Sacramentals: the Church's Sacred Signs
Introduction
The Christian life is full of signs through which God acts visibly. This is mostly seen in the sacraments established by Christ. Yet, the Church from the very beginning, has also been using other signs which, although not sacraments, they still lead to the human person's sanctification and the world's transformation. These signs are called sacramentals.
1. Definition and Nature of Sacramentals
As per the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1667):
“Holy Mother Church has, moreover, instituted sacramentals. These are sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy."
Sacramentals were not directly established by Christ but by the Church which is led by the Holy Spirit in its prayers and liturgy. Their performance alone (ex opere operato) cannot bring about the result as is the case in sacraments; rather, it is the prayer of the Church and the faith of the recipient (ex opere operantis Ecclesiae) that bring about the result[1].
The reason for sacramentals is to prepare the people to receive the sacraments' grace and to sanctify different life situations[2]. Their function is to connect the action of the liturgy with the daily life of the believers so that the Christian life becomes an experience of contact with God even outside the church building.
2. Biblical and Historical Roots
Even though the word sacramentals was first used in medieval theology, their origin is from the Holy Scripture. In the Old Testament, there are numerous signs and gestures through which the Israelites became holy: the patriarchal blessings (Gen 27), the use of oil for anointing (Ex30:22–33), and the water of purification (Num 19:9).
In the New Testament, Jesus also used signs: He touched, blessed, and laid His hands on people (cf. Mk 10:16; Lk 24:50). The Apostles also did the same- blessing, laying of hands on the sick, and blessing food (cf. Acts 8:17; 1 Tim 4:4–5). These ceremonies have been going on in the Church till now.
The church, over time, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, has intensely been concerned with the spiritual welfare of the faithful, and therefore, it has been happy to develop rites of blessings, consecrations, and exorcisms, which were later compiled into De Benedictionibus - the Book of Blessings that was approved after the Second Vatican Council.
3. Classification and Examples
We can consider sacramentals in the three categories as follow:
4. Theological Significance
The liturgical constitution – Sacrosanctum Concilium reminds us:
“Holy Mother Church has, moreover, instituted sacramentals. These are sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments: they signify effects, particularly of a spiritual kind, which are obtained through the Church's intercession. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy.”(SC 60)
Sacramentals are not a replacement for the sacraments; rather, they are supplements and extensions of the sacraments in everyday life. They affirm the fact that humans and their world can be the venue of meeting God. The theologian Karl Rahner called sacramentals "the Church's sacramental dimension extended into the world"[4]. In fact, they entail the belief that God wants to be there not only in the liturgy but also in the ordinary acts and occurrences of daily life.
5. Conclusion
Sacramentals are a reminder that Christianity is not limited to the church building. Every blessing, consecration, sign of the cross is a declaration of faith in the God who is the source of holiness from within the world. Through them, life's everyday moments become the realm of grace and anything ordinary can be made holy.
References:
The Christian life is full of signs through which God acts visibly. This is mostly seen in the sacraments established by Christ. Yet, the Church from the very beginning, has also been using other signs which, although not sacraments, they still lead to the human person's sanctification and the world's transformation. These signs are called sacramentals.
1. Definition and Nature of Sacramentals
As per the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1667):
“Holy Mother Church has, moreover, instituted sacramentals. These are sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy."
Sacramentals were not directly established by Christ but by the Church which is led by the Holy Spirit in its prayers and liturgy. Their performance alone (ex opere operato) cannot bring about the result as is the case in sacraments; rather, it is the prayer of the Church and the faith of the recipient (ex opere operantis Ecclesiae) that bring about the result[1].
The reason for sacramentals is to prepare the people to receive the sacraments' grace and to sanctify different life situations[2]. Their function is to connect the action of the liturgy with the daily life of the believers so that the Christian life becomes an experience of contact with God even outside the church building.
2. Biblical and Historical Roots
Even though the word sacramentals was first used in medieval theology, their origin is from the Holy Scripture. In the Old Testament, there are numerous signs and gestures through which the Israelites became holy: the patriarchal blessings (Gen 27), the use of oil for anointing (Ex30:22–33), and the water of purification (Num 19:9).
In the New Testament, Jesus also used signs: He touched, blessed, and laid His hands on people (cf. Mk 10:16; Lk 24:50). The Apostles also did the same- blessing, laying of hands on the sick, and blessing food (cf. Acts 8:17; 1 Tim 4:4–5). These ceremonies have been going on in the Church till now.
The church, over time, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, has intensely been concerned with the spiritual welfare of the faithful, and therefore, it has been happy to develop rites of blessings, consecrations, and exorcisms, which were later compiled into De Benedictionibus - the Book of Blessings that was approved after the Second Vatican Council.
3. Classification and Examples
We can consider sacramentals in the three categories as follow:
- Blessings (benedictiones) – are performed on persons, places, or things to be dedicated to God and to receive the Church's prayer (e.g. the blessing of a home, food, couples).
- Dedications and Consecrations (dedicationes, consecrationes) – these indicate the permanent setting aside of a person or an object for God (e.g. the altar or church dedication, the virgins' consecration, the sacred vessels blessing).
- Exorcisms – prayers for liberation from the evil one’s influence, a special kind of sacramentals (cf. CCC 1673).
4. Theological Significance
The liturgical constitution – Sacrosanctum Concilium reminds us:
“Holy Mother Church has, moreover, instituted sacramentals. These are sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments: they signify effects, particularly of a spiritual kind, which are obtained through the Church's intercession. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy.”(SC 60)
Sacramentals are not a replacement for the sacraments; rather, they are supplements and extensions of the sacraments in everyday life. They affirm the fact that humans and their world can be the venue of meeting God. The theologian Karl Rahner called sacramentals "the Church's sacramental dimension extended into the world"[4]. In fact, they entail the belief that God wants to be there not only in the liturgy but also in the ordinary acts and occurrences of daily life.
5. Conclusion
Sacramentals are a reminder that Christianity is not limited to the church building. Every blessing, consecration, sign of the cross is a declaration of faith in the God who is the source of holiness from within the world. Through them, life's everyday moments become the realm of grace and anything ordinary can be made holy.
References:
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1668.
- Ibid., 1670.
- De Benedictionibus (Rituale Romanum, editio typica, 1984).
- K. Rahner, Theology of the Sacraments, trans. J. Zychowicz, Cracow 1999, p. 74.
