Dear Clement:

Laity are certainly not to use the Oil of the Sick, Chrism, or any other oils used for Liturgy. Their use is restricted to that of a priest.

Laity are not to anoint the sick with oil in a way that resembles the Sacrament of Anointing. The Joint Curial Declaration on the Role of the Laity states:

Article 9: The Apostolate to the Sick

§ 1. In this area, the non-ordained faithful can often provide valuable collaboration. (102) Innumerable works of charity to the sick are constantly provided by the non-ordained faithful either individually or through community apostolates. These constitute an important Christian presence to sick and suffering of the greatest importance. The non-ordained faithful particularly assist the sick by being with them in difficult moments, encouraging them to receive the Sacraments of Penance and the Anointing of the Sick, by helping them to have the disposition to make a good individual confession as well as to prepare them to receive the Anointing of the Sick. In using sacramentals, the non-ordained faithful should ensure that these are in no way regarded as sacraments whose administration is proper and exclusive to the Bishop and to the priest. Since they are not priests, in no instance may the non-ordained perform anointings either with the Oil of the Sick or any other oil.

There is, however, some question about the use of blessed oil like that one may get at a shrine, or the oil brought by the Faithful that was blessed by your Bishop (though he should not have done that during the Chrism Mass, which can cause confusion here).

Thus, I wrote to Rome to get a definitive answer:

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So what does this mean?

This means that they laity can NEVER substitute the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick with their own anointing. If the situation is one that needs the Sacrament of Anointing then the laity are not to substitute their own "anointing."

Laity cannot use oil in such a way that is equivalent to the Sacrament of Anointing of Sick even though they are not intending to do the Sacrament. This probably prohibits many charismatic groups from using oil in the way they do.

Laity cannot use oil in such a way that they essentially co-opt a role that really belongs to clergy. This too will prohibit the way typical charismatics use oil.

What is also important to see here, is that EVEN IF all criteria is met to allow a layman to use oil, IF THERE IS MISUNDERSTANDING on the part of on-lookers, then it is NOT to be done. ALL involved must be properly catechized.

The types of ways that oil can be used would include on your children, your spouse, or others in which you have a paterfamilias relationship and even then NEVER as a replacement for the priestly sacrament.

In other words, oil can be used in a similar way as Holy Water by the laity in certain limited situations.

Holy Water represents a "washing clean" factor, and is a reminder of our baptism and our baptismal promises.

Blessed Oil represents a "healing" factor, and is a reminder of our confirmation and the fullness of the Holy Spirit indwelling us, and our promises to live a Godly life.

If we stick to these images and consider the oil as a "mere blessing" with a hint of healing as a purpose, and/or a hint of renewal of the Holy Spirit within us, rather than a substance that gives PARTICULAR and SPECIAL SACRAMENTAL POWER for healing, then we may be okay.

The PARTICULAR SACRAMENTAL POWER of HEALING is reserved to clergy.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary