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Sacramentals are material objects or things (sacramentalia) set apart or blessed by the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Churches and the Anglican Church
Church of England

The Church of England is the State religion Christianity Ecclesia in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the oldest among the communion's thirty-eight independent national and regional churches....
es to manifest the respect due to the Sacraments, and so to excite good thoughts and to increase devotion, and through these movements of the heart to remit venial sin
Venial sin

According to Roman Catholicism, a venial sin is a lesser sin that does not result in a complete separation from God and eternal damnation in Hell....
, according to the Council of Trent
Council of Trent

The Council of Trent was the 16th century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. Considered one of the Church's most important councils, it convened in Trento between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods....
 (Session XXII, 15).

Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican usage
When the term is used in the singular it is preceded by an article ("a sacramental" or "the sacramental") as sacramental
Sacramental

Sacramental may refer to:* Sacramental, as an adjective means of or pertaining to sacraments* Sacramentals, in Anglicanism and Roman Catholicism, objects whose supernatural effects, unlike those of a sacrament, depend on the belief of the recipient...
 is also an adjective describing the Sacraments.

These churches recognize two differences between the Sacraments and the sacramentals:





Although the Catholic Church restricts on the reception of the Sacraments by non-Catholics, this is not true of the sacramentals.






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Sacramentals are material objects or things (sacramentalia) set apart or blessed by the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Churches and the Anglican Church
Church of England

The Church of England is the State religion Christianity Ecclesia in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the oldest among the communion's thirty-eight independent national and regional churches....
es to manifest the respect due to the Sacraments, and so to excite good thoughts and to increase devotion, and through these movements of the heart to remit venial sin
Venial sin

According to Roman Catholicism, a venial sin is a lesser sin that does not result in a complete separation from God and eternal damnation in Hell....
, according to the Council of Trent
Council of Trent

The Council of Trent was the 16th century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. Considered one of the Church's most important councils, it convened in Trento between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods....
 (Session XXII, 15).

Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican usage


When the term is used in the singular it is preceded by an article ("a sacramental" or "the sacramental") as sacramental
Sacramental

Sacramental may refer to:* Sacramental, as an adjective means of or pertaining to sacraments* Sacramentals, in Anglicanism and Roman Catholicism, objects whose supernatural effects, unlike those of a sacrament, depend on the belief of the recipient...
 is also an adjective describing the Sacraments.

These churches recognize two differences between the Sacraments and the sacramentals:

  • The Sacraments were instituted by Jesus Christ
    Jesus

    Jesus of Nazareth , also known as Jesus Christ, is the central figure of Christianity and is revered by most Christian churches as the Son of God and the Incarnation ....
    ; most, but not all, of the sacramentals were instituted by the Church.


  • The Sacraments give grace of themselves and are always fruitful when the faithful place no spiritual obstacles in the way; the sacramentals excite pious dispositions, by means of which the faithful may obtain grace
    Divine grace

    In theology, grace may be described as 'enabling power sufficient for progression'. In Christianity, grace divine is an "unmerited favour" of God, indispensable gift from God for development, improvement, and character expansion, and without God's grace, there are certain limitations, weaknesses, flaws, impurities, and faults mankind cannot...
    . It is not the sacramental itself that gives grace, but the devotion, the love of God
    Trinity

    In Christianity doctrine, the Trinity is the unity of God the Father, God the Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in monotheism. The doctrine states that God is the Triune God, existing as three persons, or in the Greek hypostasis , but one being....
    , or sorrow for sin
    Sin

    Sin is a term used mainly in a religion context to describe an act that violates a morality rule, or the state of having committed such a violation....
     that it inspires, and the prayers of the Church that render sacramentals efficacious against evil.


Although the Catholic Church restricts on the reception of the Sacraments by non-Catholics, this is not true of the sacramentals. The pious use of sacramentals by non-Catholics is permitted and encouraged. As blessed objects or rituals that represent sacred beliefs and persons, disrespect to sacramentals is considered a form of sacrilege
Sacrilege

Sacrilege is the violation or injurious treatment of a sacred object. In a less proper sense, any transgression against the virtue of religion would be a sacrilege....
.

Examples

Some examples of rituals that are sacramentals are making the sign of the cross
Sign of the cross

The Sign of the Cross is a ritual hand motion made by members of most but not all branches of Christianity. It may be accompanied by the trinitarian formula....
, bowing the head or bowing deeply, folding hands, genuflection
Genuflection

Genuflection , bending at least one knee to the ground, was from early times a gesture of deep respect for a superior. In 328 BC, Alexander the Great introduced into his court etiquette some form of genuflection already in use in Persia....
, prostration
Prostration

Prostration is the placement of the body in a reverentially or submissively prone position. Major world religions employ prostration either as an act of submissiveness to God or gods, or as a means of embodying reverence for a noble person, persons or doctrine....
, the imposition of blessed ashes
Ash Wednesday

In the Western Christianity calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days before Easter. It falls on a different date each year, because it is dependent on the Computus; it can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10....
 (the ashes themselves are also a sacramental), the recital of blessing
Blessing

A blessing, is the infusion of something with Sacred, divine will, or one's hopes....
s, the washing of feet
Feet washing

Foot washing or washing of feet is a religious rite observed as an Ordinance by several Christian List of Christian denominations. The name, and even the spelling, of this practice is not consistently established, being variously known as foot washing, washing the saints' feet, pedilavium, and mandatum....
, the celebration of the canonical hours
Canonical hours

Canonical hours are divisions of time, developed by the Christianity Christian Church, serving as increments between the prescribed prayers of the daily round....
 and the seasons of the liturgical year
Liturgical year

