www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology "Lay" anointing

Recently there has been some discussion in the Roman Church about the "correctness" of using blessed oil to anoint yourself or someone else who might be in need of prayer and healing. I am speaking of a lay person using blessed oil for this purpose. Is this a problem only for the Roman Church or are the laity of the Eastern and Orthodox Churches free to use blessed oil? I know that many on this forum carry blessed oil with them: EG the Oil of St. John Maximovitch. Is there any question of confusion between "lay anointing" and the Sacrament of Unction"?
Would appreciate a reply. Thanks!
Fr. Silouan: old monk

>>>Is this a problem only for the Roman Church or are the laity of the Eastern and Orthodox Churches free to use blessed oil?<<<

Of course we are. Very, very old practice.

>>>I know that many on this forum carry blessed oil with them: EG the Oil of St. John Maximovitch. Is there any question of confusion between "lay anointing" and the Sacrament of Unction"?<<<

I have never heard of anyone making that particular mistake.

The problem in the Latin Church is that there has been a concerted effort over the last 30 years to de-clericalize the clergy and the claricalize the laity. That, coupled with some very poor catechesis, has led to some confusion over the use of blessed oil for lay anointing.

It should be pointed out that the oil used in the Eastern Church for this is the same as that used for the Mystery of Anointing while the oil used in the Latin Church is different.

Edward, deacon and sinner

Bless me a sinner, Father Deacon Edward!

What do I know?

Our former pastor, Fr. Bohdan Lypsky, used to tell us that there isn't a "great difference" between laity and priests in the Eastern Church as the Eastern priests have never been so "exalted" as have the Latin priests.

There are many blessings that I was taught to practice from when I was a little younger - I'm greying terribly and rather prematurely.

Thus, there is the lay blessing of the new loaf of bread, blessing of water before drinking it and of all food. The blessing of the bed before lying down to sleep and of anything that one is about to use for the first time or subsequent times e.g. car, desk or place of work.

I was at a wedding anniversary and was asked to lead the prayers.

The couple instinctively knelt down before me (!) and I blessed them with three fingers, tied their hands with a towel, covered them (and me - that was fun!) with a larger embroidered cloth and so on.

I intended no ritual, but the impulse to have it was so strong that the three of us were swept up by it.

I also blessed them with holy oil etc.

Another couple then came to me and said they wanted me to "do them" next year.

I wasn't acting out a priestly inclination - everyone knows I'm a failure in that department

Alex

There needs to be some VERY clear distinctions made between the oils used sacramentally and other oils.

The Euchelaion (sp?) used to anoint the sick in the "Mystery of Holy Anointing" can only be administered by a priest/bishop. This is common to both the Eastern and the Western Churches, Orthodox and Catholic. The basis of this is in the Gospels (Mark 6:13) and the Letter of James (5:14).

The Myron/Chrism can only be administered by a priest/bishop, as it is part of a sacrament.

The oil blessed at Litija, used for festal anointings/mirovanije, while not a sacrament, can still only be a administered by a priest/bishop.

Oil taken from lamps that hang before an icon, relics of a saint, in a shrine, etc. can be given to and administered, with reverence and prayer, by anyone. This practice is very ancient; there are many historical examples of oil vials, imprinted with an icon or symbol, used by pilgrims to take oil back home. This oil is not a sacrament in any regard, and should not be confused with the above oils. It is merely a blessing, in line with the "lay blessings" Alex mentioned.

-Dave

Well I don't know all the whys and why nots, but our priest makes sure that all the families go home with enough blessed oil each year to make it to the next after the blessing of the holy oil. He insists that we use it in our homes, and from everthing I have understood, this is corrrect.