Lay anointing banned?

[winsome]

Hi,

According to reports the Vatican has banned the use of "oil of gladness" and anointing by lay people.

See Vatican demands end to anointings with "oil of gladness"

and Congregation for Divine Worship Letter

Anyone know any more about this?

 

[Angeldove97]

Sorry I really don't know any more about this. Today, I actually bought some anointing oil, said a prayer over it (I looked up what types of prayers should be said over it) and anointed myself and my room for protection.

Now, I'm not at all saying this is the Catholic Church point of view on it, but I felt led to do this, I took it very seriously, and I really felt the Spirit with me and in me during all of this. So do I think I did wrong, no I don't--- does it make me a bad Catholic, maybe, but I know for sure that it doesn't make me a bad Christian.

It's a shame that we can't let the Spirit that lives inside each of us manifest and bless objects such as anointing oil--- if that's what the Catholic Church is saying. I'm *not* talking about the Holy Eucharist (Body or Blood)... that I believe strongly that it has to be done by a MALE PRIEST. But sometimes I would like to see the Catholic Church give its believers *some* credit when it comes to blessing items and oil... we are holy too and as long as we're taking it seriously and being in the Spirit, I don't see any harm being done.

 

[Peaceful Dove]

I have never heard the term "oil of gladness". We annoint with oil blessed by our Priests and in my case also blessed by a Bishop.
It is a sacramental oil, not a Sacrament oil.

I, personally will continue to use it until my Pastor (through the Bishop) tells us not to.

I am wondering if this "oil of gladness" is being used entirely different than we use our prayer oil.

 

[Angeldove97]

Bible verse that mentions it: "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."—Psalm 45:7.

Perhaps there is a difference between the two, perhaps not. The oil of gladness may just be that: a sign to remind us to always keep in our hearts peace and gladness. It's not the same as being anointed with blessed oil by a priest--- I believe this is just a smaller act of worship as compared to the blessing a priest can give you.

I do think there is some sort of "importance" of oil or other objects being blessed by a priest's hands as compared to mine. His whole body has been dedicated to Christ for this special mission--- of course I feel that God has let me dedicate my whole body to His mission in His own special way, but I do admit there's a difference, even if I can't put it into words. (Catholics, I'm sure, will understand what I'm saying)

I think my problem is too is that I have to feel close to a priest in order to want to ask for a blessing or to have something blessed. I think I have to know if the priest is being sincere about the blessing or just rambling off words. My college priest was wonderful at making you feel loved and important and I'm happy he was the one who blessed the crucifix I wear around my neck.

 

[Peaceful Dove]

I am certainly going to speak to my Pastor about it. Our Prayer Group is committed to obedience. It is really important.
Of course during our Healing Masses, the Priest, himself annoints folks with oil.
Hmmm, he has also allowed us to pray over him and annoint him with our oil. Not just one priest but most of them. (we have 7 or 8 priests in our area that have rotated for our Charismatic 1st Friday Masses)

 

[isabella1]

Is there a difference between blessed oil and anointing oil? I have a ton of blessed oil, and I use it daily. As well as Holy Water, blessed salt and other things.

So Is is we are not to use the oil in the way a priest would and call it a sacramental anointing oil?

I am with you Peaceful, I am going to ask my spiritual director about this (a priest).

Glad you brought this up, I certainly would not want to do anointing the Church doesn't approve of.

 

[JoabAnias]

Couldn't read the scanned letter at all. I wonder if there is a better version.

What it sounds like to me is that something suspect was going on.

Some sort of ritual as mentioned in the article and this seems to be directed toward them alone.

"In a sharply worded message to the head of the South African bishops' conference, the Congregation for Divine Worship has called for an end to the widespread practice of anointing people with the "oil of gladness" in unauthorized Catholic rituals.

I wonder what exactly it was they are doing?

The article mentions 3 types of oil. Does anyone one know what the one is thats used to consecrate and altar or dedicate a new basilica/church/shrine?

I have a whole bottle of blessed olive oil. I would like to know if its still good for prayer purposes myself.

I use it no differently than holy water or blessed salt. I wonder if there is anything about this on CA?

 

[winsome]

I think oil blessed by a priest is called "oil of gladness", as opposed to the sacramental oils blessed by the Bishop for use in sacraments. I've always understood that the "oil of gladness" was for use by lay people. There is a proper blessing for it.

