The Use Of Oils

[CorMaria]

There is a superstitious use of oil within my culture. There are a number of people in my family who use oil to 'cast out demons,' I was wondering if anyone knows a document from the Vatican that can be found on the internet forbidding the use of things like this.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

You mean holy oils or regular oils (olive oil, canola oil,...motor oil)? Blessed oils may be used and of course are sacramentals (the three oils that come from the Chrism Mass are not the only kinds of holy oil, simple blessed oil may be used by the laity). Sacramentals, of course, can aid in spiritual matters. However, lay people should never attempt exorcisms.

If it's regular oil, then I'd say this falls under superstition, which among other things attributes supernatural or magical powers to mere natural objects. Superstition is condemned in CCC 2110-2111, 2138.

I hope this helps.

God bless,

Micah