"Joan Up with the Armor of God."

"About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know that they are just one thing, and we shouldn't complicate the matter." - St. Joan of Arc

"I am not afraid because God is with me. I was born for this!"
-St. Joan of Arc

We are pleased to be able to provide a recording of the 2021 conference talks as a free resource. Please consider donating if you are able. Any amount helps us continue this catholic women's conference each year! Thank you!

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This is a list of reflections that inspired the conference organizers. We hope you enjoy and feel inspired yourselves. 

First Reflection – Chapel Veils

During a phone conversation just before our last conference in 2019 a couple of us organizers mentioned that each of us were thinking about wearing a chapel veil to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the conference. We were both shocked that each of were thinking the same thing and we suggested to all of the organizers to consider doing the same. It seemed like an inspired idea given the theme of our conference, The Eucharist. Most of us did end up wearing a chapel veil to that Mass and many of us have continued the practice ever since.
I always thought that the chapel veils or mantillas were so pretty and remember proudly wearing them to Mass as a child before the practice fell out of fashion. I was a little disappointed when we no longer were expected to wear a veil or hat to church.
As an adult I secretly admired the few women who chose to practice this tradition. To me the mantillas are symbolic of us women as brides veiled out of respect for our groom. I often think of this same symbolism as I hold my hands as if holding my heart as a bouquet in my hands as I approach the priest to receive my Lord and God.
In researching the subject, I found that the practice of wearing a mantilla has had many purposes including veiling a woman’s beauty to allow God to be glorified, to emulate Our Blessed Mother and her purity, as an act of modesty and humility, or my person favorite signifying the role of women as life-bearing vessels. “The chalice holding the blood of Christ is veiled until the Preparation of the Gifts, and the tabernacle is veiled between Masses. Both of these vessels hold the Eucharist – the very life of Christ. In a similar fashion, the woman was endowed by God with the special gift of bearing new human life. Because of this, women, as all things holy and sacred, are veiled.”
In the Bible it was St. Paul who promotes the practice of a woman praying with a head covering and most likely where this tradition in the Church originated. Before the liturgical and tradition changes made after Vatican II, hats were more of a norm for American Catholics. It was Jaqueline Kennedy’s example that ushered in a brief comeback of the mantilla in the United States, before the requirement for a woman’s head cover was rescinded.
After having veiled consistently for over a year now I see the practice mostly as a show of humility, but I have found some practical benefits from wearing a veil at Mass. When wearing a mantilla, any exaggerated movement will cause the lace to shift. To prevent the veil from falling off my head or preventing me from fussing over it all through Mass, I tend to keep my movements at a minimum (less looking around to see what everyone else is doing) and my eyes and mind focused on the altar. They really do help me from being distracted by others around me. They are great for a bad hair day which for me is every day. Finally, because the veils are somewhat formal, I feel more compelled to dress appropriate for Mass even for a daily Mass. They are pretty and another outward sign of our beautiful Faith.
If you feel called to wear a chapel veil, we encourage you to try it. Don’t worry that you might be the only woman wearing one; I have been there many times. Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. Remember it is supposed to be a humbling experience. Not everyone is called to wear one, so do not feel compelled to wear one. Sisters in Christ, let us support each other on our individual paths to holiness and respect each other’s outward practices of respect for our one true God.

Second Reflection – The Joy of Fasting 

For many years I struggled with the notion of regular fasting. I wanted to fast, but at the same time I didn't. Why such a contradiction?
My attitude changed when I heard an interview on Catholic radio in 2012. A young man named Justin Bell was being interviewed about an apostolate he was a part of called "Live the Fast." He was asked if there is a correct way to fast, and his response resonated with me: "Jesus is pleased with any sacrifice, no matter how big or small.”
Our Lady's messages in Medjugorje have been consistent: she asks that Wednesday and Friday be days of fasting on bread and water. So in keeping with the comment about Jesus being pleased with any sacrifice, I decided to start fasting on bread and water until 6pm on Wednesdays and Fridays and then eating a light meal with only vegetables.
A fast day is more successful when I don't have caffeine. That's difficult for me since I look forward to a morning cup of coffee or two. A prayer that helps me persevere is "Jesus I love you more than ______." I fill in the blank with food and/or drinks that are tempting to have on a fasting day; coffee, chocolate, etc.
I have come to understand that the Lord doesn't want us curled up in a fetal ball when we fast, miserable and unable to function due to headaches, etc. If we fasted to that extent, then Christians with obligations to support families wouldn't be able to fast regularly. Our sacrifice should be around food, but we have to make it workable. The Lord shows us that He desires we make this little sacrifice for Him, that we do it regularly, and that we do it joyfully.
Scripture is clear that prayer alone cannot defeat evil. Prayer must be combined with fasting to achieve such victory.

