On the Use of Blessed Oil and Anointings

On the Use of Blessed Oil and Anointings

What are the Oils utilized by the Church?

It may sound odd, but it is important to note that “Blessed Oil” is not the same as “Holy Oil.” Three Holy Oils are used in the administration of the Sacraments and are blessed by the Bishop during Holy Week:

Sacred Chrism: a perfumed oil which signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is used for consecration at Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders. It is also used in the consecration of altars and church buildings.

Oil of Catechumens: an oil used to anoint candidates prior to baptism by which they are strengthened in their conversion from sin and renunciation of Satan. 

Oil of the Sick: an oil which confers grace on those experiencing difficulties because of grave illness, a serious surgery. Elderly people may also be anointed if they have become notably weak. Sick children who have sufficient use of reason may be anointed.

Blessed Oil is not used for the administration of the sacraments, which were instituted by Christ to confer grace. Blessed Oil is one of the many “sacramentals” recognized by the Church which incite in us pious dispositions so that we may obtain grace. Examples include holy water, blessed palms and ashes, the rosary, crucifix, medals, scapulars, statues, and holy cards. A sacramental can also be a pious action such as the sign of the cross or a genuflection.
 

Who is permitted to anoint others? Who is the minister of the Sacrament of the Sick?

A lay person is forbidden to anoint one or more persons. A blessed oil (e.g. Oil of St. Joseph, Oil of Lourdes, Oil of St. Anne, etc.) is for personal use only. It is a help to grow in faith but its use does not confer sacramental grace. Often anointing with this oil is confused with the Oil used in the Sacrament of the Sick. The Bishop of Trenton for this reason has prohibited public anointing with blessed oil in order that the faithful may not be confused.
 
Only priests are permitted to anoint with the sacramental Oil of the Sick since this action involves the forgiveness of sins which only a priest can impart in the name of the Church. Deacons anoint with Sacred Chrism and the Oil of Catechumens during the celebration of Baptisms but may not administer the Sacrament of the Sick.

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YON TI MO SOU LWIL SENT YO AK FASON LEGLIZ LA SEVI AK YO

KI LWIL NOU ITILIZE NAN LEGLIZ LA ?

Sa ka parèt etranj, men li enpòtan pou nou fè yon diferans ant «Lwil beni» ak «Lwil Sent». Legliz la sèvi ak «3 Lwil Sent» lè lap administre sakreman yo. Se Evèk la ki beni lwil sa yo pandan Semèn Sent la. Men non lwil sa yo:

Lwil Sen Krèm nan: Se yon lwil ki santi bon. Pafen li genyen-an reprezante kado Lespri-Sen an. Legliz la sèvi ak lwil sa pou konsekrasyon nan sakreman Batèm, Konfimasyon, ak Odinasyon. Legliz la sèvi avè-l tou pou konsakre lotèl yo ak legliz ki fèk konstwi yo.

Lwil Katekimèn yo: Se yon lwil ki sèvi pou kandida adilt kap prepare pou resevwa sakreman Batèm. Lwil sa ba yo fòs pou yo kapab soti nan peche-a epi pou yo renonse Satan ak Mal la.

Lwil Malad yo: Lwil sa sèvi pou bay gras ak soulajman pou tout moun kap viv moman difisil akoz maladi grav oubyen yon gro operasyon. Moun ki granmoun yo kapab resevwa-l tou si yo santi yo vi-n trò fèb yon sèl kou. Timoun ki malad yo kapab resevwa-l tou nan kèk sikonstans, depi yo konprann sa yap resevwa.

Legliz pa sèvi ak «Lwil Beni» pou sakreman yo. Sakreman yo se Jezu li menm ki te mete yon an legliz la pou bay fidèl yo lagras li. Legliz itilize Lwil Beni ak anpil lot «sakramanto» ki envite oubyen ki ede kretyen yo viv nan lagras Bondye. Pami “Sakramanto” sa yo, nou jwenn: dlo beni, ramo ak sann beni, chaplè, kwa, meday, eskapilè, estati, kat beni, etsetera. Nan lis “sakramanto” yo, nou kapab konsidere tou «siy lakwa» oubyen «jenoufleksyon» ki fèt avèk respè, avèk devosyon.

Kimoun ki kapab pase lwil sakre sou fidèl yo? Kimoun ki minis sakreman malad yo?

Yon layik pa gen dwa pase lwil sou yon lot moun oubyen sou plizyè lot moun. Lwil beni yo ( tankou Lwil Sen Jozèf, Lwil Loud oubyen Lwil Sent A-n, etsetera), nou gen dwa itilize yo jan nou vle. Yo ka ede nou grandi nan lafwa, men yo pa bay okenn gras sakramantèl. Pafwa lè nou sèvi ak lwil sa yo, sa kreye konfizyon nan lespri fidèl yo, komsi se ta sakreman malad yo nou resevwa. Pou evite kalite konfizyon sa, Bishop dyosèz la mande pou legliz la pa sèvi ak lwil beni pou bay fidèl yo Lonksyon nan legliz la.

Se Pè yo sèlman ki gen dwa itilize lwil malad yo pou bay sakreman sa, etan done sakreman sa sèvi tou pou padone peche moun ki malad la. Se sèl Pè yo ki kapab fè jès sa nan non Legliz la. Dyak yo kapap itilize Lwil Sen Krèm nan ak Lwil Katekimèn yo lè yap administre sakreman Batèm nan legliz la. Men yo pa gen dwa ni otorite pou yo bay sakreman malad yo.