Can you burn holy oil in a vigil lamp?

[Patrick]

I know you usually burn olive oil, but can you burn holy burn in a vigil lamp?
After my prayers, I usually anoint myself with the oil on my forehead, so this is the main reason why I am wondering if you can (and should) burn holy oil in the vigil lamp.

[Michael Stickles]

Hmm... I see plenty of notes online about people taking holy oil from a vigil lamp for annointing themselves or others, normally referring to the vigil lamp at a particular reliquary or sepulchre. No idea if that means holy oil is used in the lamp, or that, because the oil comes from the vigil lamp at that place, they're considering it "holy oil".

What does your priest say?

In Christ,
Michael

[Herman Blaydoe]

Hmm... I see plenty of notes online about people taking holy oil from a vigil lamp for annointing themselves or others, normally referring to the vigil lamp at a particular reliquary or sepulchre. No idea if that means holy oil is used in the lamp, or that, because the oil comes from the vigil lamp at that place, they're considering it "holy oil".

What does your priest say?

In Christ,
Michael

Not a priest, but oil in a lamp burned in front of an icon is considered blessed by that icon. We don't normally burn holy oil, which is specifically blessed for anointing, not burning.

Herman the oily Pooh

[Patrick]

Hmm... I see plenty of notes online about people taking holy oil from a vigil lamp for annointing themselves or others, normally referring to the vigil lamp at a particular reliquary or sepulchre. No idea if that means holy oil is used in the lamp, or that, because the oil comes from the vigil lamp at that place, they're considering it "holy oil".

What does your priest say?

In Christ,
Michael

This is what I was wondering about myself. I would ask my priest, but I haven't gotten a chance to talk to him since I posted this question.


Not a priest, but oil in a lamp burned in front of an icon is considered blessed by that icon. We don't normally burn holy oil, which is specifically blessed for anointing, not burning.

Herman the oily Pooh

Thank you for your insightful answer.

I have a new question. I don't have any holy oil right now, but how do others keep and use their holy oil? Do they keep it in bottles similar to holy water, or do they keep them in a glass like in a vigil lamp (not burning of course) for easier annointing? Also, how often do others annoint themselves with holy oil? Do they do it after every prayer rule similar to what I said in my first post, or do they do it only they are sick and annointing with the oil from the vigil lamp for times of "normal" health?

[Herman Blaydoe]

This is what I was wondering about myself. I would ask my priest, but I haven't gotten a chance to talk to him since I posted this question.



Thank you for your insightful answer.

I have a new question. I don't have any holy oil right now, but how do others keep and use their holy oil? Do they keep it in bottles similar to holy water, or do they keep them in a glass like in a vigil lamp (not burning of course) for easier annointing? Also, how often do others annoint themselves with holy oil? Do they do it after every prayer rule similar to what I said in my first post, or do they do it only they are sick and annointing with the oil from the vigil lamp for times of "normal" health?

At our parish, when oil is blessed, it is put into small containers, similar to perfume samplers. I keep mine at my holy corner and anoint myself or loved ones when sick, melancholy, or sometimes "just because".

Herman the oily Pooh