• "This kind does not go out but by prayer and fasting." (Matthew 17:21) [Some Bible translations have left the word “fasting" out of this scripture verse.]
• "So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered our prayer.” (Ezra 8:23)

• Fasting restrains our physical pleasure, but it enhances our spiritual pleasure. Our greatest pleasure comes by feasting on the person of Jesus. ~Mike Bickle
• Christian fasting, at its root, is the hunger of a homesickness for God. ~John Piper
• Fasting reduces the influence of our self-will and invites the Holy Spirit to do more intense

• I subscribe to weekly emails from St. Joseph Partners. When "Live the Fast" could no longer operate as a fasting apostolate, they "passed the baton" to this established
  group. https://www.stjosephpartners.com/Home/Link/poweroffasting
• Fast With the Heart by the late Fr. Slavko Barbaric is an excellent book to learn more about fasting.

This summary on fasting is to encourage you on your own personal journey. Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find.
God's blessings and peace be to your soul.


Third Reflection – Saints and Angels 

In a few short days we will be coming together to praise God, pray, share, learn, laugh, and maybe shed a few tears together. The battle is fierce right now. This year’s conference theme was born out of the need to help each other in this spiritual battle we are all facing. Our Patron of this year’s conference, St. Joan of Arc, has much to teach us about how a devotion to the saints and angels helps us along the way. We know that God created us – to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him (which was the theme of our first conference) and to spend eternity with Him. She shows us how to “Joan Up” so that we can follow Him and carry out the mission the Lord has entrusted to us.

Joan was raised in a faithful Catholic home. Joan could not read or write. In his General Audience on 26 January, 2011 Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI spoke about this beautiful young saint:

“Joan was born at Domremy, a little village on the border between France and Lorraine. Her parents were well-off peasants, known to all as good Christians. From them she received a sound religious upbringing, considerably influenced by the spirituality of the Name of Jesus, taught by St Bernardine of Siena and spread in Europe by the Franciscans.

The Name of Mary was always associated with the Name of Jesus and thus, against the background of popular piety, Joan’s spirituality was profoundly Christocentric and Marian. From childhood, she showed great love and compassion for the poorest, the sick and all the suffering, in the dramatic context of the war.”

She lived her life believing “We must serve God first” and had a great devotion to Our Blessed Mother as well.

The Mass and Sacraments (Eucharist and Confession) were most important for Joan as they are for us. Before going into battle, she encouraged every soldier to go to confession. “Trust in God. Make confession, and be shriven, for so God will help you. Being shriven, you shall have the victory, by God’s help” (March from Blois to Orleans April 28-29) (page 33). Shriven is an archaic word that means present oneself to a priest for confession, penance, and absolution. At the stake, Joan of Arc said “I beg each priest here to say a Mass for me”. (Page 144)

Joan’s devotion to the Saints and Angels manifested itself at the age of 13, when Joan heard a voice from God. In her own words, this is what happened: ”When I was thirteen, I had a voice from God to help me to govern myself. The first time, I was terrified. The voice came to me about noon: it was summer, and I was in my father’s garden....I saw it many times before I knew it was Saint Michael....He was not alone, but duly attended by heavenly angels....He told me Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret would come to me, and I must follow their counsel; that they were appointed to guide and counsel me in what I had to do, and that I must believe what they would tell me, for it was at our Lord’s command." (Joan of Arc In Her Own Words, p. 5-6)

During the trial of February – May 1431 she was asked many questions about the heavenly helpers. “Did you ever call on them and they did not come?” She responded
"I have never had need of them and not had them come." (Joan of Arc In Her Own Words, p. 112). "I shall call them to help me as long as I live." (Joan of Arc In Her Own Words, p. 126)

What and who are the Saints?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2683) teaches us that the saints are "The witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom, [Cf. Heb 12:1 .] especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints, share in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives, the transmission of their writings, and their prayer today. They contemplate God, praise him and constantly care for those whom they have left on earth. When they entered into the joy of their Master, they were 'put in charge of many things.'[Cf. Mt 25:21.] Their intercession is their most exalted service to God's plan. We can andshould ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world.The USCCB states: “All Christians are called to be saints. Saints are persons in heaven(officially canonized or not), who lived heroically virtuous lives, offered their life for others, or were martyred for the faith, and who are worthy of imitation.”

