the Holy Spirit and power” and being “the one who is to come” and the object of the “hope of Israel.” While the Baptism of the Lord (Matthew 3:13) or the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; 1 Corinthians 11:23) are obviously recorded in Sacred Scripture the anointing of the Lord is more mystical and less obvious (cf. Psalm 45:7-8; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18; Acts 4:27; 10:38; Hebrews 1:9) re. Fulfilled in your hearing…
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr