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Catholic Guide to the Holy Oils: What does OC, OS, OI, and SC all mean? What are Sacred Chrism, Oil of Catechumens, and the Oil of the Infirm used for?

Scott Smith May 08, 2025
The Catholic Church uses three holy oils: Sacred Chrism, Oil of Catechumens, and Oil of the Sick. These oils are blessed or consecrated by the Bishop during the Chrism Mass. 

If you're an altar server or sacristan -- or even a deacon of priest -- the various oils may still be confusing. I know it's been a tough one for me. 




Here's the breakdown:
  • Sacred Chrism
    • SC for Sanctum Chrisma 
    • Sacraments: used for the Sacrament of Confirmation and Baptism   
    • Ingredients: made from olive oil and balsam 
  • Oil of Catechumens
    • OC for Oleum Catechumenorum, also OS for Oleum Sanctum, also "Oil of Exorcism" - at our Church, I'm pretty sure the canister says OC and the cruet says OS, so heads up! 
    • Sacraments: only used for the pre-Baptized, the pre-Baptized are called "catechumens" (pl. catechumenate)
    • Ingredients: made from olive oil only  
  • Oil of the Sick
    • OI for Oleum Infirmorum, also called Oil of Healing 
    • Sacrament: used in the Anointing of Sick
    • Ingredients: made from olive oil only

Does this help? Does this resolve all the confusion? Please let me know if you have any more questions! 

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18 Comments

Roblox Doors said…
What a fascinating exploration of the holy oils! I appreciate how you broke down each type and their significance in the sacraments. Could you elaborate on how these oils are sourced or prepared? I’d love to learn more about doodle baseball the traditions behind them! Thank you for sharing this insightful guide!
February 4, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Jeffery Barron said…
This is such a clear and helpful explanation. Thank you for breaking it down so simply. The abbreviations Drift Hunters can definitely be confusing, especially for altar servers and sacristans, and this guide makes it much easier to remember which oil is used for what.
February 6, 2026 at 12:54 AM
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March 3, 2026 at 9:34 AM
Snaptroid said…
This was really helpful and clearly explained. I’ve always found the different holy oils a bit confusing, especially the abbreviations, but your breakdown made it much easier to understand. I also appreciate how you included both the uses and ingredients—it adds great clarity. Thanks for putting this together in such a simple and practical way!
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A "Catholic Guide to Holy Oils" typically explains the significance, use, and types of holy oils in Catholic rituals. Holy oils, also known as chrism, are used in sacraments like Baptism, Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick. The oils are consecrated by the bishop during a special ceremony, usually on Holy Thursday, and are used to mark individuals as part of the Christian faith. https://geometrydashes.com/
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bratgen said…
This is a very informative and well-explained guide to the holy oils used in the Catholic Church. I appreciated the clear breakdown of OC, OS, OI, and SC. It's fascinating to learn about the different uses of Sacred Chrism, the Oil of Catechumens, and the Oil of the Infirm. For anyone interested in the practical side of religious practices, this is a great resource. If you're looking for similar clarity in a different domain, I found Audio To Text Conversion to be incredibly helpful for understanding spoken content.
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July 20, 2026 at 2:44 AM
Jordan Peterson said…
This is actually super helpful — I've served at Mass for years and still mix up OC and OS sometimes. Never realized the Oil of Catechumens is also called the Oil of Exorcism, that's a pretty cool detail. The breakdown with the abbreviations and what each one is used for makes it way easier to remember. ice casino
July 22, 2026 at 8:36 AM
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This is a clear and helpful breakdown of the three holy oils – Sacred Chrism (SC), Oil of Catechumens (OC/OS), and Oil of the Sick (OI) – used in Catholic sacraments. The abbreviations can be confusing for altar servers and sacristans, so this guide is very practical. For those looking for some entertainment, neospin offers a nice escape. What's your favorite liturgical tradition?

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August 6, 2026 at 7:38 AM
fnfunkin said…
This breakdown is really helpful because the three oils can easily get confusing, especially for someone new to serving or working in the sacristy. FNF The simple explanation of their purposes and abbreviations makes it much easier to remember which oil is used for each sacrament.
August 10, 2026 at 2:16 AM
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