Oil is a part of our everyday life. We use some types of oil in cooking, others to soothe our skin, others to light lamps, fuel cars and heat our homes. Oil can also be damaging. It can spill into rivers and oceans; frying with oil can cause burns; oil from our cars pollute the atmosphere. 

In Biblical times oil was a sign of God's presence when used to anoint those chosen as priests, prophets, and kings. Oil was also used in sacrifices and used to honor the body after death.

Oil is used in four of our sacraments: baptism, confirmation, holy orders, and anointing of the sick. It is also used for the dedication of altars and churches. The oil symbolizes how the Spirit permeates those who are being anointed and strengthens them for the task at hand — such as living the Christian life in the case of confirmation, or serving as a priest or bishop. The healing quality of oil is symbolic in its use in the anointing of the sick.

There are three different oils that are used in the sacramental life of the Church: 1) the oil of the catechumens for the baptism of infants and adults preparing for initiation; 2) the oil of the sick for the anointing of the sick; and 3) sacred chrism for baptism, confirmation, holy orders, and during the consecration of churches and altars.

These oils are blessed every year on Holy Thursday at the Chrism Mass at the cathedral and then given to each parish for use during the upcoming year. The oil used is olive oil. Sacred Chrism is olive oil mixed with balsam or some other sweet perfume. At St. Stephen our sacramental oils are kept in the ambry located in the glass case in the narthex screen in the back of church.