Grace Thompson
In the Catholic Church, three holy oils are used in the sacraments: the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Infirm, and Holy Chrism. The Oil of Catechumens, also known as the Oil of Exorcism, is used in the Sacrament of Baptism to anoint the person being baptised on the chest. This anointing symbolises the person's need for God's help and strength to overcome evil and temptation and to live as a child of God. The Oil of the Infirm, made from pure olive oil, is used in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to give the sick person grace and strength. Holy Chrism, a mixture of olive oil and balsam, is used in the Sacrament of Baptism to anoint the crown of the head of the person being baptised. This anointing signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit and is also used in the Sacrament of Confirmation and Holy Orders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of oils used | 3 |
| Types of oils | Holy Chrism, Oil of Catechumens, Oil of the Sick |
| Oil of Catechumens | Also known as the Oil of Exorcism, it is used to anoint the person being baptised on the chest |
| Holy Chrism | A mixture of olive oil and balsam, it is used to anoint the crown of the head |
| Oil of the Sick | Pure olive oil used for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick |
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What You'll Learn
Chrism oil is used during baptism
The Catholic Church uses three holy oils: the oil of the sick, the oil of catechumens, and the holy chrism oil. Of these, the holy chrism oil is used during the Sacrament of Baptism.
Chrism oil is a mixture of olive oil and balsam, an aromatic resin. The olive oil is blessed by a bishop or priest, and the balsam is held on a silver salver and blessed separately. The two are then mixed together, and the chrism is perfected with a final prayer.
During the Sacrament of Baptism, the priest anoints the person on the crown of the head with chrism. The priest says:
> God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin and given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit. He now anoints with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as a member of His body, sharing everlasting life. Amen.
The use of chrism oil during baptism is linked with the sanctification of individuals. The oil is believed to symbolise strength, and the fragrant balsam represents the "aroma of Christ". Being anointed with chrism oil is considered a sign of a Christian, and it signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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Oil of Catechumens, also known as Oil of Exorcism
The Oil of Catechumens, also known as the Oil of Exorcism, is used in some traditional Christian churches during baptism. It is believed to strengthen the one being baptised and prepare them to turn away from evil, temptation, and sin. The Egyptian Church Order teaches that it is blessed during the Easter Vigil, the first liturgy of Eastertide.
The Oil of Catechumens is mentioned in the ancient Christian Apostolic Tradition, written in the early third century, as the "Oil of Exorcism". In the Rite of Baptism today, a prayer of exorcism is offered, and then the person being baptised is anointed with the oil. This anointing symbolises the need for God's help and strength to overcome the opposition of the devil, so that the person may profess their faith, be baptised, and live as a child of God.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oil of Catechumens is blessed by the priest during the baptismal rite. After the consecration of the baptismal water, a vessel of pure olive oil is brought to the priest by the deacon. The priest breathes on the oil three times and blesses it thrice, saying the prayer of blessing. The priest then pours some of the oil into the baptismal font, making the sign of the cross with the oil three times, and then anoints the catechumen, making the sign of the cross on the brow, breast, between the shoulders, on the ears, hands, and feet.
In the Roman Catholic Church, the Oil of Catechumens is blessed by a bishop or a priest during the Chrism Mass, which takes place on Holy Thursday. This oil is one of three holy oils used by the Church for a host of purposes, the other two being the Oil of the Infirm and Holy Chrism.
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Oil of Catechumens is blessed by the priest
The Oil of Catechumens, also known as the Oil of Exorcism, is used in some traditional Christian churches during baptism. It is believed to strengthen the person being baptised, preparing them to turn away from evil, temptation, and sin. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Oil of Catechumens is blessed by a bishop or a priest during the Chrism Mass, which takes place on Holy Thursday.
The Oil of Catechumens is the second oil to be blessed during the Chrism Mass. The prayer of blessing asks for three effects on those who will be anointed with the oil: a deeper understanding of the Gospel of Christ, the willingness to undertake the labors of the Christian life with a generous heart, and the joy of being born anew and living in the Church.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oil of Catechumens is blessed by the priest during the baptismal rite. After the consecration of the baptismal water, a vessel of pure olive oil is brought to the priest by the deacon. The priest breathes on the oil three times and blesses it thrice, reciting a prayer. This ritual symbolises the need for God's help and strength to break free from the bondage of the past and overcome the devil, empowering the catechumen to profess their faith and live as a child of God.
