The spices of the incense and the holy oil in Exodus, the balm of Gilead, the hyssop of the Psalms, the mandrakes of Genesis, the wormwood of Revelation, and the gold, frankincense, and myrrh of the Magi: the materia medica of Scripture, which the Church’s blessed objects carried into the rites Canale describes.
30 Entries in the Materia Medica
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- AloeHere the aloe of John 19:39, with which, mixed with myrrh, Nicodemus anointed Christ’s bod
- The aspergillumThe brush, or perforated ball on a handle, with which holy water is sprinkled.
- Bitter aloesThe dried juice of Aloe vera, A. ferox, and A. perryi of Socotra.
- BreveA written prayer or holy names folded and worn on the body.
- Cassia woodThe bark of Chinese cassia, Cinnamomum aromaticum (long known as Cinnamomum cassia); disti
- CinnamonThe bark of Cinnamomum verum; “fine” cinnamon in the oil.
- CuminCuminum cyminum.
- DillAnethum graveolens.
- EndiveCichorium endivia, the salad plant.
- FrankincenseThe resin of Boswellia sacra and related trees.
- GalbanumGum resin of Ferula gummosa.
- HyssopHyssopus officinalis; the hyssop of Scripture was probably a wild marjoram, Origanum syria
- INRIThe initials of the title Pilate set over the cross, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,
- JuniperThe berries and wood of Juniperus communis.
- KermesThe dried bodies of female kermes scale insects, which yield a red dye used since antiquit
- MandrakeMandragora officinarum and its relatives, of the nightshade family.
- Mint, oil ofOil of garden or spear mint.
- Mustard seedThe English follows the 1674 text as “mustard”; the 1660 printing, whose Italian is given
- MyrrhThe resin of Commiphora myrrha.
- Olive oil and holy waterFine olive oil; water blessed by the Church.
- Onycha and stacteIngredients of the Temple incense (Exodus 30:34). Onycha is probably the operculum of a se
- The prologue of JohnThe opening verses of the Gospel of John, “In the beginning was the Word,” written out and
- SaltSalt exorcized and blessed, “by the God who commanded you to be cast into the water throug
- SouthernwoodArtemisia abrotanum, “lad’s love.”
- SpikenardThe root of Nardostachys jatamansi, a Himalayan valerian.
- SulfurBrimstone; “live” sulfur (solfo vivo) is native sulfur.
- Sweet flagAcorus calamus.
- The thuribleThe metal vessel hung on chains in which incense is burned on live coals.
- The vernicleThe cloth with which Veronica was said to have wiped Christ’s face on the way to Calvary,
- Wormwood, oil ofArtemisia absinthium.
