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Oil Sample

Oil
1/2 oz: $10 (plus $2.50 postage)

Miniature size: $2 (plus $2.50 postage)

4oz bottle: $40 (plus $5.50 postage)

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Touch of Oil

Not long ago, my mother was given a terminal diagnosis of cancer. I spent the last two months of her life with her. What I remember most vividly about that experience was touching her. I remember holding her hands as I polished her fingernails. I remember massaging her legs and feet as we watched the evening news. My favorite time was before she went to sleep; I would give her a back rub. I remember sitting at the side of her bed, soaking my hands with lotion, and laying them on her back, wishing my prayer could remove the cancer. Now, what I remember most about those final days was touching her. Touch was all I had left as the end approached.
From this experience, I know how powerful touch can be. A tender touch can soothe in ways that words cannot.
-Sr. Laura

Oil is a natural companion to a tender touch because oil soothes and smoothes things that rub each other. Oil is a common substance and we often don't notice its many uses.

Historically, oil is one of the oldest elements used by people, and for people. The Old Testament Psalms talk about the wine, the grain and the oil. We use oil today the same way the people of the Old Testament used oil: for food, in work, soothing the skin, and lighting lamps.

Oil makes food taste more satisfying and assists in digestion. We add it to bread for tenderness and fine texture.
Oil lubricates. We use it in our cars to prevent friction buildup that can cause too much heat.
Oil is used on the skin in winter time to ease dryness.
Today the Amish Community still use oil in their lamps for light.

Oil, so common and so useful, moved from the ordinary to the extraordinary when we began to anoint people for special roles in the community.

Kings and prophets were anointed with oil, as a sign that they were marked by God as chosen to serve the people in a special way.
Queen Elizabeth II, in our own time, was anointed at her coronation.
Bishops are anointed when they are ordained a bishop.

We were anointed at our baptism and confirmation as a sign of the special gifts of the Spirit poured out upon us.

Anointing in each of these incidents requires oil and touch, a giving from one and a receiving from another. It is said of those anointed that their face shone. This shining denotes the inner light of God in the person just as the shining of the light in the temple represents the presence of God.

Besides, these visible and public occasions of oil and touch, there are the humble moments of life when we want to be touched, comforted and have our face shine with the inner light of God. For instance:

On birthdays, especially special ones like "sweet 16", or 21, etc.
During times of illness, this blessing soothe both the receiver and giver of the oil.
When you are afraid or depressed, oil and touch can soothe a trembling skin with a sense of safety and companionship.
During daily prayer, or when you make the Sign of the Cross.

You may also want to give a blessing:

to children as they go off to school
to couples when they marry
at a friend's new home
to a friend who has finished a difficult task
during a visit to the homebound

We offer you our "Fragrant Anointing Oil"
to experience and use in prayer for the comforting,
safe, loving feel of God.

The Sisters of St Clare, opened me up to uses of oil that I never thought of. One of them is that oil would be a reminder to us of having been chrismed. One might start the day much as we use to with holy water - by using fragrant oil to remind ourselves that we are gift. We are someone who is made in the image and likeness of God, to look and act like God. -Bishop Ken Untener

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