Catechism of the Catholic Church · Part Two › Section Two › Chapter Four · Article 1 (§§1667–1679)
Paragraphs · 13
The Catechism's text is under copyright, so each paragraph is quoted briefly here with a link to the full text at vatican.va.
Sacramentals
- §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.vatican.va
- §1668 — Sacramentals are instituted for the sanctification of certain ministries of the Church, certain states of life, a great variety of circumstances in Christian life, and the use of many things helpful to man.vatican.va
- §1669 — Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a "blessing," and to bless. Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priests, or deacons).vatican.va
- §1670 — Sacramentals do not confer the grace of the Holy Spirit in the way that the sacraments do, but by the Church's prayer, they prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it.vatican.va
- §1671 — Among sacramentals blessings (of persons, meals, objects, and places) come first. Every blessing praises God and prays for his gifts. In Christ, Christians are blessed by God the Father "with every spiritual blessing."vatican.va
- §1672 — Certain blessings have a lasting importance because they consecrate persons to God, or reserve objects and places for liturgical use. ). , can be mentioned as examples of blessings that concern objects.vatican.va
- §1673 — When the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion, it is called exorcism.vatican.va
- §1674 — Besides sacramental liturgy and sacramentals, catechesis must take into account the forms of piety and popular devotions among the faithful. the religious sense of the Christian people has always found expression in various forms of piety surrounding the Church's sacramental life, such as the veneration…vatican.va
- §1675 — These expressions of piety extend the liturgical life of the Church, but do not replace it. They "should be so drawn up that they harmonize with the liturgical seasons, accord with the sacred liturgy, are in some way derived from it and lead the people…vatican.va
- §1676 — Pastoral discernment is needed to sustain and support popular piety and, if necessary, to purify and correct the religious sense which underlies these devotions so that the faithful may advance in knowledge of the mystery of Christ.vatican.va
In Brief
- §1677 — Sacramentals are sacred signs instituted by the Church. They prepare men to receive the fruit of the sacraments and sanctify different circumstances of life.vatican.va
- §1678 — Among the sacramentals blessings occupy an important place. They include both praise of God for his works and gifts, and the Church's intercession for men that they may be able to use God's gifts according to the spirit of the Gospel.vatican.va
- §1679 — In addition to the liturgy, Christian life is nourished by various forms of popular piety, rooted in the different cultures. While carefully clarifying them in the light of faith, the Church fosters the forms of popular piety that express an evangelical instinct and a human wisdom and that enrich Christian life.vatican.va
Scripture cited · 11 verses
Genesis 12:2 · Mark 1:25 · Mark 1:26 · Mark 3:15 · Mark 6:7 · Mark 6:13 · Mark 16:17 · Luke 6:28 · Romans 12:14 · Ephesians 1:3 · 1 Peter 3:9