The USCCB goes on to explain:

“In official Church procedures there are three steps to sainthood: a candidate becomes "Venerable," then "Blessed" and then "Saint." Venerable is the title given to a deceased person recognized formally by the pope as having lived a heroically virtuous life or offered their life. To be beatified and recognized as a Blessed, one miracle acquired through the candidate's intercession is required in addition to recognition of heroic virtue or offering of life.Canonizationrequiresasecondmiracleafterbeatification. Thepopemaywaivethese requirements. A miracle is not required prior to a martyr's beatification, but one is required before canonization.”

The name our parents gave to us at birth is very often the name of a saint. As Catholics, when we were confirmed, we chose a name of a saint who we loved or who we wanted to imitate in their virtues or wanted their help in pursuing a passion (St. Cecilia for music, St. Francis DeSales for writing, St. Joseph for carpentry are just a few of many).

I am grateful to my parents for the name they gave me as I consider my patron saints to be Mary and Joseph. God knew I needed all the help I could get!! I regularly call on St. Anthony to help me find something I have lost. It amazes me every time. I will be running around looking feverishly for something and the minute I call on St. Anthony I find it. I have many saints I regularly pray to for their intercession for different situations with friends and family.

What and who are the angels?

Scripture:

“For he commands his angels with regard to you to guard you wherever you go. With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91:11-12)

“See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and heed his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority resides in him. If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. (Ex 23:20-22)”

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. (Mt.18:10)”

Catechism of the Catholic Church:

329: St. Augustine says: "'Angel' is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is 'spirit'; if you seek the name of their office, it is 'angel': from what they are, 'spirit', from what they do, 'angel.'"188 With their whole beings the angels
are servants and messengers of God. Because they "always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven" they are the "mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word".189

330 As purely spiritual creatures angels have intelligence and will: they are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures, as the splendor of their glory bears witness.

336 From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life." Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.

Each of us has been assigned a guardian angel from the moment of conception until death.

We were taught the “Prayer to Our Guardian Angel” as children: “Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day, be at my side, to light and guard, rule and guide. Amen.”

Our guardian angels along with the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are waiting for us to call upon them for their help. I think mine works overtime!! I am grateful for all of the times I know (especially when driving) that my angel has saved me from terrible situations.

I encourage you to go to the following link for “5 Amazing Things About Our Guardian Angels with Fr. Bill” (Fr. Bill is now Bishop Byrne of the Diocese of Springfield and one of

our conference speakers this year!). He presents to us in two minutes great advice on how we can be more attentive to and call on help from our guardian angel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WG1xWdD32E

I was reminded by a friend about what the mystic – Catalina Rivas shares with us from a series of visions and messages from Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother the Virgin Mary. It’s a teaching on what happens during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and how to live it with our hearts. I would like to share with you today the part about the guardian angels during Mass:

“Suddenly, some characters that I had not seen before began to stand up. It was as if from the side of each person present in the Church another person emerged, and soon the church became full of young beautiful beings. They were dressed in very white and bright robes and started to move into the central aisle, on their way to the Altar.

The Blessed Virgin Mother then said: “Observe. They are the Guardian Angels of each one of the persons who are here. This is the moment in which your guardian angel carries your offerings and petitions before the Altar of the Lord.” Catalina Rivas then adds, at that point I was completely astonished because these beings had such beautiful faces, so radiant as one is unable to imagine. Their countenance was very beautiful, they had almost feminine faces; however, the structure of their body, their hands, and their height were masculine. Their naked feet did not touch the floor, but rather they went as if gliding. That procession was very beautiful.

Some of them were carrying something like a golden bowl with something [inside] that radiated a great deal with a golden white light.

The Blessed Virgin Mary said: “Observe. They are the Guardian Angels of the people, who are offering this Holy Mass for many intentions, those who are conscious of the significance of this Holy sacrifice, those who have something to offer to the Lord...
“Make your offering at this moment... Offer up your sorrows, your pains, your dreams, your sadness, and your joys. Offer your petitions. Remember that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has infinite value. Therefore, be generous in your offering and in your asking.”

