By Joannie Watson, Integrated Catholic Life, June 6, 2025
Joan Watson was born and raised in Lafayette, Indiana, but college and graduate school took her to Virginia, Ohio, and Rome. After graduating from Christendom College with a B.A. in History and Franciscan University with a M.A. in Theology, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee to be part of the explosion of Catholic culture in the middle of the Bible Belt. …
“We cannot use the excuse that we’re not smart enough, holy enough, or articulate enough. If we have been given the Spirit, we must be witnesses.”
The Power of Anointing
In a Church known for its “smells and bells,” one of the best smells is sacred chrism. From the heads of little babies to the palms of new priests, this rich-smelling sacramental reminds us that a transformation has taken place.
Throughout the Old Testament, there are three different groups that are anointed: priests, prophets, and kings. In addition to being a sign of abundance and joy (see Psalm 23:5), anointing was a sign of consecration. In Leviticus, Moses anoints the tabernacle, the altar, and the instruments in the tent of meeting, and also anoints his brother Aaron: “And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to consecrate him” (Lev. 8:12). Elijah anoints Elisha; Samuel anoints Saul and David.
These people were consecrated, set apart, for a specific mission. When they’re anointed, the Spirit rushes upon them: “Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed him in the midst of his brothers, and from that day on, the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David” (1 Sam 16:13). …
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