An Attempt To Date
Chrism
March 18, 2015
G.D.O'Bradovich III
1
The following citations are courtesy of the Oxford English Dictionary. References after the 1800 are omitted.
1a. Oil mingled with balm, consecrated for use as an unguent in the administration of certain sacraments in the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Anglican Churches.
a1000 Confess. Ecgberti §36 in B. Thorpe Anc. Laws Eng. (1840) II. 162
Mid crysman smyreþ his breost.
a1325 (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2458
Cristene folc..ben smered ðor-quiles he liuen Wið crisme and olie.
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 71
He ordeynede þat every ȝere crisme and oyle shulde be i-halowed in holy chirche.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) ix. xxxi. 367
On Cene thursdaye Crysma is made of oyle and of Balsamo with the whyche chyldern ben cremyd and enoynted.
1485 Caxton tr. Charles the Grete (1881) 20
The holy cresme.
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 377/1
He had as leue..be smered with vnhalowed butter as anoynted wyth the holye chrisme.
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. iv. xv. f. 105,
Afterwarde was added a taper with chresme.
1614 J. Selden Titles of Honor 133
The Chrism vsd in Confirmation, and only perhaps to that purpose, by the Pope.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 176/1
Then is his head..anointed with Chrism, that is Oyle and Balsome.
b. fig.
All references are post 1800 A.D.
c. with extended signif.: Unguent.
All references are post 1800 A.D.
1a. Oil mingled with balm, consecrated for use as an unguent in the administration of certain sacraments in the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Anglican Churches.
a1000 Confess. Ecgberti §36 in B. Thorpe Anc. Laws Eng. (1840) II. 162
Mid crysman smyreþ his breost.
a1325 (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2458
Cristene folc..ben smered ðor-quiles he liuen Wið crisme and olie.
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 71
He ordeynede þat every ȝere crisme and oyle shulde be i-halowed in holy chirche.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) ix. xxxi. 367
On Cene thursdaye Crysma is made of oyle and of Balsamo with the whyche chyldern ben cremyd and enoynted.
1485 Caxton tr. Charles the Grete (1881) 20
The holy cresme.
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 377/1
He had as leue..be smered with vnhalowed butter as anoynted wyth the holye chrisme.
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. iv. xv. f. 105,
Afterwarde was added a taper with chresme.
1614 J. Selden Titles of Honor 133
The Chrism vsd in Confirmation, and only perhaps to that purpose, by the Pope.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 176/1
Then is his head..anointed with Chrism, that is Oyle and Balsome.
b. fig.
All references are post 1800 A.D.
c. with extended signif.: Unguent.
All references are post 1800 A.D.
2
2a. A sacramental anointing; unction.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 29200
In funt stane wen we crisme tak.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccxiiiv,
By confirmation & chrisme is receiued ye holy gost.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. iv. 133
That Chrisme, and other such ceremonies are not to be used in Baptisme.
b. spec. The ceremony of Confirmation, esp. as practised in the Orthodox Churches.
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxvi. 171
Their baptisme in all respectes was as frustrate as their chrisme.
1709 J. Johnson Clergy-man's Vade Mecum: Pt. II 98
They..having learn'd the Creeds and received the Crisme, may partake of the holy mysteries.
1725 D. Cotes tr. L. E. Du Pin New Eccl. Hist. 17th Cent. I. v. 59
Confirmation has different Names..it is called Unction, Chrisom, the Sacrament of Chrisom.
c. Extreme unction.
1635 E. Pagitt Christianographie (1636) i. iii. 161
With us Chrisme or exteme unction, is not accounted a Sacrament.
d. transf. and fig.
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar ii. xi. Lord's Prayer 4
Let that anointing..descend upon us whereby we may be anointed Kings and Priests by a holy Chrisme.
a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. ii. 122
The reception of the holy Ghost, sometimes called a Chrism or Unction.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 29200
In funt stane wen we crisme tak.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccxiiiv,
By confirmation & chrisme is receiued ye holy gost.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. iv. 133
That Chrisme, and other such ceremonies are not to be used in Baptisme.
b. spec. The ceremony of Confirmation, esp. as practised in the Orthodox Churches.
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxvi. 171
Their baptisme in all respectes was as frustrate as their chrisme.
