The Sacramental You've Never Heard Of

NCRegister.com ^ | March 11, 2010 | Tim Drake

[Salvation]

The Sacramental You've Never Heard Of

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by Tim Drake Thursday, March 11, 2010 5:21 PM

If you’re Catholic, you’re familiar with sacramentals such as holy water, holy cards, blessed oils, and medals. However, up until a couple of years ago, I had never before heard of Blessed Salt.
After moving to our farmhouse in the country, one of our children was repeatedly having nightmares. When I mentioned this to a friend who had a priest visiting from another state, he offered to bring the priest over to bless the house.

The priest came equipped not only with holy water, but also blessed salt, which he used liberally, moving from room to room, praying and giving the house a holy “renovation.”
Suffice it to say that the nightmares ended.

According to Wikipedia, blessed salt was used in the Sacrament of Baptism, and is found in the 1962 Roman Ritual in the rites of baptism, the reconsecration of an altar, and the blessing of holy water.
As with any sacramental, blessed salt is an instrument of grace and its power comes from Christ. St. Augustine called such sacramentals “visible forms of invisible grace.”
After going on retreat one year, all of the retreatants were presented with a gallon of holy water and a full salt container filled with blessed salt to take home. Not only can the blessed salt be used inside or outside the home to protect against evil, but it can also be used in cooking. Ever since our introduction to this sacramental, we always try to have some on hand.
T

o learn more about the history of blessed salt, read Father John Hampsch’s article.
Here’s the official prayer from the Roman Ritual that a priest can use to bless salt:

“Almighty God, we ask you to bless this salt, as once you blessed the salt scattered over the water by the prophet Elisha. Wherever this salt (and water) is sprinkled, drive away the power of evil, and protect us always by the presence of your Holy Spirit. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

[RnMomof7]

The original church did not have a pope, or priests or a mass or prayer to saints or “veneration” of Mary, it did not have a confessional or sacraments (other than the lords supper and baptism, it did not have candles or statues or indulgences exist in the new church ...until the 300’s or we can say the rule of Constantine

[Palladin]

It’s a wonder the pagans have anything left!

[RnMomof7]

Ben,

Christ FULFILLED the law perfectly , your own catechism says that. We are no longer under that law, the law remains as a way for us to see how sinful we are and how much we need a Savior..without the law we would never know that

However we are here talking about religious practices in israel .

The OT ceremonies , the temple, the ritual the priests, etc were TYPES of Christ, he fulfill every one of those types so the NO LONGER HAVE ANY PURPOSE . . they were no longer needed once they were fulfilled in Christ

Yes we do all have family and church traditions, but I hope we do not look to those traditions for spiritual blessings or salvation.. There is only salvation in Christ

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“I think we need to ask from where does that spiritual “benefit “come..”

I already know the answer - God.

“Remember the “angel of light” loves confusion”

I have no confusion over this. You do. Who is Satan influencing here then?

“All “miracles” are not from God”

These aren’t miracles. These are sacramentals. All grace is from God.

“If the spiritual benefit is relying on an object or thing instead of Christ, it has no spiritual benefit only peril.”

There is no reliance on an object. The reliance is on grace.

“NO where do the apostles or Christ tell us to rely on “holy exorcized “ water or salt for any benefit..”

Not all truths are in scripture. Even sola scriptura (a clear falsehood) is not in scripture and yet Protestants have been suckered by Satan into believing it so that they could be mislead away from orthodoxy toward a hermeneutic of self-satisfaction.

“no where do they tell us that demons can even inhabit them.”

Where exactly are you getting this from? I think you misunderstand what the exorcism of salt and water is - which wouldn’t surprise me since you seem to know little to nothing about historic Christianity in general. Here is how the old Catholic Encyclopedia puts it:

“The chief things formally exorcised in blessing are water, salt, oil, and these in turn are used in personal exorcisms, and in blessing or consecrating places (e.g. churches) and objects (e.g. altars, sacred vessels, church bells) connected with public worship, or intended for private devotion. Holy water, the sacramental with which the ordinary faithful are most familiar, is a mixture of exorcised water and exorcised salt; and in the prayer of blessing, God is besought to endow these material elements with a supernatural power of protecting those who use them with faith against all the attacks of the devil. This kind of indirect exorcism by means of exorcised objects is an extension of the original idea; but it introduces no new principle, and it has been used in the Church from the earliest ages.”

