Three things make a Sacrament; the conferring of inward grace, by an outward sign, in virtue of divine institution. Thus, in Baptism, the pouring of water is the outward sign, and by it habitual or sanctifying grace is infused into the soul, because of Christ’s institution. Now the Sacramentals, like the Sacraments, have an outward sign or sensible element; but, unlike them, they are mostly of ecclesiastical origin, and do not of their own power infuse grace into the soul, but only excite it to desires whereby it may obtain from God’s gratuitous mercy that grace or its increase. Holy Water is a Sacramental, but of its own nature it gashes not the soul from sin and pours not grace into it, as do the waters of Baptism. If, however, a person uses it devoutly, it will, on account of the Church’s blessing attached to it, assist his will in forming pious desires.
The Sacramentals may be arranged under two heads, “The Prayers of the Church,” and “The Benedictions of the Church.”
- taken from The Sacramentals of the Holy Catholic Church, by Father William James Barry