What would make a sacramental lose its blessing?

[TheListener]

Howdy

I now have a few of my devotional items blessed by our parish priest. He is a lovely man and he gives his blessings freely, just as it was given to him by God freely.

My question is, what would cause these to loose their blessings?

For example, if I were to sin while wearing a blessed crucifix, would that desecrate it?

 

[MichaelNZ]

I remember asking a priest this question, and the answer was "No".

 

[geocajun]

My question is, what would cause these to loose their blessings?

For example, if I were to sin while wearing a blessed crucifix, would that desecrate it?

Hello

committing a sin while wearing a sacramental will not cause it to lose its blessing.

If the items were sold after being blessed, they would lose their blessing (simony).
Also, an essential change in the item would cause it to lose its blessed as well. So for example, if you had a ring blessed, and later had it melted down and turned into a square block it would have lost its blessing.

 

[BrRichSFO]

Howdy

I now have a few of my devotional items blessed by our parish priest. He is a lovely man and he gives his blessings freely, just as it was given to him by God freely.

My question is, what would cause these to loose their blessings?

For example, if I were to sin while wearing a blessed crucifix, would that desecrate it?

Blessed items are "sacramentals". They loose their blessing if they are sold or are destroyed so that they are no longer recognizable.

 

[RichSpidizzy]

Isn't it considered simony only if you try and use the fact that it is blessed as a reason to increase the item's price?

For instance, if I buy a crucifix for $20 in a Catholic supply store, have it blessed by a priest, then resell it for $20, it still loses it's blessing even though I didn't increase the price because of the blessing? However, if I buy that same crucifix for $20 from that same Catholic supply store, have it blessed by the same priest, and then try and sell it for $21 with the justification that a the blessing is worth the extra dollar, then that would be considered simony.

 

[BrRichSFO]

Isn't it considered simony only if you try and use the fact that it is blessed as a reason to increase the item's price?

For instance, if I buy a crucifix for $20 in a Catholic supply store, have it blessed by a priest, then resell it for $20, it still loses it's blessing even though I didn't increase the price because of the blessing? However, if I buy that same crucifix for $20 from that same Catholic supply store, have it blessed by the same priest, and then try and sell it for $21 with the justification that a the blessing is worth the extra dollar, then that would be considered simony.

Yes asking a very high price for an object because it was blessed by John Paul II would be wrong as would as would trying to "sell" the blessing along with the object.

However selling say a personal Rosary belonging to JPII could fetch a higher price, and has nothing to do with any blessing which can't be sold with the Roasry. The value is based on where it came from, who used or owned it.

 

[Globalnomad]

What IS the blessing on a sacramental, actually? How would you define it?

I have a Rosary that I never got around to getting blessed. I have prayed it countless times. Is it any less blessed than if a priest had said a blessing over it? How? I certainly don't treat it with any less reverence than if it had been "properly" blessed. Doesn't the nature of the object itself, my reverence for it, and the use that it has already been put to, make it blessed? Along the same lines, if you buy an unblessed Rosary, would you feel it "all right" to wear it as a necklace, or to break it up and use the beads? I think I wouldn't, simply because it was made for a holy purpose which I would not want to subvert. Isn't that the same as a blessing, after all?

I am being a little bit provocative and rhetorical, I am conscious of that - but not completely. I'm genuinely interested in the answers. (Does the CCC give any? - I don't have it on hand.)

 

[AnnieG]

@ Globalnomad: If a priest blesses a rosary, a crucifix, a scapular or a medal for you, you are receiving a sacramental, because the blessing is for you. For example, in the blessing of rosary beads the priest prays: "bless these rosary beads and any people who will take them into their hand in reverence for Your Mother" (not literally, but&#8230. You can use a rosary for prayer, even if it is not blessed, and according to the current rules on indulgences you can get an indulgence even if you are not using a blessed rosary. You can also wear an unblessed brown scapular, if you are invested into the scapular, because it is a habit and the blessing is not required (but possible, of course.) Mary will probably also feel honored if you put on a medal with her picture that has not been blessed, but I recommend you have your medals and crucifixes blessed (if you have some). A priest's blessing is of great worth, I really believe in this.

 

[King of the Nations]

Just popping in to say: Much better title. Thank you.



Greg

 

[TheListener]

Just popping in to say: Much better title. Thank you.



Greg

Awww... I thought the previous title was funny...

Nevermind me... Just my twisted sense of humour.


Anyways thanks for the replies

 

[King of the Nations]

What IS the blessing on a sacramental, actually? How would you define it?

I would define it as: The presence of the Holy Spirit.

I have a Rosary that I never got around to getting blessed. I have prayed it countless times. Is it any less blessed than if a priest had said a blessing over it?

Maybe. Maybe not.

How? I certainly don't treat it with any less reverence than if it had been "properly" blessed. Doesn't the nature of the object itself, my reverence for it, and the use that it has already been put to, make it blessed?

Yes, it can. Though, it seems to me there are sometimes "degrees" of blessing too. And then also potentially different "kinds" of blessing. (All of which translate - to me - into the presence of the Holy Spirit, though, the distinctions are not meaningless.)

I am being a little bit provocative and rhetorical, I am conscious of that - but not completely. I'm genuinely interested in the answers. (Does the CCC give any? - I don't have it on hand.)

The catechism does speak of blessings. I'll post that next...

Greg

 

[PolskiKrol]

If the object prayed for the intercession of St. Anthony of Padua, would it find its blessing again?