Catalina then explains, Behind the first Angels came others who had nothing in their hands; they were going empty handed.
The Blessed Virgin Mary said: “Those are the Guardian Angels of the people who, in spite of being here, never offer anything. They have no interest in living every liturgical moment of the Holy Mass, and their Angels have no offerings to carry before the Altar of the Lord.” Catalina now adds, at the end of the procession came other Angels who were rather sad, with their hands together in prayer, but with their eyes downcast.

The Blessed Virgin then said “These are the Guardian
Angels of the people who are here, yet they are not here. That is to say, they are the people who have seen themselves as being forced to come, who have come here out of obligation but without any desire to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Their Angels go forth in sadness because they have nothing to carry to the Altar, except for their own wants and desires. “Do not sadden your Guardian Angels... Ask for much. Ask for the conversion of sinners, for peace in the world, for your relatives, your neighbors, and especially for your enemies, and for those who commend themselves to your prayers. Ask for much, not only for yourselves, but also for all the others. “Remember that the offering which most pleases the Lord, is when you offer yourselves as a sacrifice so that Jesus, upon His descent may transform you by His own merits. What do you have to offer the Father by yourselves? Nothingness and sin, but the offering of yourselves united to the merits of Jesus, is most pleasing to the Father in heaven.”

God has given each and every one of us a task He has given no one else to do. He also gives us plenty of assistance in which to do it. Just as St. Joan prepared herself for the task she was assigned so must we. Call on your angels and saints this week to help you prepare for the conference and beyond! I look forward to seeing you at the conference. I am sending my guardian angel to all of yours.


Fourth Reflection – Confession

Did you know that Confession is all about relationship? God, the Almighty, everlasting, and eternal One desires to have an intimate relationship with you; one without boundaries, without ties, without any walls of division. He seeks complete union with you so He can embrace you with His love and His peace. He wants to shower you with blessings and fill you with His grace. The reason that you exist is so that you and God can be fully united in this life and forever in the next. It causes Our Lord great pain when you are not in full communion with Him, and He will do anything – including suffering and dying on the Cross- for reconciliation.

When creating us, He gave us the very, special gift of free will. We can choose to follow the Will of God in our thoughts, words, and deeds, or not. Oftentimes, we strive to “do the right thing”, but miss the mark; this is called “sin”. Think of a bullseye. We aim for the center circle but fall short. We miss the mark, sometimes by a little and sometimes by a lot.

In order to be fully united with God, we need to hit the bullseye every single time. When we miss, we sin against God or our fellow man. This creates a division or a wall in our relationship with God. As the sins accumulate, it becomes more and more difficult to hit the bullseye. God knew this would happen to His beloved people. He knew we would fail repeatedly.

In His infinite mercy, God sent His son to allow for the forgiveness of sin and to institute the Sacrament of Confession. Although it can be called by other names, like Reconciliation and Penance, the purpose is to confess our sins so that they may be recognized and forgiven. Jesus told His apostles, “Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven, whose sins you retain are retained.” John 20:22-23 Beginning with the first apostles, He gave priests the ability to forgive sins in His name. What a blessing!

The process begins with a thorough examination of conscience.1 We ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten us to the times we have “missed the mark” and sinned against God and against our neighbor. These sins can be in what we think, say, or do, as well as sins of omission or what we have failed to do. The Bible and Catechism of the Catholic Church are quite clear on what those sins might be. If we confess them to a priest and have true contrition, or remorse towards them, all the missed marks are erased and only the bullseyes remain. Miraculously, we return to complete union with God, fully open to His grace and blessing. But that is not all. Through the Sacrament of Confession, God also strengthens us. He fortifies us with the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, so that our future actions will produce more bullseyes and less missed marks.

Again, God’s desire is to be in intimate communion with His people. He knows our weaknesses and wants to help us remain united with Him in every moment of every day. Even if it has been many, many years, God eagerly welcomes us to the Sacrament of Confession. It is especially challenging to walk with God in today’s culture. Our Lord, in His wisdom, instituted this Sacrament at the very foundation of His Church. Confession is a profound gift of mercy that we should participate in as often as possible. It is key to enabling us to love God more fully and love others as He loves us. Remember, Confession is all about relationship!

