A New Ritual for the Blessing of Oil is Released
Panjim, Goa, 24 April 2023 (CCBI): A New Ritual for the Blessing of Oil is released by His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, the President of the CCBI and Archbishop of Goa and Daman at a significant function held at Archbishop’s House, Panjim, Goa on 25 April 2023. Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General, CCBI, Rev. Fr. Joaquim Loiola Pereira, Official of the Archdiocese of Goa, Mr. Nelson Fernandes, Food Safety Commissioner, Goa State Government and Ms. Marina Vaz, Professor, Government Medical College, Bambolim, Goa were present.
The English translation of the new ritual: “The Order of Blessing the Oil of Catechumens and of the Sick and of Consecrating the Chrism” is for liturgical use in all the dioceses of the Latin Catholic Church in India and it will replace all previous publications currently in use.
The new edition of “The Order of Blessing the Oil of Catechumens and of the Sick and of Consecrating the Chrism” is approved by the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and it is the translation of the Ordo Benedicendi Oleum Catechumenorum et Infirmorum et Conficiendi Chrisma.
The Ritual is for use at the Chrism Mass, where the Bishop consecrates the sacred Chrism of salvation and blesses the holy oils for use at Baptism, Confirmation, and during the Anointing of the Sick. In certain circumstances, the prayers from this ritual may also be used by priests to bless oils for catechumens and for the sick, though in those situations, priests may certainly continue to use the existing translations found in the appropriate books.
The ritual “The Order of Blessing the Oil of Catechumens and of the Sick and of Consecrating the Chrism” is published by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India. For copies, kindly contact the CCBI General Secretariat or call Mobile: +91-9886730224.
Fr. Stephen Alathara
Deputy Secretary General
Conference of Catholic Bishops of India
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, releasing the ritual The Order of Blessing the Oil of Catechumens and of the Sick and of Consecrating the Chrism”.