Q: Our Latin Rite liturgical books appear to have two rites for blessing oils for healing. The first is the blessing of the Oil of the Sick, as found in “The Order of Anointing of the Sick and Their Pastoral Care”. Only a priest may bless or use the Oil of the Sick. The second is the “Blessing of oil” found in the USA edition of “Book of Blessings” 1795(E). The blessing may be conducted by a priest or deacon. Though no instructions are given about who may use this oil or under what circumstances, the words of blessing make obvious that, unlike some of the blessings in this chapter, the item blessed is to be used for healing rather than food (“heal our infirmities and soothe our wounds. . .be blessed with health of mind and body”).
While it is clear what the Oil of the Sick does, directions for use of this oil are not specified. This brings up several questions. Does one apply it to oneself? Does a minister apply it to another? In what settings and conditions? Can the minister be a deacon? A lay person? And how does that square with the multi-dicastery “Instruction on Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priest” 9(1), which says “Since they are not priests, in no instance may the non-ordained perform anointings either with the Oil of the Sick or ony [sic] other oil” (https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/laity/documents/rc_con_interdic_doc_15081997_en.html)? Does the application of this oil constitute a blessing? Or is it used as part of another blessing? Is the benefit of the oil strictly the health benefit of having oil applied to the affected skin? If the benefit is broader, how does it differ from anointing of the sick?
Many thanks–and please accept my deep gratitude for all your generous contributions to the liturgical life of the Church.
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A: That prayer in the Book of Blessings predates the Vatican’s instruction prohibiting anointing by lay people, and it exists only in the USA edition, not in the typical edition, though it was approved by the Holy See.
Perhaps a lawyer needs to confirm this, but I presume that the 1997 instruction removes the appropriateness of that blessing from 1990.
Nonetheless, a couple of factors are worth noting. First, the blessing is found in a chapter dealing with the blessing of food or drink associated with devotion, so the oil in this case probably has more to do with sautéing vegetables than with application on the sick—in spite of the language of the prayer that you correctly cite. Also, the 1614 Roman Ritual has a parallel collection of blessings of foodstuffs—lambs, eggs, and, among other things, oil. However, there too, it seems that the oil is destined for healing.
I don’t know where the revised translation of the Book of Blessings stands right now, although the USCCB has worked on one, and ICEL has done begun a complete reworking. I’d be surprised if that blessing survives.
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