The Oil of Saints, also known as the Manna of the Saints, is "an aromatic liquid with healing properties" or "holy water " which "is said to have flowed, or still flows, from the relics or burial places" of certain Christian saints, who are known as myroblytes while the exudation itself is referred to as myroblysia or myroblytism. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, some icons are also believed to release such oil. According to Michael Ott, the term also refers to "the oil in the lamps that burn before the shrines of saints" or "the water that flows from the wells near their burial places", or "the oil and the water which have in some way come in contact with their relics."
Saint Walpurga: "Famous among the oils of saints is the Oil of Saint Walburga. It flows from the stone slab and the surrounding metal plate on which rest the relics of St. Walburga in her church in Eichstätt in Bavaria. The fluid is caught in a silver cup, placed beneath the slab for that purpose, and is distributed among the faithful in small vials by the Sisters of St. Benedict, to whom the church belongs. A chemical analysis has shown that the fluid contains nothing but the ingredients of water. Though the origin of the fluid is probably due to natural causes, the fact that it came in contact with the relics of the saint justifies the practice of using it as a remedy against diseases of the body and the soul. Mention of the oil of St. Walburga is made as early as the ninth century by her biographer Wolfhard of Herrieden."
Saint Menas: "In 1905-1908, thousands of little flasks with the inscription: EULOGIA TOU AGIOU MENA, or the like were excavated by C.M. Kaufmann at Baumma in the desert of Mareotis, in the northern part of the Libyan desert. The present Bumma is the burial place of the Libyan martyr Menas, which during the fifth and perhaps the sixth century was one of the most famous pilgrimage places in the Christian world. The flasks of Saint Menas were well known for a long time to archeologists, and had been found not only in Africa, but also in Spain, Italy, Dalmatia, France, and Russia, whither they had been brought by pilgrims from the shrine of Menas. Until the discoveries of Kaufmann, however, the flasks were supposed to have contained oil from the lamps that burned at the sepulchre of Menas. From various inscriptions on the flasks that were excavated by Kaufmann, it is certain that at least some, if not all, of them contained water from a holy well near the shrine of St. Menas, and were given as remembrances to the pilgrims. The so-called oil of St. Menas was therefore in reality, water from his holy well, which was used as a remedy against bodily and spiritual ailments."
Saint Nicholas of Myra: "A fluid is said to emanate from the relics of Nicholas of Myra preserved at Bari in Italy since 1087. It is said to have also flowed from his relics when they were still in Myra."
In Mugnano del Cardinale, a local woman on 26 August 1805 placed her hands into the oil lamp that burned in front of the sacred body of Saint Philomena and anointed the eyes of her blind child. The child's vision was said to be immediately restored. Every year, the oil at the Sanctuary of St. Philomena is blessed by the local bishop and distributed to faithful Christians. The Oil of Saint Philomena has the status of a sacramental and devotees are usually anointed on the forehead with it by either a priest or layperson.