The liturgical year, also known as the Christian year, consists of the cycle of liturgy seasons in Christianity churches which determines when Calendar of saints, Memorial s, Commemoration s, and Solemnity are to be observed and which portions of Scripture are to be read....
, exorcism
Exorcism

Exorcism is the practice of evicting demons or other evil spiritual being from a person or place which they are believed to have Spiritual possession....
s, the reception of the minor orders
Minor orders

The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Clergy#Christian clergy. The most recognized minor orders are porter , Reader , exorcist, Cantor and acolyte....
, and the churching of women
Churching of women

In Christian tradition the Churching of Women is the ceremony wherein a blessing is given to mothers after recovery from childbirth. The ceremony includes thanksgiving for the woman's survival of childbirth, and is performed even when the child is stillborn, or has died unbaptized....
.

Statue
Statue

A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a Bust , and at least close to life-size, or larger....
s and icon
Icon

An 'icon' is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity. More broadly the term is used in a wide number of contexts for an image, picture, or representation; it is a sign or likeness that stands for an object by signifying or representing it either concretely or by analogy, as in semiotics; by extension, ...
s are examples of objects that are sacramentals. Other examples of objects that may be considered sacramentals are ashes
Ash Wednesday

In the Western Christianity calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days before Easter. It falls on a different date each year, because it is dependent on the Computus; it can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10....
, bells (especially church bells), blessed fire
Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday is the day after Good Friday. It is the day before Easter and the last day of Holy Week, in which Christians prepare for Easter....
, blessed salt
Baptism

In Christianity, baptism is the ritual act, with the use of water, by which one is admitted as a full member of the Christian Church and, in the view of some, as a member of the particular Church in which the baptism is administered....
, candle
Candle

A candle is a source of light, and sometimes a source of heat, consisting of a solid block of fuel and an embedded candle wick.Today, most candles are made from paraffin....
s, crucifix
Crucifix

A crucifix is a Christian cross with a representation of Jesus' body, or corpus. It is a principal symbol of the Christianity religion. It is primarily used in the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican churches, and Eastern Orthodox churches, and it emphasizes Christ's sacrifice— his death by crucifixion, which they believe brought about th...
es, holy oil
Oil

An oil is a chemical substance that is in a viscosity liquid state at room temperature or slightly warmer, and is both hydrophobic and lipophilic ....
, holy water
Holy Water

Holy Water is a studio album by hard rock band Bad Company, with Brian Howe in place of Paul Rodgers as lead vocalist, released in June of 1990 ....
, incense
Incense

Incense is composed of aromatic Biotic material materials. It releases fragrant smoke when burned. The term incense refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces....
, liturgical vessels (e.g. chalices
Chalice (cup)

A chalice is a goblet intended to hold a drink. In general religious terms, it is intended for quaffing during a ceremony....
), medals (e.g. the Miraculous Medal
Miraculous Medal

The Miraculous Medal, also known as the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, is a medal created by Saint Catherine Labour? following a Visions of Jesus and Mary....
 or the Saint Benedict Medal
Saint Benedict Medal

Sorry, no overview for this topic
), palm branches
Palm Sunday

Image:Meister der Palastkapelle in Palermo 002.jpg|thumb|300px|'The Entry of Christ into Jerusalem' mosaic by the Master of the Cappella Palatina in Palermo .]]...
, religious habit
Religious habit

A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious Hermit and Anchorite life, although in their case without conformity to a particular uniform style....
s and scapular
Scapular

A scapular is a Christian Sacramental, consisting of a length of cloth suspended both front and back from the shoulders of the wearer, that varies in shape, colour, size and style depending on the use to which it is being put, namely whether in Christian Monk or in Christian devotion....
s, rosaries
Rosary

The Rosary is a popular traditional Roman Catholic devotion. The term denotes both a set of prayer beads and the devotional prayer itself, which combines vocal prayer and meditation....
, vestment
Vestment

Vestments are liturgy garments and articles associated primarily with the Christianity religions, especially the Latin Rite and other Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Methodists, and Lutheran Churches....
s, or wedding ring
Wedding ring

A wedding ring or wedding band consists of a metal Finger ring, generally on either the left or right ring finger. In certain countries it is worn on the base of the left ring finger....
s.

Other examples may be found at Anglican devotions
Anglican devotions

Anglican devotions are private prayers and practices used by Anglican Christians to promote spiritual growth and communion with God. Among members of the Anglican Communion, private devotional habits vary widely, depending on personal preference, and on their affiliation with Low church or High church parishes....
 and Catholic devotions
Catholic devotions

Catholic devotions are prayer forms which are not part of the official public liturgy of the Church but are part of the popular spiritual practices of Catholics....
.

Protestant usage


Some groups, in particular Lutherans and Methodists, use "sacramental" to refer to the "five commonly called sacraments" that are recognized as Sacraments by the Roman Catholic Church, but not by most Protestants: marriage, confirmation, ordination, confession, and unction/anointing.

This usage is intended to emphasize the Protestant belief that only Baptism and the Eucharist are explicitly ordained by Christ in the gospels with parallel rites in the Old Testament (in Circumcision and Passover), but that these sacramentals are nevertheless similar to sacraments in many respects and can be valuable means of Grace
Means of Grace

The Means of Grace in Christian theology are those things through which God gives Divine grace. Just what this grace entails is interpreted in various ways: generally speaking, some see it as God blessing humankind so as to sustain and empower the Christian life; others see it as forgiveness, life, and salvation....
 for believers.