Since you’ve been told the truth it would really be nice if you would actually be an honest person in the reast of the thread and not make the same false assertion (i.e. “that demons can even inhabit them”) again.

“If it was intended for the spiritual benefit of men, they would have revealed it to us.”

They didn’t have to put everything in writing. They didn’t believe in sola scriptura. They were orthodox Christians don’t forget. They weren’t Protestants.

[RnMomof7]

They didn’t have to put everything in writing. They didn’t believe in sola scriptura. They were orthodox Christians don’t forget. They weren’t Protestants.

The were "Calvinists" and protestors against the religious man made rules & laws of Judaism :)

The fact is one can not make firm doctrine out of silence . Jesus used the OT as verification of His doctrine as did the apostles.. they did not make it up as they went along

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“The original church did not have a pope,”

Matthes 16.

” or priests or a mass”

Last Supper. 1 Cor. 10-11.

“or prayer to saints”

The saints were just being made by God so no one should expect that yet.

“or “veneration” of Mary,”

Again, Mary was still alive for years yet.

“it did not have a confessional”

It had confession. John 20:19-23. 2 Cor. 2:10.

“or sacraments”

Actually there are numerous verses for these.

“(other than the lords supper and baptism, it did not have candles”

Actually tallow candles date back to the first century A.D. if I am not mistaken.

“or statues”

I think Christians had neither the time nor money to make much detailed art in the first century. We know they made paintings in the third century, however. Statues - which take much more skill and a certain level of professionalism to accomplish - followed in the fourth of fifth century at least.

“or indulgences exist in the new church”

11th century. Then again not a single Protestant walked the earth intil more than 400 years later - and they weren’t orthodox.

“...until the 300’s or we can say the rule of Constantine”

You’re wrong on much of what you’ve said. It’s never stopped you before of course.

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“The were “Calvinists” and protestors against the religious man made rules & laws of Judaism”

No. Since Calvin would not walk the face of the earth until nearly 1500 years later they could not be Calvinsts nor could Calvin be an orthodox Christian. It works both ways.

“The fact is one can not make firm doctrine out of silence .”

The fact is one can not make orthodox doctrine out of Protestantism.

“Jesus used the OT as verification of His doctrine as did the apostles.. they did not make it up as they went along”

Right. Which proves that Protestantism is wrong - since it was made up as it went along 1500 years later.

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“So then you admit the Roman Catholic church shares pagan worship methods?”

1) I’m not “Roman Catholic” and my Church is not the “Roman Catholic church”.

2) Nothing I’ve mentioned is a worship method.

3) I expect human beings of all religions to share some similarities since it is inevitable that all things shared in by human beings must. You wear pants - I assume. Does that make you a pagan? At one point in time it would. Does it make you one now? You call the fifth day of the week Thursday. Does that make you a Thor worshipper? If you wear a wedding ring, does it make you a pagan?

Anti-Catholics seem to be universally poorly educated and possessed of little rationality and common sense. I think this sort of tact of yours is an example of it. You’ll call tomorrow “Sunday” and it won’t make you a pagan in the least.

“And that is fine with you??”

It is absolutely fine to me that some things formerly entirely controlled by pagans are given a godly use by Christians: Greek, Latin, English, codexes as opposed to scrolls (think about that the next time you want to carry a pocket Bible with you and thank God St. Paul wasn’t didn’t have your view).

[Desdemona]

Blessed Salt is actually standard in exorcists kits.

[RnMomof7]

Calvin's doctrine is taught by Jesus, Peter and Paul ..thus for short hand I called them "Calvinists"..

Once again one can not make firm doctrine out of silence.Jesus did not nor did the apostles they all used the scriptures

I am not "anti catholic" I am pro the word or God and what it teaches and I am anti doctrines formulated that are outside of scripture wherever they stands ... Protestant , Catholic, Mormon or where ever.. The word of God is truth.

[Desdemona]

Then again not a single Protestant walked the earth intil more than 400 years later - and they weren’t orthodox.

