In addition to the sacraments, which Christ instituted, there are also sacramentals, which the Church established.
Sacramentals ,,these are sacred signs, which, with a certain similarity to the sacraments, signify effects, primarily spiritual, and they achieve it through the prayer of the Church " (KL 60).
The Church blesses men and women religious, establishes lectors and acolytes, he consecrates churches, chapels, cemeteries, and also chalices, liturgical vestments, bells, water, candles (gromnice), ash, palm trees, wreaths, medals, crosses (the so-called. devotional articles).
By blessing a person, the Church asks God for favors for her, blessing things, she asks for God's help. Prosi o to, when he blesses the faithful during the services, mother and children, pilgrims coming to the holy places, sick, by, houses, foods (e.g.. for Easter). The church also wants to weaken the influence of the evil spirit on people, so he prays for. at the baptism of the child,
Sacramentals have some similarity to the sacraments. As signs (activities, words) they mean some spiritual effects. Only the sacraments themselves impart God's grace. Sacramentals, on the other hand, win for us God's help through the prayer of the Church. The power of these prayers of the Church flows from the paschal mystery of the Passion, the death and resurrection of Christ.
Sacramentals "prepare people to receive the main effect of the sacraments and sanctify various circumstances of life" (KL 60). That is why the Church precedes or extends the administration of all sacraments with various sacramentals. Thanks to them, "almost every right use of material things can serve to sanctify man and glorify God" (KL 61).
We can ask for more God's help through sacramentals than through our own prayers. For with the sacramentals we do not only pray for grace, but the whole Church prays with us and for us, with Jesus Christ as head, Blessed Mother and all saints. All you need to do is use the sacramentals devoutly. That the faithful may use the sacramentals more fruitfully, The liturgical constitution permits the use of the mother tongue in the administration of these sacred rites. List of sacramentals, which may be used in the Church, is in the "Ritual" (collection of rites), approved by bishops in Poland.
■ Task :
1. Familiarize yourself with some of the sacramentals, especially with the sacrifice of water, gromnicy, foods, ash, devotional items, with the blessings of children and mothers, houses.
2. What is the content of the prayers, which the Church brings to God in these sacred activities ?
