People often ask us for holy oil when someone they love is ill. It helps to be clear about what it is.
Read more and FAQ
The oils used in the sacraments, such as the Oil of the Sick, are blessed by the bishop and used only by a priest. The holy oil on this page is something different: a sacramental, blessed oil for your own prayer. You might trace a small cross on the forehead of a sick relative while praying for healing, or keep it beside your bed during a difficult time.
The range is small and simple. There is holy oil blessed by Pope Leo XIV, and a second blessed holy oil for prayer with the sick. The oil of St. Padre Pio is a relic touched to the saint's shrine, a fitting companion for anyone who asks his intercession in illness. For those who want oil, water and salt together, there is the exorcised holy water, oil and salt set.
If a person is seriously ill, call a priest for the Anointing of the Sick; blessed oil at home is a prayer, not a substitute for the sacrament. Each blessed item ships with a holy card of the Papal blessing. See also our holy water, oil and salt sets and the full range of holy water, oil and salt.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the oil used in the Anointing of the Sick?
No. That oil is blessed by the bishop and used by a priest in the sacrament. This is blessed oil for personal prayer, a sacramental.
How do I use holy oil?
Make a small sign of the cross on the forehead or hands of the person you are praying for, and pray for them with faith. A drop is enough.
What is the St. Padre Pio oil?
It is oil touched to the shrine of St. Padre Pio, which makes it a touched relic. Many people use it when asking his intercession for the sick.
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