Not arguing that protestants are orthodox, because they weren't, but over the years through bits and pieces, it seems that the protestant movement started in about the 13th century. The "reformers" (or revolters) just put a face on it. Otherwise, Luther and Calvin would have been footnotes in history because people truly rooted in faith aren't that easily persuaded. And the reality was that the movement was popular in what we would call the upper/upper middle class who had a high opinion of their own intelligence and understanding of everything under the sun, not unlike today's "liberals."

[Desdemona]

Re “Sunday”, in the Romance languages (based on Latin), Sunday is Domingo, Domenica, Dimanche - the Lord’s day. I assume you were just referring to modern English.

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“Calvin’s doctrine is taught by Jesus, Peter and Paul ..”

Actually no one taught Calvin’s doctrine until Calvin - that’s why even you call it Calvin’s doctrine.

“thus for short hand I called them “Calvinists”..”

You inaccurately and anachronistically refer to them as Calvinists. There was nothing “short” about your error. It was just an error.

“Once again one can not make firm doctrine out of silence.”

Once again one cannot make orthodoxy out of Protestantism.

“Jesus did not nor did the apostles they all used the scriptures.”

They used tradition before they wrote the scriptures and the scriptures are written tradition anyway. The Church - and Jesus - preached, taught and baptized for years without the New Testament.

“I am not “anti catholic” I am pro the word or God and what it teaches and I am anti doctrines formulated that are outside of scripture wherever they stands ... Protestant , Catholic, Mormon or where ever.. The word of God is truth.”

No, you’re anti-Catholic. And your opposition to the Church is predicated upon your lack of knowledge to the faith and not upon anything you imagine to be opposed to the Word of God. That’s why you keep posting errors, inaccuracies, misrepresentations, and anachronistic claims. Someone with knowledge would not be doing this. Someone without knowledge can only oppose things out of prejudice not reason.

[vladimir998]

I meant English, yes.

[sockmonkey]

I’m a convert, and I’ve used Blessed Salt practically since I swam the Tiber. I also call it exorcised salt because of the wording used for “Thou Creature Salt.”..

The prayer used for mine isn’t the one in the article. I know a lot of people make a cross with it, under their tablecloth, and also use it around their property lines, and also around abortuaries. And in cooking, too.

[RnMomof7]

Matthew 2:5
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:6 (
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Matthew 4:7
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Matthew 11:10 (
For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Matthew 21:13 (Whole Chapter)
And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Matthew 26:24
The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

Matthew 26:31 (Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

Mark 1:2
As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mark 7:6 (
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Mark 9:12
And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

Mark 9:13 (Whole Chapter)
But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

Mark 14:21 (Whole Chapter)
The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

Mark 14:27 (Whole Chapter)
And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

Luke 2:23 (Whole Chapter)
(As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

Luke 3:4 (Whole Chapter)
As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Luke 4:4 (Whole Chapter)
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Luke 4:8 (Whole Chapter)
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Luke 4:10 (Whole Chapter)
For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:

Luke 7:27 (Whole Chapter)
This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Matthew 26:31 (Whole Chapter)
Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

Mark 1:2 (Whole Chapter)
As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mark 7:6 (Whole Chapter)
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Mark 9:12 (Whole Chapter)
And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

Mark 9:13 (Whole Chapter)
But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

Mark 14:21 (Whole Chapter)
The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

Mark 14:27 (Whole Chapter)
And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

Luke 2:23 (Whole Chapter)
(As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

Luke 3:4 (Whole Chapter)
As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Luke 4:4 (Whole Chapter)
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Luke 4:8 (Whole Chapter)
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Luke 4:10 (Whole Chapter)
For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:

Luke 7:27 (Whole Chapter)
This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Romans 3:10 (Whole Chapter)
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 4:17 (Whole Chapter)
(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Romans 8:36 (Whole Chapter)
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Romans 9:13 (Whole Chapter)
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

Romans 9:33 (Whole Chapter)
As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Romans 10:15 (Whole Chapter)
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Romans 11:8 (Whole Chapter)
(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Romans 11:26 (Whole Chapter)
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Romans 12:19 (Whole Chapter)
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Romans 14:11 (Whole Chapter)
For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Romans 15:3 (Whole Chapter)
For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Romans 15:9 (Whole Chapter)
And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.

