sacramentalia
Sacramental
A blessing, blessed object or sacred action — holy water, a rosary, a scapular, the sign of the cross — instituted by the Church to prepare us for grace; distinct from the seven sacraments.
things pertaining to the sacraments
Sacramentals are sacred signs instituted by the Church, not by Christ, and they do not confer the grace of the Holy Spirit in the way the sacraments do. Instead they prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it. Blessings are the chief sacramentals; blessed objects such as holy water, palms, medals, scapulars and rosaries, and actions such as the sign of the cross, are others. Their fruit comes through the Church's prayer and the faith and devotion of the person using them.
Not to be confused with Sacrament.
Councils
Where the Church settled or debated this. Follow a council to read our article on it, or the decrees themselves.
- 1962–1965Second Vatican Councilthe decrees
Sources checked 29 September 2026