What is the purpose of the Sacraments?

Answer 1

The Sacraments are visible signs instituted by Christ in order to transmit and confer grace on a willing soul. Thus, they are divine helps to aid the human soul on its journey through life, in order that the soul can become closer to God and participate in His divine life, and ultimately attain heaven.

Answer 2

Catholic Answer

Sacramentals

are blessings, prayers, and other actions that bear a resemblance to the sacraments but do not in and of themselves convey grace, they derive their efficacy from the baptized person doing the blessing, and through the power of the Church's intercession. "There is scarcely any proper use of material things which cannot be thus directed toward the sanctification of men and the praise of God." (Sacrosanctum

concilium

61)

from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon,

S.J.

Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980

Sacramental. Objects or actions that the Church uses after the manner of sacraments, in order to achieve through the merits of the faithful certain effects, mainly of a spiritual nature. They differ from sacraments in not having been instituted by Christ to produce their effect in virtue of the ritual performed. Their efficacy depends not on the rite itself, as in the sacraments, but on the influence of a prayerful petition; that of the person who uses them and of the church in approving their practice. The variety of sacramentals

spans the whole range of times and places, words and actions, objects and gestures that, on the Church's authority, draw not only on the personal dispositions of the individual but on the merits and prayers of the whole Mystical Body of Christ.

from

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

1667 "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 nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions of life are rendered holy." (Sacrosanctum

concilium

60; cf. Codex Iuris

Canonici,

canon 1166; Corpus Canonum

Ecclesiarum

Orientalium,

canon 867)

The characteristics of sacramentals

1668 Sacramentals

are instituted for the santification

of certain ministries of the church , certain states of life, a great varity

of circumstances in Christian life, and the use of many things helpful to man. In accordance with bishops' pastoral decisions, they can also respond to the needs, culture, and special history of the Christianb

people of a particular region or time. They always include a prayer, often accompanied by a specific sign, such as the laying on of hands, the sign of the cross, or the sprinkling of holy water (which recalls Baptism).