What Are Sacraments And Sacramentals

Difference Between Sacraments And Sacramentals

What Is A Sacrament?

It is a rite (ritual or actions) that sanctifies a person or makes sacred or makes holy. It is a visible sign of invisible grace. It involves some physical action which is visible but the effects are spiritual and therefore invisible. Sacraments initiate a person into the life of God and help a person to grow in holiness with the help of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit is flowing through the sacraments.

Analogy 1: When a child hugs a parent only the hug is visible. The flow of love although real is not visible. However the effects of love in the life of the child is undeniable.

Analogy 2: When you enter a room and press a switch the lamp will give light. The light is not from you but from the power system. However if you do not press the switch the lamp will not light.

Similarly in a sacrament an action is performed which brings into reality what is mentioned in scripture and believed in faith. There are seven sacraments. The sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist), the sacraments of healing (Penance, Anointing of the Sick), the sacraments at the service of communion (Holy Orders, Matrimony).

* Confirmation is also called Chrismation.
* Penance is also called Penance and Reconciliation.

What Is A Sacramental?

It is an action of imparting the power of a blessing on a person, place or thing. The blessed item bears or carries the power of prayer said or imparted on it. Making sign of the cross, laying of hands, the sprinkling of holy water, etc. and blessed substances like water, salt and oil are called sacramentals. Holy water is used to bless persons, places and other articles. Other blessed articles like crucifix, medal, rosary, scapular, statue, candle, etc. are also called sacramentals.

Sacramentals are used in consecration and for protection.

These are aids to help the faithful to fight against the attacks of the enemy and not substitutes to save the soul. Salvation is received only by faith in Jesus Christ and preserved by a personal relationship with him.

* When the blessing is a command to the Evil One in the name of Jesus it is called exorcism.

* Certain actions are reserved for ordained ministers (bishops, priests, deacons).

* A "major exorcism" can be preformed only by a priest and with the permission of the bishop.

IMPORTANT: Just as the power of God is transmitted by imparting blessings on physical things by Christians, the devil worshipers can also transmit the power of evil using things on which curses are imparted.

For more details on sacramentals read:

1. Holy Water Oil And Salt

Scripture References For Sacraments

Baptism: Matthew 3:16; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:8; Mark 16:16; John 3:5; Acts 1:4-5; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:16; Acts 8:36-38; Acts 11:16; Acts 16:15; Acts 16:33; Acts 18:8; Acts 19:3-6; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 5:25-26; Col. 2:12; 1 Peter 3:20-21

Confirmation: Isaiah 44:3; Ezekiel 39:29; Joel 2:28; John 14:16; Acts 2:4; Acts 8:14-17; Acts 19:3-6; Hebrews 6:2

Eucharist: Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:17-20, John 6:50-58, Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

Penance: Matthew 16:19; John 20:21-23; Rev. 1:18

Anointing of the Sick: Mark 6:13, James 5:14-15

Matrimony: Mt. 19:10-11; Eph. 5:31-32

Holy Orders: Acts 6:3-6; Acts 13:2-3; 1 Tim. 3:1; 1 Tim. 3:8-9; 1 Tim. 4:14; 1 Tim. 4:16; 1 Tim. 5:17-19; 1 Tim. 5:22

* CCC 1256
The ministers of Baptism are the bishops, priests and sometimes deacons. However in case of necessity even a NON-BAPTIZED person with the required intentions can baptize by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula.

Scripture References for Sacramentals

Water:  Genesis 7, Exodus 30:17-21, 14:15-22, 17:6-7, Joshua 3:14-17, Ezekiel 47: 1-12, Matthew 3:13-17, John 1:19-34, 5:1-9, 19:34

Salt: Leviticus 2:13, Numbers 18;19, 2 Chronicles 13:5, Ezekiel 16:14, 43:24, 2 Kings 2:20-21, Matthew 5:13, Mark 9:50, Colossians 4:6

Oil:  Genesis 28:18, Exodus 30:22-33, 29:7, 30:25, 40:9, Leviticus 8:10-12, 8:30, 14:15-18, 1 Samuel 10:1, 16:13, Psalm 89:20, Mark 6:13, James 5:14-15

Others: 2 Kings 5:10, 13:20-21, Matthew 14:36, John 9:6, Acts 15:5, 19:11-12

For more details on sacraments read:
Sacraments in Scripture - (post on EWTN)


IMPORTANT: The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) is divided into 4 parts. All links provided below are from part 2 which deals with sacraments.

Part 2 - The Celebration of the Christian Mystery

Section 1 - The Sacramental Economy
Chapter 1 - The Pascal Mystery in the age of the Church
Article 1 - The Liturgy - The work of the Holy Trinity
Article 2 - The Pascal Mystery in the Church's Sacraments
Chapter 2 - The Sacramental Celebration
Article 1 - Celebrating the Church's Liturgy
Article 2 - Liturgical Diversity and the Unity of the Mystery

Section 2 - The Seven Sacraments of the Church
Chapter 1 - The Sacraments of Christian Initiation
Article 1 - The Sacrament of Baptism
Article 2 -  The Sacrament of Confirmation
Article 3 - The Sacrament of the Eucharist
Chapter 2 - The Sacraments of Healing
Article 4 -  The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
Article 5 - The Anointing of the Sick
Chapter 3 - The Sacraments at the Service of Communion
Article 6 - The Sacrament of Holy Orders
Article 7 - The Sacrament of Matrimony
Chapter 4 - Other Liturgical Celebrations
Article 1 - Sacramentals
Article 2 - Christian Funerals


Details about individual Sacraments: (CCC)
1. The Sacrament of Baptism
2. The Sacrament of Confirmation
3. The Sacrament of the Eucharist
4. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
5. The Anointing of the Sick
6. The Sacrament of Holy Orders
7. The Sacrament of Matrimony

This post provides detailed explanation on the meaning and difference between sacraments and sacramentals with scripture references.

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