Basic Catholic Q and A's

The numbers in parenthese that follow the questions refer to related paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Sacramentals

1. What are sacramentals?
2. Where does the name "sacramental" come from?
3. How does a sacramental obtain blessings from God?
4. Which blessings are obtained through sacramentals?
5. How are sacramentals different from sacraments?
6. Why did the Church institute sacramentals?
7. What is the basis for sacramentals?
8. What are the principal sacramentals?
9. What are some other types of sacramentals?
10. Which are some actions that are sacramentals?
11. Which blessed objects of popular devotion do Catholics commonly use?
12. Do blessed objects bring good luck?
13. What is a scapular?
14. What is holy water?
15. What is the purpose of blessed candles?
16. What is the purpose of blessed ashes?
17. What is the purpose of crucifixes, medals, scapulars, religious statues and holy pictures?
18. Do we pray to religious statues and pictures?
19. What are rosary beads?

1. What are sacramentals?
Sacramentals are "sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects, especially of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church." They can dispose us to receive the chief effects of the sacraments, and to make holy various occasions in life. (1667-1668)

2. Where does the name "sacramental" come from?
The sacramentals are so named because many of them are used in the celebration of the sacraments and they, too, like the sacraments, are external signs through which blessings are received from God.

3. How does a sacramental obtain blessings from God?
A sacramental obtains blessings from God through the Paschal Mystery of Christ, by the prayers that the Church offers for those using the sacramental, and because of the devotion that the object, action or word inspires. (1670)

4. Which blessings are obtained through sacramentals?
Through sacramentals we can obtain God's graces and blessings, the forgiveness of venial sins, spiritual strength and comfort, and sometimes health and other material blessings, if this is according to God's will.

5. How are sacramentals different from sacraments?
Sacramentals are instituted by the Church, while the sacraments were instituted by Christ. Sacramentals obtain grace through the prayers of the Church and depend on the faith and good dispositions of the person using them. The sacraments, instead, operate by the direct power of Christ. (1670)

6. Why did the Church institute sacramentals?
The Church instituted sacramentals to add more dignity to the ritual of the sacraments, to help us to participate more fully in the liturgy and the sacraments, and to make holy various occasions in life.

7. What is the basis for sacramentals?
The basis for sacramentals is our own Baptism by which we receive the baptismal priesthood. God calls us to be a "blessing" and to bless. (1669)

Respond with blessings for this is your calling and in this way you will obtain blessing (1 Pt 3:9).

8. What are the principal sacramentals?
The principal sacramentals are the liturgical year and the public prayer of the Church, the Liturgy of the Hours.

9. What are some other types of sacramentals?
Some other types of sacramentals are:

And to whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace be to this house." If there is a son of peace there your peace will rest upon him (Lk 10:5-6).

10. Which are some actions that are sacramentals?
Some actions that are sacramentals are genuflecting, kneeling, bowing the head, making the sign of the cross, folding the hands, sprinkling with holy water.

So Moses made a bronze serpent, and set it on a pole; and if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live (Num 21:9).

11. Which blessed objects of popular devotion do Catholics commonly use?
Rosaries, relics, medals, crucifixes, scapulars, ashes, palms, candles and pictures of Jesus, Mary and the saints are popular objects of devotion. (1674)

12. Do blessed objects bring good luck?
Blessed objects should never be considered good luck charms, nor made the objects of superstition. For example, one cannot lead an immoral life because one believes that wearing a scapular or medal will obtain the grace of conversion before death.

13. What is a scapular?
A scapular is two small pieces of cloth, fastened by strings and worn around the neck in front and in back in imitation of the part of a religious habit called the scapular. Scapulars are a sign of association in the spirituality of a particular religious order. The most common scapular honors Mary as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. A scapular medal may be worn in place of a cloth scapular.

14. What is holy water?
Holy water, or water blessed by a priest, is a sacramental which reminds us of our Baptism and our commitment to live the Christian life. We find it in fonts at the entrances of churches, and make the sign of the cross with it upon entering and leaving church. (1668)

15. What is the purpose of blessed candles?
Blessed candles are lit to witness to our devotion to Jesus who is light and life with his grace.

16. What is the purpose of blessed ashes?
Blessed ashes are used especially on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. A cross is traced with ashes on our forehead as a reminder to live a good life and do penance because one day we will die.

17. What is the purpose of crucifixes, medals, scapulars, religious statues and holy pictures?
These objects remind us of Jesus and also our union with the saints, and call us to lead lives of prayer and Christian service.

18. Do we pray to religious statues and pictures?
We do not pray to the religious statues and pictures themselves. Instead, we pray to the person in heaven whom the statue or picture represents.

19. What are rosary beads?
They are "prayer beads" used to pray the rosary. This "Gospel prayer" is made up of the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory, in which we think about important events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. (See the prayer pages at the end of this catechism for instructions on how to pray the rosary.)

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