1 Please read this article for a detailed Examination of Conscience.

https://cincinnaticatholicwomensconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/EXAMINATION-OF-CONSCIENCE- Womens-Conf-3-4-17.pdf


Fifth Reflection – Liturgy of the Hours

The Liturgy of the Hours, or Divine Office, is a tradition that goes back to the early Christian times.  It consists of hymns, psalms, and scriptural readings of praise, petition, contrition, and thanksgiving.  These prayers are offered at set times during the day, fulfilling our Lord’s precept to pray without ceasing.

The set times are Morning Prayer (Lauds), Daytime Prayer, Evening Prayer (Vespers), and Night Prayer (Compline). With the exception of night prayer, which is prayed immediately before retiring, it is best to pray in common with others, ideally in a church, so as to represent the visible Church established throughout the world.  But for many, the spirit of community can be achieved within small faith communities located within the workplace or school.  And nowhere is the spirit of community more alive than in the home. 

Throughout his pontificate, Pope St. John Paul II encouraged the promotion of the Liturgy of the Hours for the lay faithful whose vocation it is to make the Church present and active in the midst of worldly affairs while contributing to the salvation of the whole world.  While those in Holy Orders and in religious communities pray the Divine Office by rule, it is important in the life of the laity as well, since it is through the Divine Office that the whole course of the day and night and the whole range of human activity is sanctified.

Another reason the lay faithful should be encouraged to pray the Liturgy of the Hours is because it is an extension of the Mass—a continuation of the Paschal Mystery (passion, death and resurrection).  As an extension of the Eucharistic celebration, praying the Liturgy of the Hours leads to a deeper and more committed faith in the Blessed Sacrament, and unites us more closely with Jesus Christ.  Through praying the Liturgy of the Hours, one also achieves a greater awareness of the rhythm of the Church’s liturgical calendar.  Not only are the prayers contained within the Divine Office structured to be appropriate for the time of day at which they are recited, but also the hymns, litanies, and psalms are chosen to reflect the feast being celebrated or the liturgical season.  This holds particular significance for those unable to attend daily Mass due to

Another blessing of praying the four-week cycle of psalms on behalf of the Church and the world with Jesus Christ is the inspiration we receive for our own personal prayer and devotion.

Catholic Book Publishing Company’s book, Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours, contains everything you need to get started praying the Liturgy of the Hours: instructions, calendars, and seasonal prayers for Morning, Daytime, Evening, and Night Prayers. Morning and Evening prayers are the two most important hours and are referred to as the hinges of the entire Office.  For those who may want to “test the waters” a good way to begin is with Morning and Evening prayer.  Another option to “test the waters” is to subscribe to Magnificat magazine.  This monthly devotional contains a similar format of morning and evening prayers drawn from the treasury of the Liturgy of the Hours.  There are also apps and on-line resources available.  We recommend iBreviary.com and DivineOffice.org.

The Liturgy of the Hours is a form of liturgical action that the laity should be encouraged to integrate into their life.  Regularly praying the Divine Office can be a means by which the laity deepen and develop a liturgical spirituality; and a spirituality that is centered on the Paschal Mystery gives significance to the ordinary circumstances of everyday life, which are the means by which the lay faithful sanctify the world.   By joining in this liturgical action, whether within a parish setting, small faith community, or the domestic church of our homes, as laity we are able to respond to the invitation of our Lord to come closer to Him every day and participate in His saving mission.


Sixth Reflection – Sacramentals 

What is a Catholic Sacramental?

A Sacramental is a holy action or physical item used by the Church to obtain favors from God through prayer. Favors can be of a spiritual nature or a worldly one (health for our body for example).

The Decree of the Second Vatican Council on the Sacred Liturgy gives us this definition:

“Sacramentals are sacred signs which bear resemblance to the Sacraments: they signify effects, particularly of a spiritual kind, which are obtained by the Church's intercession. By them we are disposed to receive the chief effect of the Sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy.”

The Difference between Sacraments and Sacramentals:

Sacramentals are distinguished from the seven Sacraments (Baptism, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, Penance, Ordination, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick) in several ways:

1. Firstly, all Sacraments were established by Our Lord Jesus Christ during His life on earth, while Sacramentals were instituted by the Church.