At our healing Masses it is always made clar that the anointing by lay people with oil of gladness is a sacramental and NOt the Sacrament of anointing.

Someone has suggested to me that perhaps in South Africa they were not making this clear and were simulating the Sacrament of anointing.

I'm sure some clarification on this will come out.

 

[Peaceful Dove]

In fact I read a blog while doing a search on "Oil of Gladness" and one person mentioned the blessing of newly Confirmed folks with this oil by lay folks. That sounds pretty weird to me.

It is interesting the stuff you find if you Google "oil of gladness"

Our Charismatic groups do not use blessed oil in this way and always make it clear it is not a Sacrament and it is not Oil used in Sacraments.

 

[Rhamiel]

we are all part of the "priesthood of all believers" while not the same as the ordained priesthood we can bless items and dedicate them to our Lord, one of the things some Protestants say about us is "oh Catholics have to go through their priests and saints to talk to God" well it looks like we are trying to live up to the stereotype now.

I do not have any blessed oil, but I thought it was a great practice many Catholics were getting into, blessing objects, it is a shame.
Isabella, what is blessed salt used for?

 

[Angeldove97]

I'm not sure if Isabella uses it for the same reason, but my family has our priest bless salt during Easter. It's saved in a special container and used at family meals. We put the salt on our food--- starting with the blessed Easter food (we bring baskets in of Easter food... it can be anything really... and our priest will say a special blessing for each type of food)--- and use it through out the year for special family meals.

Salt has been used by others (I'm not sure if it's a Christian thing though) to ward off evil spirits, but I know blessed salt from Easter food.

 

[Angeldove97]

By no means do I believe the blessed oil that I have is a Sacrament--- not that anybody was accusing me of thinking it was. I simply blessed it with a simple prayer and it's dedicated to God--- I use it as a reminder that I am His, completely sealed and protected. I'm even wary of using it on other people--- though I wouldn't necessary think it would be a bad thing to do. I do plan to pray over my Sweetheart when he comes to visit again and anoint him with the oil as a sign that he is protected by God. (We have a long distance relationship--- I beg God daily to watch over my Beloved)

 

[Rhamiel]

Angeldove

Salt has been used by others (I'm not sure if it's a Christian thing though) to ward off evil spirits,

it is kinda christian, kinda not.
the use of salt as a protection agianst evil spirits comes from european folklore, it was thought to stop witchcraft demons and faries, all of which were believed in by 90% of Christians untill a few houndred years ago. folklore is kind of a hobby of mine

 

[winsome]

Angeldove
it is kinda christian, kinda not.
the use of salt as a protection agianst evil spirits comes from european folklore, it was thought to stop witchcraft demons and faries, all of which were believed in by 90% of Christians untill a few houndred years ago. folklore is kind of a hobby of mine

This is the Blessing of salt and water used at our Healing Masses

Blessing of Water and Salt​

The priest prays the following:
O salt, creature of God, I exorcise you by the living X God, by the true X God, by the holy X God, by the God who ordered you to be poured into the water by Elisha the prophet so that its life giving powers might be restored. I exorcise you, so that you may become a means of salvation for believers, that you may bring health of soul and body to all those who make use of you, and that you may put to flight and drive away from the places where you are sprinkled every apparition, villainy, and turn of devilish deceit, and every unclean spirit, adjured by him who will come to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire.
R. Amen.
Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, we humbly implore you, in your immeasurable kindness and love to bless this salt which you created and gave to the use of mankind, so that it may become a source of health for the minds and bodies of all who make use of it. May it rid whatever it touches or sprinkles of all uncleanness and protect it from every assault of evil spirits.
Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
O water, creature of God, I exorcise you in the name of God the Father X almighty, and in the name of Jesus X Christ his Son, our Lord, and in the power of the Holy X Spirit. I exorcise you so that you may put to flight all the power of the enemy, and be able to root out and supplant that enemy with his apostate angels: through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will come to judge the living and, the dead and the world by fire.
R. Amen.
Let us pray. O God, for the salvation of mankind you built your greatest mysteries on this substance water: in your kindness hear our prayers and pour down the power of your blessing X into this element, made ready for many kinds of purifications.
May this, your creature become an agent of divine grace in the service of your mysteries, to drive away evil spirits and dispel sickness, so that everything in the homes and other buildings of the faithful that is sprinkled with this water may be rid of all uncleanness and be freed from every harm. Let no breath of infection, no disease-bearing air remain in these places. May the wiles of the lurking enemy prove to no avail.
Let whatever might menace the safety and peace of those who live here be put to flight by the sprinkling of this water, so that the health obtained by calling upon your holy Name may be made secure against all attack. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
The priest pours salt into the water in the form of a Cross, saying:
May a mixture of salt and water now be made in the name of the Father, and of the Son X and of the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And also with you.
Let us pray. O God, Creator unconquerable, invincible King, Victor, ever glorious, you hold in check the forces bent on dominating us, you overcome the cruelty of the raging enemy, in your power you beat down the wicked foe.
Humbly and fearfully do we pray to you, O Lord, and we ask you to look with favour on this salt and water which you created. Shine on it with the light of your kindness. Sanctify it by the dew of your love, so that, through the invocation of your holy Name, wherever this water and salt is sprinkled it may turn aside every attack of the unclean spirit and dispel the terror of the poisonous serpent.
And wherever we may be, make the Holy Spirit present to us who implore your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

