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Sacramentals fundamentally differ from [[sacrament]]s. While sacraments are said to actually confer the grace of God by the established ordinance of the Lord by the [[Omnipotence|omnipotent]] power of the [[Holy Spirit]], sacramentals are helps that predispose those who are already in a state of grace who use them properly to be more open to the grace of God. They produce grace through the Church's prayer to God as the body of Christ [[Intercession|interceding]] for the salvation of the world and the protection and help of Christian believers.

Sacramentals fundamentally differ from [[sacrament]]s. While sacraments are said to actually confer the grace of God by the established ordinance of the Lord by the [[Omnipotence|omnipotent]] power of the [[Holy Spirit]], sacramentals are helps that predispose those who are already in a state of grace who use them properly to be more open to the grace of God. They produce grace through the Church's prayer to God as the body of Christ [[Intercession|interceding]] for the salvation of the world and the protection and help of Christian believers.

Only certain sacramentals require a particular predisposition on the part of the person using them: [[Holy water]], the [[Sign of the Cross]], the blessed ashes of [[Ash Wednesday]], the [[Rosary]], praying the [[Liturgy of the Hours]], personal attendance at [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] or the Divine Liturgy, the wearing of blessed objects and holy medals dedicated to the honor of [[saints]] as servants and representatives of [[Jesus Christ]] as their Lord and Savior, such as the Scapulars (Brown, Red, White, Blue, Black) and the [[Miraculous Medal]], the medal of [[Saint Benedict]] and others, blessed candles, [[vestment]]s, and hallowed ground such as a church or cemetery.

Only certain sacramentals require a particular predisposition on the part of the person using them: [[Holy water]], the [[Sign of the Cross]], the blessed ashes of [[Ash Wednesday]], the [[Rosary]], praying the [[Liturgy of the Hours]], personal attendance at [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] or the Divine Liturgy, holy pictures and holy cards (pictorial representations of saints and angels on one side with a printed prayer on the other), the wearing of blessed objects and holy medals dedicated to the honor of [[saints]] as servants and representatives of [[Jesus Christ]] as their Lord and Savior, such as the Scapulars (Brown, Red, White, Blue, Black), and various medals the Medal of the [[Immaculate Conception]] called the Miraculous Medal, promulgated by Saint [[Catherine Laboure]], the medal of [[Saint Benedict]] and others, blessed candles, [[vestment]]s, and hallowed ground such as the site of a church or cemetery.

[[Vatican II]] teaches:{{quotation|Holy Mother Church has, moreover, instituted sacramentals. These are sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments: they signify effects, particularly of a spiritual kind, which are obtained through the Church's intercession. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy <br> —SC 60 (''Documents of Vatican II: Sacrosanctum Concilium'' Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy)}}

[[Vatican II]] teaches:{{quotation|Holy Mother Church has, moreover, instituted sacramentals. These are sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments: they signify effects, particularly of a spiritual kind, which are obtained through the Church's intercession. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy <br> —SC 60 (''Documents of Vatican II: Sacrosanctum Concilium'' Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy)}}