The Sacramentals are objects or actions resembling the Sacraments which the Church makes use of by way of intercession to obtain especially spiritual effect. ...The Sacramentals resemble the Sacraments in this that they ordinarily consist of matter and form, or external signs which produce a spiritual as well as a temporal effect, though the former is chiefly intended. They differ from the Sacraments inasmuch as they do not convey sanctifying grace nor produce their effects ex opere operato, but ex opere operantis, or through the intercession of the Church.- Charles Augustine, A Commentary on the New Code of Canon Law. Vol.3. (St.Louis:Herder Book, 1920), 558.
Augustine provides an interpretation of the analogy between sacraments and sacramentals. He goes on to emphasize that the most important difference is that the sacraments are of divine institution.
Also, interestingly, in commenting on Canon 1144, where normally he is quick to cite Father's and pontiffs to support his interpretation, he cites two Moral Theology treatesise. Those of Arendt De Sacramentalibus and Pohle-Pruess' - The Sacraments.
This fits with my understanding that the analogy is the result of "scientific" speculation on the part of 18-19thC theologians and after being adapted by Canon Law was "ratified" by authoritative teaching in SC.
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