Title VIII: Of Sacramentals

Sacramentals are things or actions which the Church, in some imitation of the Sacraments, is accustomed to use for obtaining from her impetration effects especially spiritual.

The Apostolic See alone can constitute new Sacramentals or authentically interpret received ones, or abolish or change some of them.

The legitimate minister of Sacramentals is a cleric to whom power for this has been conferred and who has not been prohibited by competent ecclesiastical authority from exercising the same.

§ 1. No one who lacks episcopal character can validly perform consecrations, unless either by law or by apostolic indult this is permitted to him.

§ 2. Any presbyter can impart blessings, except those which are reserved to the Roman Pontiff or to Bishops or to others.

§ 3. A reserved blessing which is given by a presbyter without the necessary permission is illicit, but valid, unless in the reservation the Apostolic See has expressed otherwise.

§ 4. Deacons and lectors can validly and licitly give only those blessings which are expressly permitted to them by law.

§ 1. In confecting or administering Sacramentals, the rites approved by the Church are to be observed accurately.

§ 2. Consecrations and blessings, whether constitutive or invocative, are invalid if the formula prescribed by the Church has not been used.

Blessings, to be imparted especially to Catholics, can also be given to catechumens, indeed, unless a prohibition of the Church obstructs, even to non-Catholics, for obtaining the light of faith or, together with it, health of body.

Consecrated things, or things blessed by a constitutive blessing, are to be treated reverently and not applied to profane or improper use, even if they are in the ownership of private persons.

§ 1. No one, endowed with the power of exorcizing, can legitimately pronounce exorcisms over the possessed unless he has obtained from the Ordinary a peculiar and express permission.

§ 2. This permission is to be granted by the Ordinary only to a priest endowed with piety, prudence, and integrity of life; and he is not to proceed to exorcisms unless after diligent and prudent investigation he has found that the one to be exorcized is truly possessed by a demon.

Exorcisms can be made by legitimate ministers not only over the faithful and catechumens, but also over non-Catholics or excommunicates.

The ministers of exorcisms which occur in baptism and in consecrations or blessings are the same as those who are the legitimate ministers of those sacred rites.