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The consecrated oil for King's Coronation

(143 Posts)
Bea65 Sat 04-Mar-23 13:30:42

Am bit perplexed about this oil made from olives and orange blossom for an ancient tradition which needs to be blessed and sent to the UK for the Coronation - is this a necessary part of service ...have not heard of this before but know here on this site, GNs will enlighten me in their wisdomgrin

Luckygirl3 Sat 04-Mar-23 13:55:30

Heavens above! - this is 2023! Consecrated oil - whatever next?!

Smileless2012 Sat 04-Mar-23 14:00:48

Consecrated oil is central to the most sacred part of the ceremony.

LadyHonoriaDedlock Sat 04-Mar-23 14:03:22

I could knock that up with some Waitrose Extra Virgin and a couple of those wee bottles from Neal's Yard.

This business with olives grown in Jerusalem and being blessed by a couple of Middle Eastern priests is rather silly in this day and age.

Ramblingrose22 Sat 04-Mar-23 14:13:56

Someone human created the coronation ceremony and likewise the coronation oil.

Call me a cynic, but do people really believe that this special oil is essential for a coronation? Maybe when there was a Divine Right of Kings.....?

Incidentally, it has been predicted by a few astrologers that King Charles and Camilla will never be crowned King and Queen Consort. I am wondering if that might be because they committed adultery before Charles' divorce from Diana was finalised and some high-ups in the Church of England will make a fuss about them being able to swear the necessary religious oaths.

Of course when Charles and Camilla were married Charles was already a widower but Camilla was a divorcee and the CofE presumably allows divorcees to remarry in the church? I am not CofE so I'm not sure about this.

Callistemon21 Sat 04-Mar-23 14:18:29

Consecrated oil is what is used in church ceremonies.

Babies being baptised don't have just a smear of Waitrose Extra Virgin olive oil!

Oil of Chrism (myrrh): It differs from the other oils in that it alone is not pure olive oil. A scented balsam is mixed with the oil to make the Chrism.

It's used for all kinds of ceremonies, baptism, confirmation, entering the priesthood, anointing the Monarch, consecrating buildings, anointing the sick etc.

silverlining48 Sat 04-Mar-23 14:19:02

There is a photo of the priests mixing the concoction in Jerusalem in today’s paper, it’s a highly religious part of the coronation, always done in private.
Think the Queen had to change from her posh frock into a plain cotton one and it takes place behind a curtain in the Abbey before changing back again to continue the service.
I can’t see the point but then I am not a believer.
Unlike the Monkeys 🐵 .....Sorry, couldn’t resist that one.

Callistemon21 Sat 04-Mar-23 14:22:36

If people aren't believers they won't understand anointing.

silverlining48 Sat 04-Mar-23 14:27:28

That’s true Callistemon

Deedaa Sat 04-Mar-23 14:32:43

For religious people there will be a religious side to the coronation. Obviously it will seem silly to a lot of people but it seems relatively harmless.

Norah Sat 04-Mar-23 14:33:00

Callistemon21

If people aren't believers they won't understand anointing.

This ^^

Lollin Sat 04-Mar-23 14:39:21

Harmless but costly ?
“Sanctity of marriage” is an old phrase
Pomp and ceremony another

25Avalon Sat 04-Mar-23 14:39:51

I read something about it coming from near where Prince Philip’s mother or grandmother is buried?

silverlining48 Sat 04-Mar-23 14:43:02

Yes I think PPs mother is buried in Jerusalem but that’s a coincidence.

JaneJudge Sat 04-Mar-23 14:44:01

is blessed by a Rabbi and a Priest?

I must admit I smiled that it contains sesame oil, the best ingredient of any Chinese cooking smile

Smileless2012 Sat 04-Mar-23 14:46:36

If people aren't believers they wont understand anointing indeed Callistemon and as you say, consecrated oil is used in numerous church services.

Babies being baptised don't just have a smear of Waitrose Extra Virgin olive oil! very goodsmile.

Fleurpepper Sat 04-Mar-23 14:51:11

Consecrated by the Pope?

Calendargirl Sat 04-Mar-23 14:53:47

The same ritual would be done for the Queen’s coronation.

You just wouldn’t hear about it so much 70 years ago.

Luckygirl3 Sat 04-Mar-23 14:54:28

You can be a believer without subscribing to this sort of hocus pocus.

I wonder how much this stuff is costing the taxpayers at a time when the cost of living defeats some poor families.

Smileless2012 Sat 04-Mar-23 14:57:27

For many believers it isn't hocus pocus Luckygirl, that's the point.

Grandma70s Sat 04-Mar-23 15:00:38

Calendargirl

The same ritual would be done for the Queen’s coronation.

You just wouldn’t hear about it so much 70 years ago.

I knew about it. I was 13 at the time.

Grandma70s Sat 04-Mar-23 15:11:54

It’s interesting. I suspect postwar Britain was much poorer than today, but I don’t remember anyone saying the Coronation was a waste of money, or indeed talking about the cost at all. People just weren’t so money-minded then.

ExperiencedNotOld Sat 04-Mar-23 15:21:04

It’s part of the tradition of this country, and long should it remain.
I really don’t imagine it’s costing anything much, let alone taking food from those in need.

Luckygirl3 Sat 04-Mar-23 15:21:52

I have vicar friends who are unmoved by the whole consecrated oil thing.

sandelf Sat 04-Mar-23 15:24:02

Symbolism and tradition. Hope it lifts our mood and helps us appreciate the good things about UK. 'Fraid this is from Daily Mail but it does give a good bit of background. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11818393/The-sacred-oil-anoint-Charles-King-Monarch-breaks-Coronation-Day-tradition.html