The Importance of Sacramentals

If you look around your house, you probably have some sacramentals around and don’t even realize it. What are sacramentals? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sacramentals are “sacred signs instituted by the Church to prepare us to receive the fruit of the sacraments and to sanctify different circumstances of our lives (no. 1677)”. Examples of sacramentals are medals, holy water, statues, the crucifix, rosary beads and holy images such as pictures or holy cards.

Incorporating these items into your prayer life can lead to a closer relationship with God and the saints. It is not an act of superstition (like if I sprinkle holy water on my car, it will work better) but a chance to ask God for His intercession in things that really matter. When I bless myself each morning with holy water and do the Sign of the Cross, I am asking God to protect and bless me that day and to give me the Daily Bread I need.

The reason I wear a crucifix around my neck is not to show everyone how holy I am, but to remind myself that I can do nothing without Jesus and that it is in Christ that I am able to go about my day hopefully doing God’s will.

When I look at my keychain with my Saint John Paul II medal attached, it reminds me that this holy man was the reason that I returned to the Church after 20 years away. Saint John Paul II is a saint that we can all relate to because he lived in our times; he is not a saint from centuries ago. And this man of God showed us all how to live and more importantly, how to die. I thank God for this man and also pray to Saint John Paul II for his intercession in my life and guidance to keep me on the right path in my faith.

I have several kinds of rosaries and they are all special to me. I have one made of rosewood that has Saint John Paul II on one side and Pope Francis on the other that was also blessed by Francis. I have a rosary that is red like my birthstone the ruby. I have a finger rosary that I can carry in my pocket or in my car. And I have a one decade rosary given to me by a friend that is in my favorite colors, orange and blue. Each of these rosaries I use in different ways and at different times of my week but they are all so important to me. I not only say the traditional rosary prayers, but I use them to say other prayers such as the Divine Mercy Chaplet (http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/year-of-faith/how-to-pray-the-chaplet-of-divine-mercy.cfm).

I also use holy cards - I have one with the prayer to Our Lady Undoer of Knots (a favorite for Pope Francis) and one which I use each night when I pray the Examen (recapping my day with God). These are great sacramentals to tuck inside your purse or wallet and take out in those times when you are waiting like at the doctor’s office or in line at the DMV.

Sacramentals are easy tools for us to use to keep our focus on God and his saints. These items are given to us by God because He wants us to always come to Him with our requests and prayers. Use your sacramentals daily to strengthen your spiritual and prayer life and see where God will take you.