Sacrament vs. Sacramental

The comparison

	SacramentGlossaryOne of seven efficacious signs of grace instituted by Christ: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing, Orders, Matrimony.	SacramentalGlossaryA sacred sign instituted by the Church—holy water, medals, scapulars, blessings—that disposes the soul for grace; not one of the seven Sacraments.
Instituted by	Christ	The Church
Number	Seven, fixed	Many, and the Church may establish more
What it does	Confers the grace it signifies (ex opere operato, when validly conferred and received without obstacle)	Disposes the soul for grace; obtains favors through the Church's prayer
Examples	Baptism, Eucharist, Confession	Holy water, scapularGlossaryA sacramental of two small cloth panels worn over the shoulders, signifying consecration and enrollment in a religious family or devotion., blessed medal, ashes
Necessity	Ordinary means of salvation and Christian life	Helpful, recommended; not required for salvation as such

What Catholics confuse

Men sometimes treat a St. Benedict medal as if it were Confession, or a bottle of holy water as if it were the Eucharist. That reverses the order. Sacramentals serve the Sacraments; they do not replace them. Conversely, some dismiss sacramentals as superstition. Used with faith, as the Church intends, they are neither superstition nor toys—they are the Church's own signs of blessing.

How to keep them straight

Ask two questions: Who instituted this? and Does it confer sanctifying grace as one of the seven? If Christ instituted it and it is among the seven, it is a Sacrament. If the Church instituted it to bless, protect, or dispose the faithful, it is a sacramental. Wear the scapular. Then go to MassGlossaryThe Church's central act of worship—the Sacrifice of Calvary made present, and the sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood.. That is the right order.