Q: May the Chrism Mass be celebrated on March 19, the Solemnity of St. Joseph? It seems that would pose a liturgical conflict because of the high rank of that solemnity and the fact that the Roman Missal has propers for Mass celebrated on that day in observance of the solemnity as well as a different set of propers for the Chrism Mass.
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A: It is allowed to celebrate the Chrism Mass on a solemnity. Some dioceses celebrate the Chrism Mass just a few days earlier than the traditional date, say on Tuesday of Holy Week, and that outranks St. Joseph on the Table of Liturgical Days. The Chrism Mass is its own entity that may be celebrated on an available day—even, by tradition, Holy Thursday itself. Here’s a previous post:
For more on the Chrism Mass, see my books Glory in the Cross and Sacred Oils.
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