Holy Water Oil And Salt

Material And Spiritual

Throughout salvation history God has used material things to teach spiritual matters. It seems that God created these things in this manner so as to teach us about spiritual realities. The substances like water, salt and oil posses properties that clearly reflect spiritual realities. Water gives life and sustains it, refreshes, washes impurities etc. Oil gives fragrance and a smooth glow and has healing properties. Salt gives taste and has preserving properties (prevents corruption). All three make our material life more satisfying and therefore are appropriate reflections of spiritual realities.

God gives us new life in Jesus Christ and the grace to sustain it in various ways. Our sins are washed away and we are refreshed by the power of the Holy Spirit again and again. The power of God is like a smooth glow on us. God also heals us. Like oil we are called to bring fragrance in the life of others. Like salt we are called to preserve our holiness and bring taste in the life of others and help them preserve their holiness.

Throughout salvation history water, salt and oil have been associated with religious practices. Various rituals and ceremonies were followed to bless these items. However in the New Testament everything is based on the paschal mystery of Jesus (passion, death & resurrection). Every item is now blessed in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Scriptures About Water

In Exodus 30:17-21 instructions were given to the priests to wash themselves with water from the bronze basin every time they entered the tent of meeting. God is infinitely holy and man needs to be conscious of this fact every moment.

The book of Numbers chapter 19 provides details on how cleansing water was prepared and used in the Old Testament. A reddish brown cow without blemish and never yoked or used for work was slaughtered and burnt outside the camp. This ash was added to very clean water which was used for all ritual cleansing. Any person who touched dead body or entered tent or touched grave was unclean for seven days. If an unclean persons touched others then they also became unclean. Had to be cleansed with holy water twice on 3rd and 7th day. A clean person sprinkled holy water using hyssop on affected persons, place, and things. More water could be prepared using this ash.

Scriptures About Salt

In Leviticus 2:13, Numbers 18:19 and 2 Chronicles 13:5 salt is associated with the word covenant. Just as salt is incorruptible so is God's covenant. Just as salt makes everything wholesome so does God's covenant. Salt had to be offered along with all offerings. See also Ezekiel 43:24

The blessing promised in Exodus 23:25-26 was manifested through the first miracle of  prophet Elisha. In 2 Kings 2:20-21 the prophet Elisha is inspired to put salt in contaminated water to purify it. Adding salt should have made the situation worse but on the contrary it led to a miracle. This is the primary scriptural basis for using salt as a sacramental in the church today.

Scriptures About Oil

In Exodus 30:22-33 detailed instructions are given on preparation and use of anointing oil. This oil was used to anoint priests (Leviticus 8:30)), kings (1 Samuel 10:1), things used in worship like altars (Exodus 30:26-28) and healing (Leviticus 14:15-18).

In Mark 6:13 the apostles used anointed oil to cure the sick.

Scriptures About Other Materials

In 2 Kings 13:20-21 the dead man who touched Elisha's bones came back to life.

In Matthew 14:36 the woman is healed from hemorrhages by touching Jesus' garment.

In John 9:6 Jesus cured the blind man using mud.

In Acts 15:5 people were healed by Peter's shadow.

In Acts 19:11-12 when handkerchiefs or aprons that touched Paul were taken and put on sick people, diseases left them and evil spirits came out of them.

It is clear from above scriptures that God uses material things as mediums for transmitting miraculous powers. This is the basis for use of relics in the church.

More Scriptures About Water

In Genesis chapter 7 all sin was washed away from the earth through the Flood.

In Exodus 14:15-22 the Israelites were cleansed from the corruption of Egypt by passing through the waters of the Red Sea.

In Exodus 17:6-7 the Israelites were saved from death by thirst when God made water to flow from the rock at Horeb.

In Joshua 3:14-7 the Israelites were washed from all contamination acquired during their 40 years journey through the desert by passing through the waters of the Jordan river.

In 2 Kings 5:10 Elisha commanded Naaman to go and wash in the Jordan 7 times and he was healed from leprosy.