The Oil of Catechumens is intended to strengthen and prepare individuals for the challenges of the Christian life, just as wrestlers in ancient Greece and Rome were anointed before their competitions. This anointing is often performed on the chest, accompanied by a prayer of exorcism, symbolising the catechumen's need for divine assistance in their spiritual journey.
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Oil of Catechumens is used before baptism
The Oil of Catechumens, also known as the Oil of Exorcism, is used in some traditional Christian churches during baptism. It is believed to strengthen the person being baptised, preparing them to turn away from evil, temptation, and sin. The Egyptian Church Order teaches that the oil is blessed during the Easter Vigil, the first liturgy of Eastertide.
The Oil of Catechumens is used before baptism to anoint the catechumen, or the person prepared for baptism. This anointing is a symbol of being the heir of the Kingdom of God, as kings and queens are anointed at coronations. The catechumen is anointed with the oil on the brow, breast, between the shoulders, on the ears, hands, and feet. This anointing before baptism is known as chrismation, which is a separate sacrament usually performed immediately after baptism.
In the Roman Catholic Church, the Oil of Catechumens is blessed by a bishop or priest during the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday. The priest offers a prayer of exorcism and then anoints the person about to be baptised on the chest, saying:
> We anoint you with the oil of salvation in the name of Christ our Saviour; may He strengthen you with His power, who lives and reigns forever and ever.
The Oil of Catechumens is also used during the period of the Catechumenate on one or several occasions. This anointing symbolises the person's need for God's help and strength to overcome the opposition of the devil so that they may profess their faith, be baptised, and live as a child of God.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oil of Catechumens is blessed by the priest during the baptismal rite. After the consecration of the baptismal water, the priest blesses the oil by breathing on it three times and saying a prayer.
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Oil of the Sick is used for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
The Oil of the Sick, also known as oleum infirmorum, is used for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. This sacrament is not just for those at the point of death, but for any baptized Catholic who is seriously ill or facing surgery for a dangerous illness and has sufficient reason to be comforted by the Sacrament. It is also administered to the elderly. The sacrament is performed by a priest or bishop, who anoints the patient's forehead and perhaps other parts of the body, often in the form of a cross, while reciting specific prayers. The Oil of the Sick is usually olive oil, but other pure plant oils can also be used.
The Oil of the Sick is blessed by a bishop and is distinct from the chrism oil used during Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders. It recalls the community's sharing of the Holy Spirit and the sick person's connection to the entire Body of Christ and Communion of Saints. The sacrament is meant to unite the sick person with Christ's Passion, giving their suffering new meaning and uniting them more closely to Christ. It also gives the sick person grace, strength, comfort, peace, courage, and forgiveness of sins if they are unable to make a confession.
The Anointing of the Sick is also referred to as Extreme Unction, which means "final anointing," but this term has fallen out of favor as it implies the sacrament is only for those near death. Other names include holy oil or unction of the sick, unction or blessing of consecrated oil, unction of God, and office of the unction. In Eastern Christianity, it is called euchelaion (prayer-oil), and other names include elaion hagion (holy oil), hegismenon elaion (consecrated oil), elaiou chrisis (anointing with oil), and chrisma (anointing).
The chief Biblical reference to the Anointing of the Sick is in James 5:14-15: "Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man. And the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him."
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Frequently asked questions
Three oils are used in Catholic baptism: the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of Chrism, and the Oil of the Sick.
The Oil of Catechumens, also known as the Oil of Exorcism, is used in some traditional Christian churches during baptism. It is believed to strengthen the person being baptised and prepare them to turn away from evil, temptation, and sin.
The Oil of Chrism is a mixture of olive oil and balsam, an aromatic resin. It is used to anoint the person being baptised on the crown of their head.
The Oil of the Sick is used for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. It is used to anoint the sick or elderly, imparting grace and strength to bear their illness or infirmity.
