by Scapular John

What are some examples of sacramentals?

Sacramentals generally can be divided into two classes. 

1.  Holy actions such as making the sign of the Cross, ceremonies of the Church, and prayers.  An exorcism prayer is considered a sacramental.  You also have various blessings administered by parents to children, as well as blessings given by Priests, Bishops and Popes.  These are all sacramentals.    

2.  Holy objects

When an object is blessed it becomes holy.  The more common blessed objects are: the rosary, the brown scapular and holy water.  However there are many others that we may not realize that are also sacramentals.  For example, there are various kinds of rosaries such as the Rosary of Tears, the Rosary of Blood.  There are some twenty kinds of scapulars.  There are some fifty kinds of chaplets; there are many types of holy water, such as the Epiphany holy water.  There are: ashes, palms, oils, medals, bells and cords. You have candles; fruit, such as the blessed orange on Saint Joseph’s day, blessed bread, flowers, incense of various kinds.  There are blessed dresses such as Our Lady of Lourdes and Mary help of Christians.  In addition you have pictures, statues, the Bible, books and the Crucifix. 

 What is the purpose of sacramentals?

To begin with, sacramental means little sacrament.  Sacramentals help us grow in faith and in turn increase our faith for the sacraments.  This in turn helps us to grow more in love with Jesus through Mary.  In turn we become more Christ like. 

The chief benefit of these two types of sacramentals is Actual graces.  When we use them

in a state of grace, with faith, and reverence we can benefit greatly from them by being

inspired with good thoughts, a greater love of God and a greater sorrow for sin.  The grace we receive in turn obtains the forgiveness of venial sins.   

How does a sacramental increase our faith?

Sacramentals represent our faith in Christ Jesus.  They are not good luck charms.  They become a point of contact representing out faith.  Like a sacrament they become a visible sign representing an invisible grace. There is nothing miraculous in the sacramental.  For example if some one is sick we may pray the rosary for them and they can be miraculous healed.  A scapular or other sacramental can be placed on a person and the person can also be healed.  When this happens our faith is increased. Sacramentals are like working out with weights, the more we use them the stronger our faith becomes. 

Where does its power come from when sacramentals are used?

The power comes from the prayers of the Church united with the prayers of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Who gave the sacramentals to us?

All sacramentals are willed by God either directly or indirectly.  When St. Dominic was pouring his heart out to God for an answer for the problems of the world, the Blessed Mother appeared to him and said, “The weapon that the Blessed Trinity wishes you to use is the Rosary.”  This was directly willed by God.  There are many examples of Jesus and the Blessed Mother giving us sacramentals.  .

    An indirect example is when a priest comes and blesses a house, a car, or animal.

Anything blessed becomes a sacramental. 

 Are sacramentals found in the Bible?

There are numerous examples both in the old and New Testaments.  In the Old Testament you have the use of blessed water, Ezekiel 35:25, salt in 4 Kings 2:20, in the book of Tobias you find a half dozen sacramental being used.

 In the New Testament you have the blessed handkerchiefs and aprons of St Paul, Act 19:11, which God used to wrought forth more then a common share of miracles, healings, and evil spirits being cast out.  The very garment of Jesus healed the lady with the issue of blood and caused the evil spirit to depart from her. Mark 5:28.

 Are sacramentals necessary for salvation?

The answer that the Church gives us is no, the sacraments are. 

However, by the wearing of a sacramental, such as Crucifix, scapular or seeing Holy picture is a reminder that Jesus and Mary are praying for us twenty-four hours a day and keeping us under their protection.  A sacramental can be a reminder to a person in times of danger or in temptation of sin that there is a loving God who cares very much for their salvation.  For all sacramentals are purchased by the Blood of Christ to help us toward an eternal life in the bliss of Heaven.