CHAPTER III 



THE SACRAMENTALS 



1. Whereas the object of the Sacraments 

 is to bring the more important events of human 

 life into relation with the grace of God, and there- 

 by to sanctify them, the Sacramentals 1 were in- 

 stituted for the purpose of placing the whole of 

 life under the special protection of Providence, 

 either by warding off the influence of the devil 

 and his cohorts, or by calling down the blessing 

 of God upon certain persons and things and dedi- 

 cating them to His service and the pious use of 

 the faithful. 2 



2. The Catholic, who is expected to employ all 

 things for the honor of God, 3 has a special duty 

 in connection with the Sacramentals, namely, to 

 respect and use them with faith and confidence 

 and with a contrite and humble heart for the sal- 

 vation of his soul as well as to obtain temporal 

 blessings. 



1 Cfr. St. Thomas, Summa Theol., fectum, tamen ordinatur aliquo 



3a, Suppl., qu. 29, art. 1 : "Est haec modo ad Mam actionem princi- 



differentia, quo sacramentum did- palem." 



tur Ma actio Ecclesiae, quae attingit 2 Matt. XX, 1; Mark XVI, 17 



ad effectum principaliter intentum in sq.; 1 Tim. IV, 4 sq. — St. Thomas, 



administratione sacramentorum; sed Summa Theol., 3a, qu. 65, art. I, ad 



sacramentale dicitur Ma actio, quae, 3 and 6. 



quamvis non pertingat ad Mum ef- 8 1 Cor. X, 31. 



212 



