The Church has instituted sacramentals — through which God showers us with grace and prepares us to receive the sacraments. There are three main “types'' of sacramentals: blessings, consecrations and dedications, and exorcisms. Sacramentals always include a prayer and some specific sign, such as laying on of hands or sign of the cross or sprinkling with Holy water. There are also many practices that have developed over the years that are what we call “popular piety,” because they are rooted in different cultures and traditions.