Sacramentals — why ours is not a bare-bones religion

Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Feb. 6, 2011
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Matt 5:13-16. You are the light of the world
MP3 audio Read the complete homily text

Summary: While a sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace instituted by Christ to give grace, a sacramental is when we wear, use or pray something to remind us of God. It pretty much depends on the strength of the person who uses it.

Defending the faith is the charism of the Order of Mercy. The most important part of it is our willingness to give up our own selves for others – for those whose faith is in danger. Become a Mercedarian friar. Visit the website of the . Listen to the Mercedarian message.

Read Kevin”s take on this sermon, “I hung with those who ditched the sacramentals.”

Fr. Brankin”s Aunt Mary would sprinkle holy water and say prayers around the house during every storm. We Catholics pray with holy water. We use our lips and our bodies. We make a sign of the cross over ourselves. The marble in the sanctuary helps us to pray. How incredibly God comes to us. Our Catholic faith, art and beauty remind us of God. This is why a Michaelangelo or a Bernini are at home in the Catholic Church. We use God”s material things to remind us of God.

Others, who call themselves Christians, believe that statues and so forth are false gods. They have a bare bones worship of God — just the Bible, a sermon and songs. However, wax, candles, salt and holy water are not idolatry, but they lead us to God. Our teaching model is the incarnation of the Son of God. God”s creation leads us back to our Creator. Every Catholic home should have medals, rosaries, crucifixes, pictures of the Blessed Virgin, prayer placques, blessed candles and holy water.