Any object set apart and blessed by the Church to excite good thoughts, to increase devotion, and thus to remit venial sin. The name signifies that the article blessed has some resemblance to a sacrament, inasmuch as it is a means of grace; but a sacramental differs from a sacrament in this, that the latter always produces grace directly when there is no obstacle on the part of the recipient, while the former produces it only indirectly, by causing devotion in the mind of the user. The sacramentals include:
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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