What to do with Blessed Items?

You're in the middle of packing for a move and you find a stash of old rosaries. You're downsizing your 'stuff' and you discover a blessed crucifix from you child's baptism, or a St. Christopher's medal that used to be for the car. Candles, plaques, pictures, paintings, necklaces, souvenirs, maybe even sacred relics. In your gut you know they shouldn't just be thrown in the trash, but you also know at some point that there isn't always room for it all.

So what can you do with the host of sacred, blessed, and devotional items you've discovered while getting ready for your garage sale or helping mom and dad get ready for a move?

Some of the most frequently found items, the ones we get a ton of calls about here at the parish, are Rosaries and blessed palms from Palm Sunday. Both are very easy to deal with. Blessed palms are usually collected in the weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday in the entrances to the Church. Melissa is always sure to put a bulletin announcement in letting people know when they can bring them to Mass. In addition, throughout the year you can always bring your blessed palms into the parish and we will make sure they are taken care of appropriately. The most important use of blessed palms? Ashes for Ash Wednesday of course!

Dealing with a proliferation of Rosaries is even easier since the spring. In the main entrance to the parish you will find a small box with the title "Have a Rosary, Leave a Rosary...Need a Rosary, Take a Rosary". This is a great opportunity to share one of our Church's most ancient devotions with others. The box also includes brochures on how to pray the Rosary for those who may not know, or may have forgotten some of the key prayers.

For everything else, as well as an explaination about what constitutes a sacred object and answers to questions like "Can I sell this stuff at my garage sale?", the folks at BustedHalo.com have put together a wonderful podcast talking all about it;

Disposing of Blessed Things

Peace and God Bless