Joshua Bennett
Blessed Oil is a Catholic sacramental that can be used by laypeople for personal use. It is not to be confused with Holy Oils, which include the oil of Catechumens, the oil of the Sick, and the Sacred Chrism. Blessed Oil is primarily used for healing and protection from harm, but it can also be used to pray for blessings. When using Blessed Oil, it is important to make the sign of the cross on the forehead while reciting prayers. This can also be done on other parts of the body, especially when healing is needed in specific areas. It is also important to note that only ordained Catholic priests can administer the Sacrament of the Sick.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Healing, protection from harm, and prayer |
| Anointing | Sign of the cross on the forehead, or other parts of the body requiring healing |
| Use case | Self-use or for others, but not for anointing others |
| Oil type | Not the sacred oils of the Church, i.e., not Chrism, the oil of Catechumens, or the oil of the Sick |
| Oil blessing | Done by the bishop during holy week |
| Oil symbolism | God's grace, faith in Jesus, and protection |
| Oil usage | Similar to Holy Water, used to bless oneself or others, and to make the sign of the cross above doorposts and windows |
| Oil source | Donation from holy sites such as Lourdes (France), Fatima (Portugal), etc. |
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What You'll Learn
The difference between blessed oil and holy oils
Blessed oil is a sacramental that can be used by laypeople for personal use and to pray for the sick. It is not the same as holy oils, which include the oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick, and the sacred chrism. These holy oils are used in the administration of the sacraments and only bishops or priests can administer them.
The oil of catechumens is used to anoint both adults and infants prior to baptism. It is also used during the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) when a person begins to prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism. The priest or deacon anoints the catechumens and prays that God will instill them with wisdom and strength.
The oil of the sick is used for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. The priest lays hands on the sick person and anoints them by placing oil in the form of a cross on their forehead and hands. This sacrament can bring spiritual, emotional, and physical healing.
The holy chrism is a mixture of oil and balsam and is used in the administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is also used in baptism when confirmation does not follow immediately and in the ordination of bishops and priests.
Blessed oil, on the other hand, is a symbol of God's grace and can be used in a similar way to holy water. It can be used to bless oneself or another person, to make the sign of the cross above doorposts and windows, and as a healing balm and protection against evil. It is important to note that blessed oil should not be associated with superstitions or magical powers.
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How to use blessed oil when praying for oneself
Blessed oil is a sacramental that can be used by laypeople for personal use and prayer. It is not the same as Holy Oils, which are reserved for use in the Sacraments and are administered only by ordained Catholic priests. The three Holy Oils are chrism, the oil of catechumens, and the oil of the sick.
Blessed oil can be used in the same way as Holy Water. It can be used to bless oneself or another person, to make the sign of the cross on the forehead, or above doorposts and windows. It is used for healing and protection from harm. When using blessed oil on another person, it is important to inform them that it is not the same as the sacred oils used in the Church's Sacraments.
When praying for oneself, the simplest way of anointing is to make the sign of the cross on the forehead while saying accompanying prayers. Other parts of the body can also be anointed, especially when the need for healing is localized to a particular area.
> Mary, health of the sick, pray for me. Dear Heavenly Father, I anoint your servant with this oil that has been set apart as holy. Let your servant be free today from every evil burden that has been weighing him or her down. Lord, I stand upon the authority that you’ve given us believers through your Son, Jesus, and I declare and decree that your servant is free from all spiritual burdens. May this anointing bless all his or her efforts to serve you and draw them ever closer to you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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How to use blessed oil when praying for others
Blessed Oil is a sacramental that can be used by laypersons for personal use. It is important to note that it is not the same as Holy Oils, which are used in the administration of the Sacraments and are reserved for ordained Catholic priests. When using Blessed Oil, lay people should not bless other lay people as they do not have authority over them.
