Q: Is it permissible in place of pure olive oil to use oils associated with a particular country as a way of further enculturating the Liturgy? For example in Australia emu, eucalyptus and goanna oil…etc.
I am exploring ways to honour first peoples and the natural environment of a local place.
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A: In the Rite for the Blessing of Oils and the Consecration of Chrism you find this at #3: “The matter suitable for a Sacrament is olive oil or, according to local conditions, another oil extracted from plants.” That permission has been out there for almost 50 years.
So eucalyptus yes, but emu and goanna no.