1709 J. Johnson Clergy-man's Vade Mecum: Pt. II 98
They..having learn'd the Creeds and received the Crisme, may partake of the holy mysteries.
1725 D. Cotes tr. L. E. Du Pin New Eccl. Hist. 17th Cent. I. v. 59
Confirmation has different Names..it is called Unction, Chrisom, the Sacrament of Chrisom.
c. Extreme unction.
1635 E. Pagitt Christianographie (1636) i. iii. 161
With us Chrisme or exteme unction, is not accounted a Sacrament.
d. transf. and fig.
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar ii. xi. Lord's Prayer 4
Let that anointing..descend upon us whereby we may be anointed Kings and Priests by a holy Chrisme.
a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. ii. 122
The reception of the holy Ghost, sometimes called a Chrism or Unction.
3
3. = chrisom n. 2, 4.
c890 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. ii. xiv,
Ða ærran twegen [beorn] under crisman [L. primi albati adhuc] forþgeferdon.
1447 O. Bokenham Lyvys Seyntys (1835) 286
She made also crysmys ful dylygently For pore chyldryn whan thai shul crystyn be.
1616 J. Bullokar Eng. Expositor
Chrisme, sometime it is taken for a white linnen cloth wrapped about an infant after it is newlie christened.
1623 in H. Cockeram Eng. Dict.
1704 Cocker's Eng. Dict.
Chrism..also a Child dying before Baptism, or within a month of wearing the Chrisme Cloath.
attrib. and Comb., as chrism-child, chrism-cloth, chrism-loosing: see chrisomn.; chrism-liquor, chrism-money.
1615 Bp. J. Hall Recoll. Treat. 822
Balsame, pure Wax, and Chrismes-liquor cleare.
1787 Archaeologia 8 224 The chrism money was granted by Ernulf to the monks of his priory.
Application of the chrism; sacramental unction.
1537 Abp. Lee in J. Strype Eccl. Mem. I. ii. App. lxxxviii. 229
He that is baptized is but initiate, that is, entred: and that by chrysmation of the bishop he is made perfect.
1642 Bp. J. Taylor Of Sacred Order Episcopacy xxxiii,
The case is evident that chrismation, or consigning with ointment, was us'd in baptism.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. Ampullæ were also used for holding the oil used in chrismation.
c890 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. ii. xiv,
Ða ærran twegen [beorn] under crisman [L. primi albati adhuc] forþgeferdon.
1447 O. Bokenham Lyvys Seyntys (1835) 286
She made also crysmys ful dylygently For pore chyldryn whan thai shul crystyn be.
1616 J. Bullokar Eng. Expositor
Chrisme, sometime it is taken for a white linnen cloth wrapped about an infant after it is newlie christened.
1623 in H. Cockeram Eng. Dict.
1704 Cocker's Eng. Dict.
Chrism..also a Child dying before Baptism, or within a month of wearing the Chrisme Cloath.
attrib. and Comb., as chrism-child, chrism-cloth, chrism-loosing: see chrisomn.; chrism-liquor, chrism-money.
1615 Bp. J. Hall Recoll. Treat. 822
Balsame, pure Wax, and Chrismes-liquor cleare.
1787 Archaeologia 8 224 The chrism money was granted by Ernulf to the monks of his priory.
Application of the chrism; sacramental unction.
1537 Abp. Lee in J. Strype Eccl. Mem. I. ii. App. lxxxviii. 229
He that is baptized is but initiate, that is, entred: and that by chrysmation of the bishop he is made perfect.
1642 Bp. J. Taylor Of Sacred Order Episcopacy xxxiii,
The case is evident that chrismation, or consigning with ointment, was us'd in baptism.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. Ampullæ were also used for holding the oil used in chrismation.
citations in chronological order
890c Ða ærran twegen [beorn] under crisman [L. primi albati adhuc] forþgeferdon.
1000a (1840) Mid crysman smyreþ his breost.
1300a In funt stane wen we crisme tak.
1325a (▸c1250) (1968) Cristene folc..ben smered ðor-quiles he liuen Wið crisme and olie.
1387▸a (1874) He ordeynede þat every ȝere crisme and oyle shulde be i-halowed in holy chirche.
1398 (1495) On Cene thursdaye Crysma is made of oyle and of Balsamo with the whyche chyldern ben cremyd and enoynted.
