RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Oetin&er Ointment
OFFICES OF CHRIST. See Jesus Christ, Threefold Office of.
OFFICIAL: A term in canon law denoting an alternate in matters of jurisdiction. Thus the archdeacons, from the sixth century down, were the chief deputies of the bishops with relation to the potestas jurisdictionis, but after the twelfth century the archdeacons' encroachments were opposed by a line of synods; and even the bishops sought to restrict the undue power of the archdeacons by the institution of special officials, " extra-diocesan," and " principal officials " or " vicars-general." The two last terms were often used synonymously, and are still so used in all Italian districts, in Hungary, Dalmatia, and the East. In other instances, the two terms were differentiated, a special substitute, the " official," being appointed for the episcopal jurisdiction; another, the vicar-general, for the episcopal administration, as is still the case in Belgium, Spain, England, Africa, and in most German dioceses. When by action of the Council of Trent the archdeacons had been deprived of jurisdiction in matrimonial and criminal matters, the extra-diocesan officials became fewer, so that, as a rule, jurisdiction and administration are consolidated in the hands of the vicar-general. Under this officer's presidency, there properly exists the general vicariate, or ordinariate, also termed consistory; but where the actual jurisdiction, particularly in affairs of matrimony, is exercised by a special deputy of the bishop, he is assisted by a special collegiate tribunal, the so-called " officialate," or consistorium. E. Sehling.
O'GORMAN, THOMAS: Roman Catholic bishop of Sioux Falls, S. Dak.; b. in Boston, Mass., May 1, 1843. He was educated in Chicago and St. Paul (1850-53), and studied in France (1853-65). He was rector at Rochester, Minn. (1867-78); a member of the Congregation of St. Paul the Apostle, New York City (1878-82); rector at Faribault, Minn. (1882-85); first president of the College of St. Thomas, Merriam Park, St. Paul, and professor of dogmatic theology until 1890. He was professor of modern church history in the Catholic University of America, Washington, D. C. (1890-96), and was consecrated bishop of Sioux Falls (1896). In 1902 he was a member of the delegation sent to Rome by the president of the United States to confer with the Vatican on certain problems presented by the American occupation of the Philippines. He has written A History of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States (New York, 1897).
O'HARA, HENRY STEWART: Church of Ireland, bishop of Cashel, Emly, Waterford, and Lismore; b. at Coleraine (28 m. n.e. of Londonderry), County Londonderry, Ireland, Sept. 6, 1843. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin (B.A., 1865), and was ordered deacon in 1867 and ordained priest in 1868. He was curate of Ballyrashane, County Antrim (1867-68) and of Kildollagh, County Londonderry (1868-69), after which he was rector of Coleraine (1869-92), examining chaplain to the bishop of Down (1892-94), vicar of Belfast (1894-
1899), and dean of St. Anne's Cathedral, Belfast (1899-1900), as well as canon of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, and chancellor of Connor Cathedral (1897-1899). In 1900 he was consecrated bishop of Cashel, Emly, Waterford, and Lismore.
OIL. See Ointment.
OINTMENT: A spicy preparation employed for personal and religious purposes. While the invention of ointment is ascribed by Pliny to the Persians, India, Egypt, and Greece were in possession of it in far earlier times. This substance served in antiquity as medicine, as a cosmetic, and in worship. All three uses are referred to in the Bible. The Old Testament uses for the term " to anoint " dishen (Ps. xxiii. 5), " to rub with fat," also suk, " to pour ointment over one " (exclusively of cosmetics) and finally mashah, originally a technical term for anointing an object with oil, but applied exclusively to the use of ointment in worship. As a noun only shemen, " oil," is used in the Hebrew; in the Aramaic of Ezra mesah occurs; the Septuagint and the New Testament use elaion.
For ointment, especially perfumed ointment, myron is generally used in the New Testament. The Old Testament does not distinguish between " oil " and " ointment "; shemen is used for both. The oil used for ointment was extracted from olives, nard, and myrrh. The expensive perfumed ointments in liquid form were preserved sealed in costly alabaster flasks to keep them pure and protect them from fermentation. A " horn " (Hebr. her en) or vial (Hebr. pak) served as the vessel of anointing (I Sam. x. 1, xvi. 1; I Kings i. 39; II Kings ix. 1 sqq.). The preparation of ointments was a special trade (Ex. xxx. 25, 35, xxxvii. 29; Neh. iii. 8), and the oil was mixed with foreign, often very expensive, drugs.
The first man mentioned in the Bible as having prepared ointment for uses of worship is Bezaleel (Ex. xxxi. 2 sqq.). In the principal passage (Ex. xxx.) are mentioned as constituents of the holy ointment, myrrh, cinnamon, calamus (rhizoma calami), cassia, and olive-oil. It was used on the Tabernacle and its utensils and furnishings (Ex. xxx. 26-28). The holy oil was kept in the holy place (I Kings i. 39), according to the Talmud beside the ark of the covenant and the vessel with manna. According to Ex. xxx. anointing as an act of worship was performed only by the high priest. " To anoint " seems to be often a metaphorical designation for entrusting somebody with an office, as in the anointing of prophets (I Kings xix. 16; cf. Isa. Ixi. 1). In the New Testament the term is often used for the reception of the Holy Spirit (Acts iv. 27, x. 38; II Cor. i. 21 sqq.). In this sense Christ as the high priest is the especially anointed one. For the use of oil in the Christian Church see Baptism, III., 1, § 4, 2, §§ 1-2; Chkism; Extreme Unction; Sacramentals. (R. Zehnpfund.)
Bibliography: H. B. Tristram, Natural Hist, of the Bible,
p. 485, London, 1867; W. Dymock, Pharmocographia
Indica, ii. 233-238, London, 1891; Benzinger, Archaologie,
Dp. 85-86, 131, 254, 358, 365, 372; DB, iii. 590-594; "?, Hi. 3471-72; JE, i. 611-613, ix. 391-392; DCG, n.
2.. 265.
O'Kelly
Old Catholics