Oil of catechumens
Oleum catechumenorum
- Known today as
- Olive oil blessed at the Chrism Mass for anointing those preparing for baptism.
- Kind
- Sacramental, in 1 older authority
- Earliest authority here
- The Catholic Encyclopedia (New York, 1907–1914)
Revised October 1, 2026: An authority added from a text read in full. Version 1, first published September 28, 2026.
Oil of catechumens: what was it used for?
Applied on the breast and between the shoulders before baptism, to strengthen the catechumen for the struggle against evil; the older rite joined it to exorcisms of the candidate.
Oil of catechumens: what does modern science say?
Blessed each year at the Chrism Mass.
Oil of catechumens: what lore surrounds it?
Its anointing likens the Christian to the athlete oiled for the contest.
Oil of catechumens: what did the older authorities say?
- The Catholic Encyclopedia
- The Catholic Encyclopedia explains the anointing of catechumens “by the fact that they were regarded to a certain extent as being possessed by the devil until Christ should enter into them through baptism,” and notes that “the oil of catechumens is also used in the ordination of priests and the coronation of kings and queens.” At Rome the catechumen received “breathing accompanied with a form of exorcism and placing in the mouth a little exorcised salt,” and on Holy Saturday “the anointing on the breast and back,” after which the candidates “pronounced the three-fold renunciation of Satan.”
Sources
- [21] Herbermann, C. G., et al. (eds.) (1907–1912). The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Online at newadvent.org. Articles: Agnus Dei (H. Thurston); Amulet (M. Hassett); Ash Wednesday (H. Thurston); Bells (H. Thurston); Holy Oils (H. Leclercq); Paschal Candle (H. Thurston); Scapular (J. Hilgers). Read in part · the text read
- [116] United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Blessing of the Oils and the Consecration of the Chrism. usccb.org. Book, seen in reviews
- The Catholic Encyclopedia (New York, 1907–1914), “Holy Oils.” newadvent.org/cathen/07421b.htm Standard reference work
- The Catholic Encyclopedia (New York, 1907–1914), “Catechumen.” newadvent.org/cathen/03430b.htm Standard reference work
Verification
- Checked
- October 1, 2026
- Passes
- Every dated or regulatory claim checked by category across the database
- Each quotation from the older authorities checked word for word against the text, read in full
- Sources
- 4 cited: 1 read in part, 2 standard reference work, 1 book, seen in reviews.
- Corrections
- None were needed.
What was checked, how, and what was found is set out on the Verification page. A checked source is one whose record was found; it does not make the entry medical advice.
Cite This Entry
Version 1 · first published September 28, 2026 · last revised October 1, 2026
- Chicago
“Oil of catechumens.” In Materia Medica, edited by B. C. P. Statema. Version 1. The Thinking Press, 2026–. Last modified October 1, 2026. https://thethinkingpress.org/materia-medica/oil-of-catechumens.
- MLA
“Oil of catechumens.” Materia Medica, edited by B. C. P. Statema, version 1, The Thinking Press, 1 Oct. 2026, thethinkingpress.org/materia-medica/oil-of-catechumens. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.
- APA
Oil of catechumens. (2026, October 1). In B. C. P. Statema (Ed.), Materia medica (Version 1). The Thinking Press. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://thethinkingpress.org/materia-medica/oil-of-catechumens
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See Also
Also in The Catholic Encyclopedia
Oil of the sick in The Catholic Encyclopedia · The Miraculous Medal in The Catholic Encyclopedia · Palm and olive branches in The Catholic Encyclopedia · Lourdes water in The Catholic Encyclopedia · everything The Catholic Encyclopedia names →
Nearby in the alphabet
Oil of bricks · Olive oil and holy water (Fine olive oil) · Oak galls (Round growths raised on oaks by gall wasps) · Olive-wood ash lye (Lye made by steeping the ash of olive wood in river water) · Nutmeg and clove (Myristica fragrans and Syzygium aromaticum) · Onion (Allium cepa) · Niter, pills of (potassium nitrate)
Historical description, not medical advice.