Catholic Traditions

[fellowChristian]

From the Baltimore Catechism

**What are sacramentals? **

469.Sacramentals are holy things or actions of which the Church makes use to obtain for us from God, through her intercession, spiritual and temporal favors.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that those who believe in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting. (John 3:14-15)

1. How do the sacramentals obtain favors from God?
   The sacramentals obtain favors from God through the prayers of the Church offered for those who make use of them, and through the devotion they inspire.
2. What are the chief benefits obtained by the use of the sacramentals?
   The chief benefits obtained by the use of the sacramentals are:
   first, actual graces;
   second, the forgiveness of venial sins;
   third, the remission of temporal punishment;
   fourth, health of body and material blessings;
   fifth, protection from evil spirits.
3. Which are the chief kinds of sacramentals?
   The chief kinds of sacramentals are:
   first, blessings given by priests and bishops;
   second, exorcisms against evil spirits; third, blessed objects of devotion.
4. Which are the blessed objects of devotion most used by Catholics?
   The blessed objects of devotion most used by Catholics are: holy water, candles, ashes, palms, crucifixes, medals, rosaries, scapulars, and images of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin, and the saints.
   And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. (Luke 1:10)
5. How should we make use of sacramentals?
   We should make use of the sacramentals with faith and devotion, and never make them objects of superstition.

Gaining
Indulgencesfisheaters.com/indulgences.html
**
“Offering it Up” **
fisheaters.com/offeringitup.html

 

[LilyM]

BUt what of the idea of Mortification (eg the celice, self-flagellation, etc) as a cleansing from sin?

Certainly these type of physical mortifications, as all mortification, can be exactly as you have said.

Just a word of caution though. There is danger with the more severe penances (extreme fasting, cilice and flagellation etc).

The risk is that they can be or become a source of mere masochistic release rather than spiritual betterment. Or else a source of spiritual pride - the temptation is to feel oneself as being superior spiritually to those who do not pursue such practices.

This is why they are not to be pursued except with great care and under spiritual advice and direction.

 

[theAuthor]

Lily M, I can not really see anyone not falling into the traps you have described unless they were cloistered. What I am asking is can Mortification be a penance, or gain an indulgence to pay the temporal penalty for the sins we have committed (ie fixing the broken window)?

Also, about the broken window analogy. If I do someone a harm, say for instance do them an injury, the priest telling me to say Hail Mary’s after confession doesn’t unbrake their nose…

re:Sacramentals, good post fellow Christian. What of (primary?) relics? Say if one actually had the Holy Grail, the throns from Jesus’ head, a prt of the real cross? Would such things contain power of themself, or confer power on the holder?

 

[patient_lady]

As jpjd mentioned, Sacramentals aid us in devotion. Yet many miracles DO occur through sacramentals. I wrote this for someone else recently. I hope it helps you!

Does God work through matter? Of course. The combination of Matter and Spirit are found all throughout the Bible. We humans are matter (body) and spirit (soul). The Church as the Mystical Body of Christ is also matter (visible) and spirit (invisible). The same goes for the Sacraments. For example in baptism we have matter (water) and spirit (the Holy Spirit - a person of the Trinity Himself).

Here are some more explicit mentions of God using matter in ways as a sacramental (or comperable):

Exodus 17:5-6 - God works through Moses’ staff to give the people water. Yes, God could have provided them with water in some other way, but chose to do it through Moses’ staff.

2 Kings 2:8 - Elijah could have prayed to God, and the waters would have parted, but instead God worked through Elijah’s mantle (coat).

Acts 19:11-12 - Paul blesses handkerchiefs that aid people in need of deliverance.