chrisma

Chisma (often spelled chrisma in English-language texts) is not a widely used English term. The form most commonly encountered in English is chrism, a word with origins in Greek and Latin that designates a sacred oil used in Christian liturgy. Some languages and older writings may render the word as crisma or crisma, but in English the established term is chrism and its plural chrismata refers to the set of holy oils used in certain rites.

Etymology and meaning

Chrism comes from the Greek khrisma, meaning anointing or ointment, and from the Latin crisma. It denotes a consecrated oil set apart for sacred use in Christian worship. The oil is typically olive oil that has been perfumed with balsam and other fragrances and then blessed by a bishop.

Uses and liturgical role

In many Christian traditions, chrism is used to confer a lasting spiritual mark or seal. It is employed in baptisms, confirmations, the ordination of bishops, priests, and deacons, and in the anointing of the sick. The bishop blesses chrism (often during a Chrism Mass held in the week before Easter) and the oil is distributed to parishes for use in sacraments. There are also other blessed oils used in rite of baptism and anointing—the Oil of the Catechumens and the Oil of the Sick—which are distinct from chrism but are part of the same liturgical framework in several denominations.

Distribution and denominations

The use and precise ritual of chrism vary by tradition. Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and some Protestant churches recognize chrism as the oil used to seal the baptized and confirmed with a sacramental character. In these contexts, chrism’s symbolism centers on anointing with the Holy Spirit and incorporation into the body of Christ. In other Christian communities, some rites may differ or use alternative formulations.

Notes

Because chrism is sometimes spelled crisma or crisma in non-English texts, readers encountering chrisma are typically looking at a variant or a transliteration of chrism rather than a distinct term.