Lesson 30

Opening Prayer

Questions and answers: Chapter 30: Sacramentals (and devotions)

What are sacramentals? Sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments.
What constitutes a sacramental? It includes a prayer and a specific sign appropriate to the purpose of a special ritual
How do the sacramentals differ from the sacraments? Sacraments are signs instituted by Christ to give grace. Sacramentals are instituted to impart a blessing or some special protection and to dispose us to receive grace.
What are some of the principal sacramentals? Related to Sacraments: Anointings in Baptism, the prayers used in the Anointing of the Sick, nuptial blessings given in marriage. Others: Sign of the Cross, holy water, the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross; medals; scapulars; pictures, statues, crucifixes/
What sacramentals are used on certain days during the year? Candles blessed and distributed on Feb. 2; Blessing of throats on St. Blaise Day, Feb. 3; Receiving ashes on the forehead on Ash Wednesday; Receiving palms on Palm Sunday; Blessing of Fields on August 15; blessing of home, a mother during pregnancy, a blessing after childbirth; blessing of a car; blessing of a fishing fleet.

6. How should we use sacramental? With faith and reverence, avoiding superstition,

especially in regard to medals and other blessed objects.

Favorite Sacramentals

Medals: Medals and crosses which have been blessed are sacramentals. If they have not been blessed, they are simply considered jewelry. The use in the Church of medals is very ancient and is intended to excite devotion and prayer. These items also signify the individual Christian's commitment to a holy life or commendation to the particular protection of the subject depicted. Just like with all sacramentals, there is no "magic" benefit derived from wearing a medal, but they do prepare the wearer to receive God's grace and dispose them to cooperate with it. The efficacy of a sacramental depends upon the devotion, faith and love of the person who uses them.

Miraculous Medal: The Miraculous Medal came about as a result of an apparition of Our Lady on November 27, 1830. It came through a humble novice, Sister Catherine Laboure, in the course of a vision in which Our Lady appeared to her and asked her to have a medal made. On the front of the medal, was to be a representation of herself as she appeared to the Sister on this day. The back was to carry, among other things, a picture of two hearts, the Sacred Heart with a crown of thorns around it and the Heart of Mary pierced by a sword. This prayer is usually engraved on the medal: O Mary conceived without Original Sin, Pray for us, who have recourse to thee.

Blessed Objects: A blessed object is any object over which an ordained clergyman (priest or deacon) has pronounced a blessing. The act of blessing sanctifies the object for use in prayer and devotion. The concept of blessing is prevalent in the Old Testament where it is conceived as a communication of life from God. As such, the firstborn of the family received the blessing of the father (remember Jacob and Esau?). With the blessing came vigor, strength, and success. The sacred vessels and the tabernacle were consecrated to God. Consecration is setting aside for special use by blessing. Sometimes the truth of an action comes from a most unlikely source. Father Ken Roberts, in the opening program of his Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) series "God Bless," says that once a small child came to him to have an object blessed. When Fr. Roberts asked him if he knew what it meant when something was blessed, the child replied "It means it has been touched by God." Try reading the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) and everywhere you read "Blessed" substitute "Touched by God." It will give you a much deeper understanding of the meaning of blessing and having an object blessed. Since 1984 there has been a Book of Blessings which contain blessings for persons, objects, and events.

Scapulars: In the beginning, a scapular was a sort of work apron which came to symbolize the cross or yoke of Christ. They were originally shoulder-wide strips of cloth worn over the tunic and reaching almost to the ground in front and in back. By the 11th century, scapulars had become part of the habit of religious orders. Now, they are two small squares of cloth joined by strings and worn about the neck by lay persons. Scapulars are worn as a sign of association with a religious order and for devotional purposes. There are certain promises attached to wearing a scapular and living at the same time as a faithful follower of Christ. Among these is that the Blessed Virgin will intercede for the wearer at the time of their death. The mere wearing of a couple of pieces of cloth is no guarantee to heaven however, to believe so would be to engage in superstition. Like all sacramentals, the scapular does remind the wearer of the exemplary life they are to live and of the rewards which await them if they do live that life. There have been nearly 20 different scapulars recognized by the Catholic Church, all of them are worn around the neck, either over or under other clothing. Scapulars associated with religious orders do also require the lay wearer to be dedicated to that particular order.

Brown Scapular: The best known and most highly esteemed scapular, and the one most favored by the Church, and by the Blessed Virgin in many of her apparitions, is the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. It is adapted from the scapular of the Carmelite Order and represents a special Consecration to Our Lady under the title of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Those who wear it practice it a special devotion to Mary. In the past this was the Little Office of Our Lady, but today this can be commuted by any priest to the rosary. In addition, the person has a special entrustment of themselves to Mary for their salvation. This, in fact, has been promised to those who faithfully wear the scapular: "Those who die wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire." This must not be understood superstitiously or magically, but in light of Catholic teaching that perseverance in faith, hope and love are required for salvation. The scapular is a powerful reminder of this Christian obligation and of Mary's promise to help those consecrated to her obtain the grace of final perseverance.

Investiture: Conferral with the scapular indicates a special devotion and consecration to Mary. No one should undertake it who is not spiritual prepared to live in accordance with it. The short form of investing or conferral consists of a priest or deacon taking a blessed scapular and while placing it over their head reciting with the person any Marian prayer (e.g. Hail Mary, Memorare, Salve Regina). The person is now invested. They don't have any lists to join, though they are henceforth members of the Scapular Confraternity and share in its spiritual benefits (the prayers of the members). No special daily practices are obliged, though someone consecrated to Mary, of which the scapular is THE sign, should live chastity according to their state and recite the rosary daily.

Holy Water: Holy water is used for baptism and rites of blessing and purification. Originally, holy water blessed at the Easter Vigil was kept throughout the entire year for these purposes. Now, with the appearance of large parishes, the logistics of storing this water for later use is almost insurmountable. Currently, blessed "Easter water" is used in the parish during the Easter season. After the season is ended, water is blessed every time the need arises.

Other Devotions: Liturgy of the Hours: Daily prayer of the Church, consisting of psalms, other scripture, and readings, required to be said by those who have been ordained, religious, and monks. The laity is encouraged to pray it also. Novenas, First Fridays,

First Saturdays.