Compendium of Sacramentals: Encyclopedia of the Church's Blessings, Signs, and Devotions

The Catholic Faith posseses a treasury of devotions, prayers, and rituals to draw us deeper into the spiritual life. Among these gifts, sacramentals hold a unique and vital place in the lives of all who seek God's grace. From rosaries and crucifixes to medals and relics, from bells and candles to salts and scapulars, these seemingly ordinary signs, when woven into our everyday lives, sanctify us and better prepare us to "receive the fruit of the sacraments" (CCC 1677). Compendium of Sacramentals explores this vast and fascinating world, giving us keen insights and a deeper understanding of the power of sacramentals. Readers will discover: The differences between the Church's three groups of sacramentals: blessings, exorcisms, and pious devotions The history, development, and spiritual reality behind each sacramental How sacramentals can become the chief instrument for disposing us to the seven sacraments of the Church Thorough explanations of devotions, including those familiar