Protestant Using Oil to Pray as a Sacramental?

[the_phoenix]

A Protestant friend of mine is using oil to pray with and bless her house. I mentioned holy water to her on the phone, all the while realizing that since she’s a shut in and I live in a different state, there doesn’t seem to be much of a chance of her obtaining holy water at this point, unless maybe I could send her some through the mail and she would need to be open to it, which I’m not certain of right now. So anyway, she uses what she has handy, which I believe is ordinary cooking oil from her kitchen.

Any thoughts on this would be welcome.

~~ the phoenix

 

[THutch04]

My understanding is it isn’t really a sacramental until it has been blessed. Since she’s willing to use oil though, she would probably be open to using holy water as well (I don’t know why one would be fine but the other wouldn’t…).

 

[jazzbaby1]

I think you need to ask her more about it. What denomination is she? I was raised United Methodist and it was common in my church for the pastor to annoint the sick or shut-ins. Don’t just assume she’s using cooking oil; find out if she got some from her pastor.

 

[pyropam]

Anointing your home with oil is fine. I have always used “Olive Oil”. I just converted at Easter and I had asked the priest if he could come and bless my house. I told him that I had blessed it my self with Olive Oil from my kitchen. He told me that I did a great job. I anointed every window and door.

My MIL’s priest told her she could pray over her own oil. No specific need to have it blessed by a priest.

Just because it’s something you haven’t done or heard of, doesn’t necessarily make it wrong. She is doing the right thing, and if you don’t believe me, or if you aren’t sure, just ask your priest.

God Bless you all!
Pam