The Holy Oils

Each year on Holy Thursday the bishop blesses new sacramental oils which will be used to anoint the catechumens, the sick and be used in confirmations. These oils are a mixture of olive oil and special perfumes. Representatives of each parish go down to the cathedral and obtain the oils to be taken back to their parishes for use in the sacraments during the upcoming year. At the end of the year, the Book of Blessings stipulates that the oils should be burned. Some parishes burn the oils in the Easter fire on Holy Saturday. In communities that do not burn the oils they often bury them in consecrated ground.