Saturday, January 26, 2019

Holy Oils and the 1917 Code of Canon Law

Latter-day Saints are known to use consecrated oil in various ceremonies, including the blessing and anointing of the sick. Such is not, of course, unique to Latter-day Saints. Note the following from Edward N. Peters, Curator, The 1917 Pio-Benedictine Code of Canon Law: In English Translation with Extensive Scholarly Apparatus (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2001):


Canon 734

§ 1. The holy oils that are used in the administration of certain Sacraments must be blessed by the Bishop on the [Holy Thursday] immediately before; older [oils] shall not be used unless necessity urges.
§ 2. In case of an insufficient supply of blessed oil, the non-blessed oil of lives can be added, [and] even [added] again, though in an amount less than [was] the original. (p. 273)

Canon 945

The oil of olives, that is to be used in the sacrament of extreme unction, must be blessed for this purpose by the Bishop, or by a priest who has obtained from the Apostolic See the faculty of blessing it. (p. 329)

Canon 1271

In the presence of the tabernacle in which the most holy Sacrament is reserved, at least one lamp shall burn continually, day and night, fed by the oil of olives or beeswax; but if true oil of the olives cannot be had, the local Ordinary can prudently permit that other oils be used, insofar as possible, vegetable [oil]. (p. 431)