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Holy Oils

Every year during Holy Week, the oils are brought from the cathedral, where they have been blessed by the Bishop during the Chrism Mass. The oils blessed [at chrism mass] are of three kinds --- the Oil of Catechumens, the Chrism and the Oil of the Sick. Each of them is oil extracted from olives, but the Chrism is distinguished from the others by having balm or balsam mixed with it.Three oils are used: the oil of Chrism, used for ordination and during baptism, and for blessing a new church, the oil for the anointing of the sick, and the baptismal oil. Each of these is blessed by the Bishop with a special form of prayer, expressing the purpose for which it is to be used and its mystical signification as well.

The Symbolism of Oil.

In the countries of the Orient and in southern Europe, olive oil has always been a necessity of daily life, much more than us in this country. It enters into the preparation of food; it is used as a remedy, internally and externally; in past centuries it was the chief means of furnishing light, being consumed in lamps; it was employed in ancient times by the athletes of the Olympic games, to give suppleness to their muscles. Hence we see the various symbolic meanings of which the Church takes cognizance when she uses it to give us spiritual nourishment, to cure our spiritual ailments, to diffuse the light of grace in our souls, and to render us strong and active in the never-ending conflict with the Spirit of Evil. The use of oil to express the imparting of spiritual strength is so appropriate that the Church employs it not only for the anointing of living beings but also for bells and chalices and other ...things which are to be used as aids in the sanctification of her children.