In John 1:19-34 people participated in the baptism of John the Baptist as an expression of their desire to receive forgiveness of sins. Although without any sin Jesus received this baptism as a representative of the people he came to save.

More Scriptures About Salt

Ezekiel 16:4 mentions use of salt on umbilical cord of newborns to prevent infection.

In Matthew 5:13 Jesus calls his disciples the salt of the earth indicating that their role is to preserve humanity from the corruption of sin.

In Mark 9:50 when Jesus said "Have salt in yourselves..." he was talking about focusing on the qualities of preserving goodness that makes other people's life better.

In Colossians 4:6 the word salt is used to stress on the importance of our conversations being savory (Godly and not worldly) to those who are listening.

More Scriptures About Oil

In 1 Samuel 16:13 David is anointed with oil as king. See also Psalm 89:20

In James 5:14-15 instructions are give to anoint the sick with oil to receive healing and forgiveness of sins.

Different Types Of Oil

There are three different types of oils used in the Catholic Church.
1. Oil of Catechumens (Oleum Catechumenorum or Oleum Sanctum)
2. Holy Chrism (Sanctum Chrisma)
3. Oil of the Sick (Oleum Infirmorum)

Pure Olive oil is used. The Holy Chrism is prepared by mixing olive oil with small amounts of balsam. The Oils are blessed at the Chrism Mass concelebrated by the Bishop near Easter time. The Bishop prays over and blesses each oil individually. In case of Holy Chrism besides prayers the Bishop breathes on the oil.

The oil of the Sick is blessed first, then the oil of the Catechumens and then the Holy Chrism.

The Oil of Catechumens is used in Baptism.

The Holy Chrism is used in Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination of priests, consecration of a Bishop, consecration of a Church and blessing of altar and vessels used at Mass.

The Oil of the Sick is used in Unction.

All Scripture References:

Water:  Genesis 7, Exodus 30:17-21, 14:15-22, 17:6-7, Joshua 3:14-17, Ezekiel 47: 1-12, Matthew 3:13-17, John 1:19-34, 5:1-9, 19:34

Salt: Leviticus 2:13, Numbers 18;19, 2 Chronicles 13:5, Ezekiel 16:14, 43:24, 2 Kings 2:20-21, Matthew 5:13, Mark 9:50, Colossians 4:6

Oil:  Genesis 28:18, Exodus 30:22-33, 29:7, 30:25, 40:9, Leviticus 8:10-12, 8:30, 14:15-18, 1 Samuel 10:1, 16:13, Psalm 89:20, Mark 6:13, James 5:14-15

Others: 2 Kings 5:10, 13:20-21, Matthew 14:36, John 9:6, Acts 15:5, 19:11-12

For more information read:
What are Sacraments and Sacramentals
Sacramentals - Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

This post provides detailed explanation with scripture references on how holy water oil and salt have been used as sacred items for worship and spiritual warfare throughout salvation history.

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The holy water oil and salt are used as spiritual aids in the Catholic church and there is firm scriptural basis for doing so. It is observed that salt and holy water have been used for ritual purposes throughout the Bible. The blessed salt and holy water have tremendous power against the evil forces.  The evil forces dread the presence of holy water and cross. Get holy water and demons will flee as they are filled with terrible at the sight of these things. The use of holy water and bible go hand in hand as it is mentioned implicitly in scripture. Use holy water and salt in your homes and work places to disinfect from all evil powers. The practice of using holy water and blessed salt regularly has great benefits to drive out the enemy and keep him at a distance. We have explained the use of holy water and its significance in sufficient details so as to convince everyone on its greatness. Every Passion of using holy water and oil in the Bible cannot be mentioned here as it will become too much information. The holy oil uses are many and everyone is of great importance. Hope you are satisfied why the holy oil in the catholic church is given such high prominence. The practice of using holy oil in the bible is very ancient and we have tried our best to give you complete information on holy oil meaning to the best possibility.