2. Secondly, Sacramentals obtain graces for us by helping us to practice acts of virtue which bring down God’s graces on us. Sacramentals make us ready to receive grace by acts of our faith, while in the Sacraments grace is given by virtue of the act. What that means is that the grace of a Sacrament is caused directly by the action of God, and it doesn’t depend on the worthiness of the person giving or receiving the Sacrament.

3. Thirdly, Sacraments are mandated by God and necessary for our salvation, while Sacramentals are only recommended by the Church as very beneficial and salvific.

We have to remember that Sacramentals can never replace Sacraments, but, through the prayer of the Church, they make us ready to receive graces and to cooperate with them.

Types of Catholic Sacramentals:

There are two types of Sacramentals: actions and objects.

Some examples of actions are: blessings, exorcisms, chaplets, novenas, and liturgical gestures (the sign of the cross, kneeling, bowing).

Rosary beads, blessed candles, relics, sacred images, crucifixes, holy oils, medals, scapulars, holy water, cords, ashes, and palms are Sacramental objects.

How many Sacramentals are there?

The Church has no definitive list of Sacramentals, as She has the power to institute new Sacramentals according to the needs of the people and circumstances. In fact, every diocese can institute its own Sacramentals, always with the approval of the Pope. In order to count Sacramentals you would have to contact every diocese in the world to find out if they have made some additions.

Do we need Sacramentals?

So, do we have to use Sacramentals? The answer is no, we don’t have to. None of the Sacramentals is obligatory, but knowing how beneficial they are for our spiritual development they are worth considering.

The main benefits acquired through the use of Sacramentals are:

1. They prepare us to receive actual graces (as they do not give graces themselves)

2. We get help in receiving forgiveness of our venial sins

3. We get help in receiving forgiveness of the punishment for our sins

4. They provide protection from the power of the devil

5. Sacramentals obtain for us health of the body and other blessings for our daily life

Use them with faith. The most important fact about Sacramentals is that they don’t work without faith; the act of wearing, using, or possessing them is simply not enough. A Sacramental is not a kind of charm that works magically. We must use Sacramentals with faith, always believing that our Merciful God will help us because He is our Father, and He loves us very much.

The Church encourages us to use Sacramentals and wants them to help us. They carry the promise of God’s help for soul and body through the authority of the Church.

Types of Catholic Sacramentals:

Medals

Medals are usually worn around the neck. They serve as a reminder of the saint/angel depicted.

Crosses and Crucifixes

The crucifix is the most important, widespread, and venerated Sacramental in the Church. It represents Jesus Christ, our Savior, the symbol of mankind’s redemption. A crucifix is present in all Catholic and most Christian churches.

Relics

The Catholic Church honors the bodies of the saints as well as objects that came into contact with the saints and objects connected with Our Lord. No one is required to believe in miracles, but Our Lord has often shown his approval of the use of relics by working some spectacular miracles through them.

There are three categories of relics:

• First-Class Relics are parts of the bodies of saints or instruments of the Passion (like nails or thorns from Our Lord’s crown)
• Second-Class Relics are objects which came in close contact with saints (like their personal items or clothes)
• Third-Class Relics are objects that have been touched to the body of a saint or to either first- or second-class relics

Scapulars

Scapulars originated in the Middle Ages as pieces of cloth roughly the width of the shoulders, long and narrow, with an opening in the middle so they could be put over the head, and they were usually worn over a tunic. Scapulars, as we know them now, developed from the original form and can be worn by everyone. They consist two small pieces of cloth connected by a loop of string. The wearer puts the loop of string over their head, so that one piece of cloth hangs in the front and the other in the back.

A scapular is worn to obtain certain spiritual benefits, but we have to remember that in order to receive those benefits we are obliged to certain commitments. It is important that the wearer understands fully the devotion attached to the scapular.

Cords and Cinctures

Cords and Cinctures are worn around the waist and are also known as liturgical girdles. They are in the form of a long rope made out of linen or hemp, tasseled at the end. Symbolically they represent purity, but they can also show attachment to a specific saint (e.g., St. Philomena) or to a cause.

Holy Oils

The Church uses three types of holy oil:

• Oil of the Catechumens, which is used for Baptism and Holy Orders

• Holy Chrism, which is used for Baptism, Confirmation, and Episcopal Ordination

  (Chrism is a mixture of olive oil and balm)

• Oil of the Sick, which is used for the Anointing of those seriously ill

All three of these oils are blessed solemnly by the Bishop at the Chrism Mass on Maundy Thursday. Historically the use of oil goes back to the Old Testament; it was used to anoint priests, prophets, and kings. Holy Oil stands for sweetness, strength, and spiritual activity.