1447 (1835) She made also crysmys ful dylygently For pore chyldryn whan thai shul crystyn be.
1485 (1881) The holy cresme.
1532 He had as leue..be smered with vnhalowed butter as anoynted wyth the holye chrisme.
1537 He that is baptized is but initiate, that is, entred: and that by chrysmation of the bishop he is made perfect.
1560 By confirmation & chrisme is receiued ye holy gost.
1561 Afterwarde was added a taper with chresme.
1597 Their baptisme in all respectes was as frustrate as their chrisme.
1614 The Chrism vsd in Confirmation, and only perhaps to that purpose, by the Pope.
1615 Balsame, pure Wax, and Chrismes-liquor cleare.
1616 Chrisme, sometime it is taken for a white linnen cloth wrapped about an infant after it is newlie christened.
1623 in H. Cockeram Eng. Dict.
1635 (1636) With us Chrisme or exteme unction, is not accounted a Sacrament.
1642 The case is evident that chrismation, or consigning with ointment, was us'd in baptism.
1649 Let that anointing..descend upon us whereby we may be anointed Kings and Priests by a holy Chrisme.
1655 That Chrisme, and other such ceremonies are not to be used in Baptisme.
1688 Then is his head..anointed with Chrism, that is Oyle and Balsome.
1704 Chrism..also a Child dying before Baptism, or within a month of wearing the Chrisme Cloath.
1709 They..having learn'd the Creeds and received the Crisme, may partake of the holy mysteries.
1725 Confirmation has different Names..it is called Unction, Chrisom, the Sacrament of Chrisom.
1753 Ampullæ were also used for holding the oil used in chrismation.
1774a (1777) The reception of the holy Ghost, sometimes called a Chrism or Unction.
1787 The chrism money was granted by Ernulf to the monks of his priory.
1000a (1840) Mid crysman smyreþ his breost.
1300a In funt stane wen we crisme tak.
1325a (▸c1250) (1968) Cristene folc..ben smered ðor-quiles he liuen Wið crisme and olie.
1387▸a (1874) He ordeynede þat every ȝere crisme and oyle shulde be i-halowed in holy chirche.
1398 (1495) On Cene thursdaye Crysma is made of oyle and of Balsamo with the whyche chyldern ben cremyd and enoynted.
1447 (1835) She made also crysmys ful dylygently For pore chyldryn whan thai shul crystyn be.
1485 (1881) The holy cresme.
1532 He had as leue..be smered with vnhalowed butter as anoynted wyth the holye chrisme.
1537 He that is baptized is but initiate, that is, entred: and that by chrysmation of the bishop he is made perfect.
1560 By confirmation & chrisme is receiued ye holy gost.
1561 Afterwarde was added a taper with chresme.
1597 Their baptisme in all respectes was as frustrate as their chrisme.
1614 The Chrism vsd in Confirmation, and only perhaps to that purpose, by the Pope.
1615 Balsame, pure Wax, and Chrismes-liquor cleare.
1616 Chrisme, sometime it is taken for a white linnen cloth wrapped about an infant after it is newlie christened.
1623 in H. Cockeram Eng. Dict.
1635 (1636) With us Chrisme or exteme unction, is not accounted a Sacrament.
1642 The case is evident that chrismation, or consigning with ointment, was us'd in baptism.
1649 Let that anointing..descend upon us whereby we may be anointed Kings and Priests by a holy Chrisme.
1655 That Chrisme, and other such ceremonies are not to be used in Baptisme.
1688 Then is his head..anointed with Chrism, that is Oyle and Balsome.
1704 Chrism..also a Child dying before Baptism, or within a month of wearing the Chrisme Cloath.
1709 They..having learn'd the Creeds and received the Crisme, may partake of the holy mysteries.
1725 Confirmation has different Names..it is called Unction, Chrisom, the Sacrament of Chrisom.
1753 Ampullæ were also used for holding the oil used in chrismation.
1774a (1777) The reception of the holy Ghost, sometimes called a Chrism or Unction.
1787 The chrism money was granted by Ernulf to the monks of his priory.
conclusion
We can understand one example of changing of values by the Moderns: previously, one was a Christian by virtue of a ritual, and now, being a Christian is determined solely by one's belief.