Romans 15:21 (Whole Chapter)
But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.

1 Corinthians 1:19 (Whole Chapter)
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

1 Corinthians 1:31 (Whole Chapter)
That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (Whole Chapter)
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1 Corinthians 3:19 (Whole Chapter)
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

1 Corinthians 9:9 (Whole Chapter)
For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

1 Corinthians 10:7 (Whole Chapter)
Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

1 Corinthians 14:21 (Whole Chapter)
In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:45 (Whole Chapter)
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

2 Corinthians 4:13 (Whole Chapter)
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

2 Corinthians 8:15 (Whole Chapter)
As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

2 Corinthians 9:9 (Whole Chapter)
(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

Galatians 3:10 (Whole Chapter)
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Galatians 3:13 (Whole Chapter)
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Galatians 4:22 (Whole Chapter)
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

Galatians 4:27 (Whole Chapter)
For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Hebrews 10:7 (Whole Chapter)
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

1 Peter 1:16 (Whole Chapter)
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Please provide all the teachings based on “tradition “

[vladimir998]

All the Bible is tradition. All of it existed as tradition before it was written. Didn’t you know that?

[RnMomof7]

No, you’re anti-Catholic. And your opposition to the Church is predicated upon your lack of knowledge to the faith and not upon anything you imagine to be opposed to the Word of God. That’s why you keep posting errors, inaccuracies, misrepresentations, and anachronistic claims. Someone with knowledge would not be doing this. Someone without knowledge can only oppose things out of prejudice not reason.

I was born and raised Catholic.. Went to Catholic schools and college, was on the liturgy planning committee, a member of a worship team, a lector, I taught CCD, and gave lectures on Catholic women's retreats . I was an active Catholic

Then I was saved by the grace and mercy of God and I left.. that was 1976, and I am more grateful every day for the cross of Christ saving one like me.. I am so thankful for the word of God that brings us to faith ...

I do not want to see "good" people " go to hell because they did not know that it is ALL CHRIST , not a church , not tradition, not good works, salvation is all of God !

[RnMomof7]

The Bible is the word of God.. any “tradition” that God desired for the new church was written for our instruction

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“I was born and raised Catholic.. Went to Catholic schools and college, was on the liturgy planning committee, a member of a worship team, a lector, I taught CCD, and gave lectures on Catholic women’s retreats . I was an active Catholic.”

And yet you know little to nothing about the faith? All you’re doing is proving what I have known for many years - and that’s if you’re even telling the truth about your past: 1) The catechesis of Catholics over the last several decades has been horrible. They come out knowing little about their faith. 2) Anti-Catholics almost uniformally, no matter what their background, seem to know little of what they’re talking about when it comes to the Catholic faith. Now, putting that aside for the moment, I can honestly say I don’t have any reason to believe you when you make claims about a Catholic past. I was fortunate enough to see an anti-Catholic - who claimed to be a priest at one time! - exposed as a fraund in the viciously anti-Catholic forum he had become an assistant moderator in. I already doubted many of the “former Catholic” stories I read because of inaccuracies and fantastic claims. But I saw a man actually exposed as a liar. I personally tracked him down and even learned his street address and some of his background (wife’s name, father’s name, etc). After that I just have the hardest time believing what any anti-Catholic tells me. They lie so often that I can’t take what they claim about anything seriously. I’m not saying that you are lying. I am just saying people like you have lied to me so often that I just don’t believe anything that any anti-Catholic says.

“Then I was saved by the grace and mercy of God and I left.. that was 1976, and I am more grateful every day for the cross of Christ saving one like me.. I am so thankful for the word of God that brings us to faith ...”

I too am grateful for the Word that was given to the safe keeping and preaching of the Catholic Church and detest the violence done against it by Protestantism, cults and liberals in general.

“I do not want to see “good” people “ go to hell because they did not know that it is ALL CHRIST , not a church , not tradition, not good works, salvation is all of God !”

We know our salvation is in Christ. You deny what we know. You, therefore, are not a good judge of good people. I suggest you actually learn about the faith you so routinely and erroneously attack. I realize that will spoil your usual plans to continue posting about what you apparently don’t know anything about, but it would be a more honest pursuit for you.