What are sacramentals?
Sacramentals are sacred signs instituted by the Church that prepare people to receive grace and help them grow in holiness. They are not sacraments, but they are connected to the sacraments by pointing toward them and encouraging a deeper spiritual life.
Key Features of Sacramentals:
- Instituted by the Church, not directly by Christ (unlike sacraments).
- Do not confer grace by themselves, but they dispose the person to receive grace.
- They involve prayers, blessings, objects, or actions.
Examples of Sacramentals:
- Blessed Objects
- Holy water
- Crucifixes and medals (like the Miraculous Medal or St. Benedict Medal)
- Scapulars
- Rosaries
- Ritual Actions
- Making the Sign of the Cross
- Blessings by a priest or deacon
- Exorcisms
- Religious Devotions
- The Rosary
- Stations of the Cross
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Novena prayers
Purpose of Sacramentals:
- Sanctify daily life
- Encourage prayer and devotion
- Serve as reminders of God’s presence
- Offer spiritual protection (like holy water or blessed medals)
Think of them as spiritual tools that help Catholics remain focused on God, grow in faith, and live a more prayerful life.