What exactly does Rome mean by sacramentals?
Sacramentals are distinguished from sacraments.
Sacraments were instituted directly by Christ and are effective at giving grace all by themselves. If you are baptized, you are baptized, end of story. If you are ordained, you are ordained. The Church has no authority to add or take away sacraments, only to regulate their form somewhat.
Sacramentals are instituted by the Church and can be invented and suppressed at will. They are only effective insofar as the person using them is disposed to receive the grace. So if a person uses holy water piously, he can receive grace from it. But it is by no means certain or automatic. Likewise blessings, palms, etc. etc.
Do you do the Lord’s Supper at your church? If so, your view of that rite would probably be equivalent to what we consider a sacramental.
Sacramentals are distinguished from sacraments.
Sacraments were instituted directly by Christ and are effective at giving grace all by themselves. If you are baptized, you are baptized, end of story. If you are ordained, you are ordained. The Church has no authority to add or take away sacraments, only to regulate their form somewhat.
Sacramentals are instituted by the Church and can be invented and suppressed at will. They are only effective insofar as the person using them is disposed to receive the grace. So if a person uses holy water piously, he can receive grace from it. But it is by no means certain or automatic. Likewise blessings, palms, etc. etc.
Do you do the Lord’s Supper at your church? If so, your view of that rite would probably be equivalent to what we consider a sacramental.