Lesson 27: On The Sacramentals (Baltimore Catechism) (Catholic Caucus)

Baltimore Catechism #4 ^ | 19th century | n/a

[Pyro7480]

292. Q. What is a sacramental?

A. A sacramental is anything set apart or blessed by the Church to excite good thoughts and to increase devotion, and through these movements of the heart to remit venial sin.

It is not the sacramental itself that gives grace, but the devotion, the love of God, or sorrow for sin that it inspires. For example, a person comes into the church and goes around the Stations of the Cross. The stations are a sacramental. In looking at one station he sees Our Lord on trial before Pilate; in another he sees Him crowned with thorns; in another, scourged; in another, carrying His Cross; in another, crucified; in another, dead and laid in the tomb. Before all these pictures he reflects on the sufferings of Our Saviour, and begins to hate sin, that caused them. Then he thinks, of his own sins, and begins to be sorry for them. This sorrow, caused by going around the stations, brings him grace that remits venial sins. When we receive the Sacraments we always get the grace of the Sacraments when we are rightly disposed; but in using the sacramentals, the more devotion we have the more grace we receive.

"Increase devotion." If we knelt down before a plain white wall we could not pray with the devotion we would have kneeling before a crucifix. We see the representation of the nails in the hands and feet, the blood on the side, the thorns on the head; and all these must make us think of Our Lord's terrible sufferings. The picture of a friend hanging before us will often make us think of him when we would otherwise forget him. So also will the pictures of Our Lord and of the saints keep them often in our minds.

[Pyro7480]

A timeless read...

[Pyro7480]

Catholic ping!

[Judith Anne]

Thank you for the lovely post. I’m thinking the BC qualifies as a sacramental, just reading what you have posted.

[Salvation]

More info:

Lesson 27: On The Sacramentals (Baltimore Catechism) (Catholic Caucus)
The Medal of St. Benedict

The Sacramental You've Never Heard Of [Blessed Salt]
Radio Replies First Volume - Holy Water
Cross, Sign Of
Liturgical Vestments (and prayers the priest says while vesting for Mass)
Vestments… Tools of the Liturgical Trade! [Ecumenical]
The story behind the white and yellow colors of the Vatican flag
The Sacrifice of the Mass: Liturgical Vestments
Of Miters and Men (brief look at symbolism of bishop's vestments) [Ecumenical]
Purification of Sacred Vessels in U.S. (and more on the Purification of our Lord)
Why We Need Sacred Art

Being Catholic: Sacred Things, [Holy] Water
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, [New] Fire, Paschal Candle
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Holy Oils
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Crucifixes and Crosses
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Sacred Images: Statues and Other Icons
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Incense
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Palm Branches
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Ashes
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Relics and the Incorruptibles
Baltimore Catechism: On the Sacramentals (Catholic Caucus)

[Notwithstanding]

The Baltimore is half of my kids homeschool religion program. I am always amazed at what they know.

[narses]

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[Rashputin]

I have the current Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Catechism of the Council of Trent, and am going to get the Baltimore Catechism. They each explain things a bit differently and that can help sometimes when you run into somebody that has a problem with one explanation and may more easily understand another. Do most people use their Catechism for their own study rather than when talking with others about the Faith? I've found using the Catechism very, very, helpful with explaining things one on one to people who are interested.

[GonzoII]

Bump!

[Notwithstanding]

I think people use them for both. The Compendium of the Catechism is also good (it is a simple Q&A format like Baltimore but with references to the CCC paragraphs for each answer).