Iunção

Iunção, more commonly written unção in modern Portuguese, is the act of applying oil or ointment to a person or object. The term is primarily used in religious contexts to denote sanctification, blessing, or consecration through anointing. In current Brazilian and European Portuguese, the standard spelling is unção; iunção appears mainly in older texts or as a variant found in some dialects.

Etymologically, iunção/unção derives from Latin unctio, from unguere “to anoint.” It is related to other words such as unguento (ointment) and the biblical term unctio, which in Christian usage evolved into the sacral concept of anointing.

In Christian liturgy, unção refers to the ritual use of oil as a sign of grace and sanctification. The Catholic Church and many other Christian traditions employ oils in several rites: the oil of the sick (óleo dos enfermos) used in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick; the oil of catechumens used at baptismal preparation; and holy chrism (crisma) used during baptism, confirmation, and holy orders. The practice signifies healing, spiritual strengthening, consecration, and the empowerment of those receiving the sacraments. The act is typically performed by a priest or bishop, sometimes with the laying on of hands.

Outside strictly liturgical contexts, unção can denote the broader blessing or sanctification of a person, place, or object with holy oil, or be used metaphorically to describe a perceived presence of spiritual authority or influence. The term is less common in everyday language, with unção serving as the standard contemporary form.