sacramentalia

Sacramentalia, in Catholic usage, are sacred signs instituted by the Church to prepare for, accompany, or sanctify daily life and devotion. They are distinct from the seven sacraments, which convey grace in a definite way; sacramentals themselves do not confer grace in the manner of a sacrament, but dispose or strengthen the faithful to receive grace through the Church and prayer.

Sacramentals take various forms, including objects, actions, blessings, and places. Examples of objects are holy water, blessed salt, oils, candles, crucifixes, medals, rosaries, scapulars, and relics. Actions such as blessings, the exorcism rite, and the various dedicatory or consecratory rites are sacramental practices. Sacred spaces, times, and liturgical objects can also function as sacramentals when they are blessed or properly used to foster faith and devotion.

The theological understanding is that sacramentals derive their efficacy from the Church’s blessing and the solicitations of prayer, and ultimately from God’s grace. Their effects depend on the disposition of the recipient, the proper use of the objects or rites, and the faith of those involved. They are intended to sanctify persons, places, and things, to guard against evil, to express and cultivate devotion, and to deepen a sense of the sacred in ordinary life. While widely used in Catholic practice, sacramentals are treated differently in various Christian traditions, with some recognizing related rites and others prioritizing the sacraments exclusively.