Dcn. Conrad Jaconette and Fr. Richard Meredith laugh while making balsam in the kitchen of Holy Name of Jesus parish hall in Henderson on Feb. 13, 2025. RILEY GRIEF | WKC
Perfume of the priesthood: Helping make the balsam for Sacred Chrism
BY DCN. CONRAD JACONETTE, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
The scent of Sacred Chrism is unmistakable – a fragrance reserved for the Church’s most sacred moments. Most of us are anointed with Chrism only twice in our lives: first, at Baptism, when the priest or deacon anoints the crown of our head with the sign of the cross, marking us as sharers in Christ’s mission as priest, prophet, and king; and then at Confirmation, when the bishop seals us with Chrism on our forehead, completing the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Yet, how often do we pause to consider where this sacred oil comes from? How is it made? Why do we use it? This year, I had the privilege of assisting Fr. Richard Meredith, pastor of Holy Name of Jesus in Henderson, in crafting the perfumed balsam that is infused into olive oil and consecrated by Bishop Medley at the annual Chrism Mass. What an extraordinary experience!
Following the instructions given in Exodus 30:23-25, Fr. Meredith blends pure extracts of myrrh, cinnamon, lemongrass, clove, and anise to recreate the millennia-old Jewish anointing perfume. He meticulously converts ancient measurements – shekels and hins – into modern imperial ounces. For decades, he has refined the formula, striving to remain as faithful as possible to the ancient tradition.
As a trained biochemist, I have always been drawn to the art of mixing, blending, and infusing. But my desire to assist Fr. Meredith in making this sacred balsam was not merely scientific or historical. It was profoundly personal. I will be anointed with Sacred Chrism one more time.
On May 31, 2025, I will be ordained into the Sacred Order of the Priesthood. During this life-changing moment, the bishop will anoint the palms of my hands with Sacred Chrism, consecrating me as a priest to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Eucharist, marking me in “persona Christi” – a living sign of Christ, the head of the Church.
Immediately after my hands are anointed, I will use a fine linen cloth, called a Manutergium, to wipe the Sacred Chrism from my palms. This Manutergium will then be placed in a wooden box and presented to my mother at my Mass of Thanksgiving. According to tradition, when the mother of a priest enters heaven, Christ will ask her, “What have you done for My Kingdom?” She will reply, “I gave You my son to be Your priest. Here is his Sacred Manutergium.”
What a profound joy it has been to help make this holy balsam – a perfume that will be blessed by the bishop, used to anoint my hands as a priest of Jesus Christ, and ultimately placed in my mother’s hands to be presented before the Lord.
What a beautiful gift God has given us! What a beautiful Church!
Dcn. Conrad Jaconette is a seminarian of the Diocese of Owensboro.
Originally printed in the April 2025 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