When praying for others using Blessed Oil, it is advisable to inform them that you are using it and that it is not a Sacrament of the Church. The oil can be used to anoint the person by making the sign of the cross on their forehead while saying accompanying prayers. Other parts of the body can also be anointed, especially if the need for healing is localized in one or several parts of the body.
> "Mary, health of the sick, pray for me. Dear Heavenly Father, I anoint your servant with this oil that has been set apart as holy. Let your servant be free today from every evil burden that has been weighing him or her down. Lord, I stand upon the authority that you’ve given us believers through your Son, Jesus, and I declare and decree that your servant is free from all spiritual burdens. May this anointing bless all his or her efforts to serve you and draw them ever closer to you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen."
Blessed Oil can also be used in cooking, for lamps, or for massage.
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The importance of distinguishing between sacramental and sacrament
Blessed oil, a sacramental, is not the same as holy oils (chrism). The oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick, and the sacred chrism are holy oils used in the administration of the sacraments. Sacramentals, on the other hand, are contact points that represent Catholic faith. They are instituted by the Catholic Church to help people grow in faith.
Sacramentals, such as blessed oil, can be used by laypeople for personal use. It is important to note that a layperson must not use blessed oil to anoint another person. When using blessed oil, they must clarify that they are not administering a sacrament, which is limited to bishops or priests. This distinction ensures there is no confusion between sacramentals and sacraments.
The seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, instituted by Jesus Christ, are:
- Baptism: The foundational sacrament of initiation, where individuals are cleansed of original sin and incorporated into the Church.
- Confirmation: The strengthening of those initiated through baptism, confirming them in their faith.
- Eucharist: The central rite of Catholic worship, where the congregation shares in the sacred meal of bread and wine, transubstantiated into the body and blood of Christ.
- Penance: One of the sacraments of healing, also known as the sacrament of reconciliation, where the faithful confess their sins before receiving the Eucharist.
- Anointing of the Sick: Another sacrament of healing, where the sick are anointed with holy oils.
- Holy Orders: One of the sacraments of service.
- Matrimony: The second sacrament of service, where marriage is seen as a mystical channel of divine grace.
The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, with their power coming directly from God through Christ. They have both visible and invisible realities. The visible reality is the outward expression, such as the words and rituals, while the invisible reality is God's grace, his gracious initiative in redeeming us through the death and resurrection of his Son.
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The history of blessed oil
The use of blessed oil in the Catholic Church is a long-standing tradition. While it is not the same as the Holy Oils used in the administration of the Sacraments, it is a sacramental that holds great significance for laypeople. The use of oil as a symbol of God's blessing can be traced back to the Old Testament, where it is mentioned in the books of Numbers, Matthew, Isaiah, Luke, Ruth, and Mark. In these passages, oil is used for various purposes, including nourishment, lamp fuel, medicine, and anointing.
The kings of Israel were anointed with oil, and this act held spiritual significance. From these experiences, oil became a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and prophets who spoke under the influence of the Spirit were considered anointed by God. The expected savior of Israel, the Anointed One, was believed to receive the complete anointing of God's Spirit, and through him, all of God's people would be blessed. Jesus demonstrated himself to be the Anointed One, receiving a powerful anointing of the Spirit at his baptism.
In Christian antiquity, the use of oil was directed by St. James, who instructed priests to anoint the sick with oil in the name of Jesus. This practice is referenced in the book of James in the New Testament. Additionally, a gold leaf found in Syria from the second century contains an exorcism formula involving the use of oil. Over time, the use of blessed oil became established in the Catholic Church, with the liturgical blessing of oil appearing as early as the fourth century in the "Prayer Book of Serapion."
Today, blessed oil is still used by laypeople in the Catholic Church for spiritual healing and protection. It is often obtained from holy sites of pilgrimages, such as Lourdes in France and Fatima in Portugal. While it cannot be used to anoint others, it can be used for personal anointing, blessing oneself, and making the sign of the cross above doorposts and windows. The use of blessed oil is intended to help people grow in their faith and increase their devotion to God.
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