ment- is reposing. This visitation is highly meritorious, but should be practised with great devotion and recollection.
Blessing of the Holy Oils.
The second mass which used formerly to be said on Maundy Thursday was that of the blessing of the holy oils. This ceremony, of course, can be witnessed only in cathedral churches, because it is only a bishop that can consecrate the holy oils used in the administration of the sacraments. The reason of the selection of Maundy Thursday as the day for the blessing of the holy oils, was, that these would be much needed for the baptism of the catechumens on Easter eve. There are three holy oils. The first is called "The Oil of the Sick," which is the matter of the sacrament of Extreme Unction. Formerly it used to be blessed on any day of the year, or as often as required, but later on the blessing of the three oils was united in one. The noblest of the three oils is the Sacred Chrism, and its consecration is more important and fuller of mystery than those of the other two; for it is by the Chrism that the Holy Ghost imprints his indelible seal on the Christian, strengthens him, and gives a visible sign of his membership with Christ, whose name signifies "unction." The child just baptized receives the unction of this oil, in order to show that he partakes of the kingly character of the great King. Balm is mixed with the Chrism to represent The Good Odor of Christ. [I Corinthians, ii. 15.]
In the Eastern Church thirty-three different kinds of precious perfumes are put into the oil, and it thus becomes an ointment of exquisite fragrance. [Guéranger.]
The Sacred Chrism is used by the Church in the consecration of bishops, the blessing of bells, dedication of a church, the consecration of chalice and altars. In the dedication of a church the bishop pours out
