Celebrating 100 years
- Clustered Worship Sites:
Christ the King
St. Salome
St. Thomas the Apostle - Individual Worship Sites:
St. Cecilia
St. Margaret Mary - Irondequoit Catholic Communities:
Regional Mass Schedule
Regional Calendars
Irondequoit Senior Ministries
The history of the use of oil in religious ceremonies is an ancient one and dates back to Old Testament times. It was used in the coronation of kings,, the consecration of priests and prophets. Its symbolism was seen as threefold: to make sacred, to strengthen and to heal. Oil was used to consecrate, or make sacred (holy); to take a person or object our of ordinary use and place it at the service of God. Soldiers and athletes used oil to limber up their muscles before entering battle or a strenuous contest, and so is its association with strength. Physicians used oil to help in the healing of wounds. Since the oil was expensive and often mixed with precious aromatic ingredients, the pouring (or liberal use) of oil was seen to be a symbol of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the precious gift of God, upon the person. Oil used in sacred ceremonies were often perfumed so as to be pleasing and since evaporation was slow, this enhancement was long lasting.
In the liturgy of the church, Holy Oil is used in the sacraments of institution (Baptism and Confirmation) to designate the individual as God's specially chosen one, taken out of the profane and brought into the sacred. No longer is the Baptized person ordinary, he or she is now a child of God, infused with His precious gift of life-giving grace, and dedicated to His service, "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…," strengthened by the Holy Spirit to witness to the Lord Jesus in word and deed.
The use of oil in the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is taken directly from the New Testament letter of Saint James (5:14-15): "Are there any who are sick among you? Let them send for the priests of the Church, and let the priests pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick persons, and the Lord will raise them up; and if they have committed any sins, their sins will be forgiven them."
