# Oil of catechumens

**Oleum catechumenorum**

**Known today as.** Olive oil blessed at the Chrism Mass for anointing those preparing for baptism.

Kind: Sacramental

## 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.

## What does modern science say?

Blessed each year at the Chrism Mass.

## What lore surrounds it?

Its anointing likens the Christian to the athlete oiled for the contest.

## 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

- *The Catholic Encyclopedia* (New York, 1907–1914), “Holy Oils.” newadvent.org/cathen/07421b.htm
- *The Catholic Encyclopedia* (New York, 1907–1914), “Catechumen.” newadvent.org/cathen/03430b.htm

---

*Oil of catechumens.* In *Materia Medica*, edited by B. C. P. Statema. Version 1, revised 2026-10-01. The Thinking Press. https://thethinkingpress.org/materia-medica/oil-of-catechumens

Historical description, not medical advice.