Holy Oil A name applied in the 4th century to oil brought to Europe from Jerusalem. "It was carried in cotton within little phials, and distributed to the faithful at a time when relics were sparingly distributed." In Gregory of Tour's time, oil blessed at saints' tombs was very general, and in St. Gregory's day oil taken from lamps which burned before the graves of martyrs in the Catacombs was called "holy oil." "Several of these phials, which Gregory the Great gave to queen Theodolinda, are preserved at Monza." — Walcott, Sacred Archaeol. p. 313, 314. SEE AMPULLA; SEE CHRISMI.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More