(The priests and the faithful are then sprinkled with the newly blessed holy water.)​

The X are where the priest makes the sign of the cross.

 

[winsome]

And the blessing for oil used at Healing Masses



It is always made clear that this is not the oil used for the Sacrament of anointing but is a sacramental for use by clergy lay people, and any anointing with it is not the Sacrament of anointing.









BLESSING OF OIL

​

​

Priest: Our help is in the name of the Lord.

All: Who made Heaven and Earth.

EXORCISM


God’s creature, oil, I cast out the demon from you by God the Father X almighty, who made heaven and earth and sea, and all that they contain. Let the adversary’s power, the devil’s legions, and all Satan’s attacks and machinations be dispelled and driven afar from this creature, oil. Let it bring health in body and mind to all who use it, in the name of God X the Father almighty, and of our Lord Jesus X Christ, His Son, and of the Holy X Spirit, the advocate, as well as in the love of the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who is coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire.

All: Amen.

Priest: Lord, heed my prayer.

All: And let my cry be heard by you.

Priest: The Lord be with you.

All: May He also be with you.

Let us pray.
Lord God almighty, before whom the hosts of angels stand in awe, and whose heavenly service we acknowledge; may it please you to regard favourably and to bless X and hallow X this creature, oil, which by your power has been pressed from the juice of olives. You have ordained it for anointing the sick, so that, when they are made well, they may give thanks to you, the living and true God. Grant, we pray, that those who will use this oil, which we are blessing in your name, may be delivered from all suffering, all infirmity, and all wiles of the enemy. Let it be a means of averting any kind of adversity from man, made in your image and redeemed by the precious blood of your Son, so that he may never again suffer the sting of the ancient serpent; through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

 

[Rhamiel]

thank you for the information on the blessed salt, i have heard others talk of this, I think I will ask my priest about blessing some salt for my family

 

[JoabAnias]

I have been told blessed salt can calm a rambunctious child and have used it for such with my little tigger - on his food when he was an adolescent. It seemed to help momentarily.

 

[Angeldove97]

Angeldove
it is kinda christian, kinda not.
the use of salt as a protection agianst evil spirits comes from european folklore, it was thought to stop witchcraft demons and faries, all of which were believed in by 90% of Christians untill a few houndred years ago. folklore is kind of a hobby of mine

And a hobby of mine Since I know its not 100% Christian/Catholic, I would recommend someone talk to a priest first about proper use of blessed salt. Not just try throwing holy salt at anything that goes bump in the night.

 

[Tonks]

Read (purchase) the Book of Blessings which has been promulgated by the Congregation for Divine Worship. It lays all of this stuff out. Besides, when lay people "bless" something they aren't actually changing anything - lay blessings are nothing but a mere "plea" to God.

Thus Church has written plenty on this. Catholics are free to use prayers etc used by priests but it does nothing to an object (ie: it is not considered "blessed"). "Oil of gladness" is nothing but oil. Spread it on your walls and the only thing that is going to happen is that you're going to get oily walls. Sacramentals, those actually blessed by a priest, through the power of the prayers of the church and the disposition of the wearer / user can often assist in remiting venial sin and can - likewise - prepare the soul for grace.

 

[shailferns]

Bible verse that mentions it: "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."—Psalm 45:7.

Well i havent heard about it so far, so i will continue to use the holy oil to anoint me and my family....
i really feel the annoiting by the holy oil which is blessed by our holy priest and is used as a source for annointing and protection