Sacramentals
What are Sacramentals? Why do we use them?
The Spirago Catechism describes “sacramentals” as “blessed or consecrated objects which, if used with pious dispositions, increase our fear and love of God, remit venial sins, and preserve us from temptations and bodily harm.” In other words, these are holy objects, blessed by the Church, whose use brings us special graces in so far as we use them with right and holy dispositions.
In the Roman Ritual, the Church provides special blessings for a wide variety of objects, both religious (holy pictures, medals, statues, rosaries…) and “everyday” (bread, salt, vegetables, automobiles…) Our spiritual life as Catholics is by no means meant to be confined to our attendance at Sunday Mass. Through the sacramentals, the Church encourages us to call down God’s blessing on our day-to-day living, and to sanctify our use of even the most commonplace things.
Two Powerful Sacramentals: Holy Water and Saint Joseph’s Oil
Among the most well-known of the sacramentals is holy water, traditionally blessed each Sunday before the Asperges at High Mass. A mixture of blessed water and exorcised salt, it is particularly effective in warding off the devil, especially in moments of temptation. Good Catholics have the custom of keeping “holy water fonts” in the home, using holy water to bless themselves at prayer, before leaving the house, and at other opportune moments throughout the day. It may also be sprinkled throughout the house in blessing, or added (in small quantities – a few drops suffice) to food and drink in cooking.
The sacramental use of oil is a tradition which goes back to Old Testament times, when it was used to anoint the Kings of Israël (and Christian monarchs, in later centuries). Oil symbolically represents both strength and healing. Olive oil solemnly blessed by the Bishop on Maundy Thursday (called “Sacred Chrism”) is used in the celebration of several different Sacraments.
However, it was Brother André Bessette, C.S.C. (1845-1937) of Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montréal who began the pious practice of burning olive oil before the statue of Saint Joseph. Brother André would bottle and distribute the oil to the many needy persons who came to visit him asking for prayers; he would encourage the sick to rub any afflicted area with St. Joseph’s Oil, making sure to unite this outward sign of faith with confident prayer in Saint Joseph’s intercession. Books are filled with testimonies (and the Oratory crypt, with abandoned crutches) witnessing to the efficaciousness of this devotion if carried out in a spirit of faith.
The oil lamp which burns day and night before Saint Joseph in Stilesville was started with oil having burnt before the statue of Saint Joseph in Montréal. In addition to being used in praying for healing, Saint Joseph’s Oil could also be added (in small quantities) during food preparation, asking the Head of the Holy Family to be present as the Christian family gathers around the table to take their bodily nourishment together.
Both holy water and Saint Joseph’s Oil are available at Saint Joseph Church in Stilesville for you to take home and use appropriately. A donation of $2 is suggested for each bottle of Saint Joseph’s Oil (with a kind request that the bottles be returned when empty, so that they may be re-used).
We heartily encourage you to make use of these and the many other powerful sacramentals of the Church, to bring abundant graces into your home as you use them throughout the week.
