In today’s society, intimacy means practically nothing more than having sex. Couples meet and immediately begin enjoying sexual intercourse, committing either to immoral hedonism or to the idea that sex will serve as the foundation for love. This goes a long way toward explaining why so many marriages, built on no stronger foundation than sexual thrills, end in divorce soon after the flames of passion have died down (Richard and Sharon Phillips).
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Holy Oil

Holy Oil

HOLY OIL

BASIC R.C. BELIEF The ceremonial application of oil for a sacramental or religious blessing is called anointing. Oil is used liberally in the Roman Catholic Church. Oils are blessed by the Bishop on Holy Thursday. There are three kinds: oil of the catechumens, chrism and oil of the sick.

Holy oils are very important in the Roman Catholic Church. There are three kinds: Oil of Catechumens, Chrism and Oil of the Sick.

Oil of the Catechumens is used for blessing the baptismal font, consecration of a church, blessing altars, in the ordination of a priest and the coronation of Catholic kings and queens. It gets its name because it is used in Baptism.

Chrism is used for Confirmation, consecration of a Bishop, and blessing chalices, patens and church bells.

Oil of the Sick is used for Extreme Unction.

The consecration of these oils is held on Holy Thursday, officiated over by the Bishop. It requires many clergy and solemn ceremonies. The Bishop pronounces an exorcism (105) over the oil to banish Satan’s influence. He then prays that the Holy Spirit may come upon the oil.

Later in the day, parish priests obtain oil for their use during the year. Unused oils from the last year are used in the sanctuary lamp as ordinary oil.

POST VATICAN II In more recent times the use of anointing has been somewhat modified.