When the revised Roman Missal was published in 2011, it contained this rubric: “If the anointing of the adults with the Oil of Catechumens has not taken place beforehand, as part of the immediately preparatory rites, it occurs at this moment” (“Easter Vigil” 48).

However, this contradicts the rubric in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults:

The National Conference of Catholic Bishops approves the omission of the anointing with the oil of catechumens both in the celebration of baptism and in the optional preparation rites for Holy Saturday. Thus, anointing with the oil of catechumens is reserved for use in the period of the catechumenate and in the period of purification and enlightenment, and is not to be included in the purification rites on Holy Saturday or in the celebration of initiation at the Easter Vigil or at another time. (RCIA 33.7)

As soon as folks began to notice that contradiction, there was some speculation that when the translation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults was updated, the rubric about anointing would be modified to harmonize with the Roman Missal. However, that is not the case. In the new translation of what will be called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, the prohibition of anointing with the oil of catechumens at either the preparation rites on Holy Saturday or at the celebration of initiation at the Easter Vigil remains.

That means, if you haven’t already done so, you will need to anoint your elect before the Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday.

Is the anointing with the oil of catechumens required?

Whenever I hear questions about rites of the catechumenate being required, it reminds me of those occasional lottery winners who never pick up their prize. It’s not required that we shower the catechumens with all the riches of God’s grace and mercy, but why wouldn’t we?

In the Old Testament, oil was used to anoint kings, priests, and even guests. It symbolized health, blessing, and consecration. Notably, the prophesied savior was the “Anointed One,” linking everyday anointing to a divine destiny. Jesus, familiar with these traditions, ultimately became the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults gives a very specific meaning to the anointing of the catechumens today:

The anointing with oil symbolizes their need for God’s help and strength so that, undeterred by the bonds of the past and overcoming the opposition of the devil, they will forthrightly take the step of professing their faith and will hold fast to it unfalteringly throughout their lives. (RCIA 99)

We can uncover other meanings of the anointing by looking at the prayers in the rite of anointing of catechumens:

We discover other meanings of the oil of catechumens embedded in the prayers over the oil and over those being anointed:

Lord Jesus Christ, sent by the Father and anointed by the Spirit….

Let them submit themselves to the Spirit of grace, so that, with hope in their calling, they may join the priestly people….

[Y]ou have chosen to make this oil, created by your hand, an effective sign of your power….

Bless this oil and strengthen the catechumens who will be anointed with it. Grant them your wisdom to understand the Gospel more deeply and your strength to accept the challenges of Christian life.

We anoint you with the oil of salvation….

May he strengthen you with his power….

We should be constantly finding times to strengthen and bless the catechumens with this powerful ritual.

If you have not yet anointed your elect with the oil of catechumens, I encourage you to do so during this time of purification and enlightenment.

When to anoint the catechumens or elect

The rite tells us that we can anoint catechumens “wherever this seems beneficial or desirable” (RCIA 98). So you don’t have to wait until they are elect. And the anointing of catechumens can be done more than once. So look for times throughout their preparation when anointing would benefit them. I wrote about five possible moments here, and you can no doubt think of more.

If you have not yet anointed your elect with the oil of catechumens, I encourage you to do so during this time of purification and enlightenment. Please avoid, however, the common mistake of combining the anointing of catechumens with either the scrutiny rites or the presentations. Combining these rites is not permitted by the church, and doing so weakens the impact of the celebrations.

Can you help me out?

I’d love to know how this is landing. Can you share a word or a phrase about how this article resonates with you? Does it speak to your experience? Share your thoughts in the comments box below. Thanks for being part of the conversion!