As some of you may know, there are other types of oil, which are also used as sacramentals. They are usually called “Oil of the Saints.”

Candles

The Church, from very early in its history, used candles to enhance the splendor of religious ceremonies. Candles were first used to give light in early morning services.

Candles are blessed on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on the 2nd of February, a day also referred to as Candlemas. Candles remind us of Simeon’s prophecy concerning Christ, the Child who would be “a light to enlighten the Gentiles (Luke 2:32).

Palms and Ashes

The first day of Lent is called Ash Wednesday since blessed ashes are used
during Mass on that day. By tradition the previous year’s palm branches from Palm Sunday are burnt to provide the ashes. The Priest uses the ashes to make a cross on the forehead of each person while saying:

“Remember, man, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen 3:19). Wearing ashes has a long tradition and is a sign of humility and repentance.

Water

Water is one of the principal symbols of our faith. It is used in Baptism to show the cleansing from sin, as it symbolizes purity of body and soul.

Holy Water is simply ordinary water sanctified by the blessing of the Church. Traditionally the water is blessed on the 6th of January (Epiphany), which is devoted to the Baptism of Our Lord. Holy water is used by priests to perform acts of blessing, and lay people can use it for their own private devotions. During every Mass a few drops of holy water are mixed with wine to be consecrated at Mass. This is very symbolic, as it shows both the union of the two natures of Christ and the unity between Christ and His people; it also reminds us of the water which came out mixed with blood from Jesus’s side. We can find holy water in every Catholic church in stoups (basins or fonts at the entrance to the church). Before entering and leaving church everyone should make the sign of the cross using holy water as an act of faith and also as a reminder of Baptism.

Water from shrines can also be counted as a Sacramental. It is not holy water, as it has not been blessed, but because this water appeared in those sacred sites (like Lourdes), it can be used for private devotion.

Sacred Images

When we pray in front of sacred images (statues, icons, paintings, holy cards, the Shroud of Turin) we honor Christ, Our Lady, and the saints. Images help us to remember the people they represent and help us to avoid distractions while praying. In Christianity the use of images is based upon the doctrine of the Incarnation.

It is important to remember that Catholics don’t pray to sacred images, we pray to the person they represent. It is not an image that works miracles. It is God Himself who acts through them.

The Rosary and Chaplets

The word rosary comes from the Latin rosarium or rose garden, while the word chaplet comes from the Latin corona (crown). The words rosary, chaplet, and corona are used interchangeably these days; they all refer to prayers which require the use of a special string of beads that helps us to count prayers as we pray. The movement of the beads also assists us in meditation.

Sacred Places

Places set aside for Divine worship—all churches, chapels, or shrines (such as Lourdes, Fatima, or Guadalupe)—are sacred places. Places associated with the Life of Our Lord are also known as Holy Places (the Holy Land, Palestine). Visiting these places is a Sacramental action.

Sacred Times

The Church gave us sacred times to make our faith stronger and prepare us for special occasions. These may be the liturgical seasons (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter) or feast days of the Saints. Recognizing and celebrating these times is a Sacramental action.

The Bible and Prayer Books

The Bible is the Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit. It’s the guide for all preaching in the Church and the basis for theology. The Bible is the story of God’s revelation in history, written by man under influence of the Holy Spirit.

Blessings

A blessing is a ritual ceremony by which a priest places a thing or person under the care of God. A liturgical blessing uses a prescribed formula, given by a priest. The Church's ritual has over two hundred blessings. The simplest blessings are made with the sign of the cross, and sometimes holy water is used.

The Sacramentals extend Christ’s presence to every part of our life, so things we can and should bless are our everyday objects, like cars, schools, fields, homes, gardens...

Exorcism

Exorcism is a prayer in which the priest commands the devil to leave a possessed person or forbids him to harm someone. Evil spirits work for our spiritual harm all the time, so the use of Sacramentals is one very important way to protect ourselves from their attacks.

Liturgical Gestures

Under liturgical gestures we can include all the movements of the body which we perform in the worship of our God.

REFERENCE

www.worldofsacramentals.com