Sacramentals are objects and actions whose effects depend on the faith and devotion of the person using them, and the approval of the Church for their use. These include Holy Water, the Rosary, Benediction and Stations of the Cross.
2007-07-26 13:30:38 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. (Luke 9:16)
Sacramentals are sacred signs that help us live holy lives. Although they do not produce sanctifying grace
Sacramentals include blessings of persons, meals, objects (including water), and places.
The priest blesses the congregation during Mass.
Christians bless their meals. "Bless us O Lord and these thy gifts, ..."
Priests bless water, animals, ships, homes, and even automobiles. "God bless this home and all those who enter here."
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 1667 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt4.htm#art1
With love in Christ.
2007-07-26 17:38:06 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sacramentals, as a rule, were not instituted by Christ (exorcism would be an obvious exception), but by the Church. As such, sacramentals do not confer the grace of the Holy Spirit in the way that the sacraments do, but by the Church's intercessory prayer they do prepare us to receive God's grace and dispose us to cooperate with it. The efficacy of a sacramental depends upon the devotion, faith and love of those who use them. Sacramentals serve to remind the faithful of the Glory of God and thereby to draw us closer to Him. The prayer over a meal (blessing the meal) for example, reminds us that all that we have comes from God's love for us and this reminder helps us to be open to receiving even more of God's bounty.
2007-07-26 13:52:54 · answer #2 · answered by SpiritRoaming 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
“Sacraments are outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ for our sanctification” (taken from the Catholic Encyclopedia). The Roman Catholic Church teaches that while God gives grace to man without outward symbols (sacraments), He has also chosen to give grace to man through visible symbols. Because God has done this, man is foolish to not make use of this God-provided means of gaining sanctification.
2007-07-26 17:31:58 · answer #3 · answered by Freedom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We use them for devotional purposes.
2007-07-26 16:41:40 · answer #4 · answered by cameoseashell 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Genesis, we see that god created everything and that everything that god has created is good. He made us creatures that see, smell, feel, hear, and taste and we can know God through experiencing His creation
2007-07-26 13:52:02 · answer #5 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