Broken rosary

[paperwight66]

If a rosary is broken accidentally, does it need to be re-blessed once it’s mended? I don’t think it does, but I’m in discussion with someone on another thread who is convinced the original blessing is lost if the rosary is broken, and I haven’t anything to quote for my point of view. Can anyone point me in the right direction for the official teaching, please?

 

[jbarbaretta]

If a rosary is broken accidentally, does it need to be re-blessed once it’s mended? I don’t think it does, but I’m in discussion with someone on another thread who is convinced the original blessing is lost if the rosary is broken, and I haven’t anything to quote for my point of view. Can anyone point me in the right direction for the official teaching, please?

I don’t know the official teaching, but my understanding is that a blessing exists until the object containing the blessing is destroyed. So, for example, the blessing on holy water is applied to where ever the water is applied and remains until the water evaporates. The blessing on a house remains until the house is torn down.

Given that, it might depend on how badly the rosary was damaged. If a link broke, that would be kind of routine maintenance, like repairing a leaky faucet in a house. The house doesn’t need to be re-blessed every time you fix a leaky faucet or change a light bulb. If the rosary was broken into just a bunch of beads and needed to be reconstructed than a new blessing would be called for.

On the other hand, it doesn’t hurt anything to have it blessed again.

 

[Wardog]

What do you do with a Rosary that cannot be mended? Is there an approved process for this like there is for an American flag?

 

[Dorothy]

What do you do with a Rosary that cannot be mended? Is there an approved process for this like there is for an American flag?

I was told I could bury broken rosaries and worn-out scapulars in my backyard, which I have done.

 

[77stanthony77]

I have serveral broken rosaries and was not sure what to do with them. Please let me know as well.

Feast of Our Lady of Fatima-October 13

 

[Lapey]

I have serveral broken rosaries and was not sure what to do with them. Please let me know as well.

Feast of Our Lady of Fatima-October 13

I was told I could bury broken rosaries and worn-out scapulars in my backyard, which I have done.

To my knowledge, which I admit is limited in this area, burying the blessed sacrementals is an option. You can also burn them, if the material is able to be burned. If you choose to burn them, place the ashes in a flower bed or an area that will not be trampled.

I have done this in the past, bring the items to the rectory at your parish church. They will know what to do with them. We have a guy who takes care of these types of issues. I brought recelty some cotton balls and napkins that were saturated with blessed oil, he burned the material for me and disposed of the ashes properly. Try that route, call your church paris, they will probably be able to help.

 

[paperwight66]

So is it laid down anywhere that an accidentally-broken rosary has to be re-blessed?

That is the point of contention, whether it is just a matter of opinion or extra piety, or whether there is anything official one way ot the other.

 

[Lapey]

So is it laid down anywhere that an accidentally-broken rosary has to be re-blessed?

That is the point of contention, whether it is just a matter of opinion or extra piety, or whether there is anything official one way ot the other.

Once it is properly blessed, it is blessed. It does not need to be “re-blessed”. If it was broken during an act of profanation or desecration, then I would think if not destroyed it would need to be blessed again before use. This is in line with what would be done after a church sanctuary was invaded by vandals and the tabernacle compromised and desecrated. The bishop would rededicate the church for worship.

But again, I am no expert on sacramentals. I will search the book of blessings to see if there is anything in it, but I doubt it.

 

[FrDavid96]

So is it laid down anywhere that an accidentally-broken rosary has to be re-blessed?

That is the point of contention, whether it is just a matter of opinion or extra piety, or whether there is anything official one way ot the other.

A broken rosary need not be re-blessed. Even if it’s broken, it’s still a rosary.

On the other hand, if the rosary is completely dismantled to the point where it is no longer a rosary, but a collection of beads and chains, then if it’s put back together it would have to be blessed.

This is the same principle that applies to a chalice. If a chalice is dismantled to the point where it is no longer a chalice, but a collection of parts, then it has to be re-blessed (for example, sending it out to be completely re-finished or completely restored). However, if the chalice needs only a small fix–for example let’s say that a cross or medallion that was on the base falls off and someone simply puts it back in place, it doesn’t need to be blessed again.

 

[paperwight66]

Thank you. No actual document then, I gather, but just the application of commonsense, could one say?

 

[jbarbaretta]

Thank you. No actual document then, I gather, but just the application of commonsense, could one say?

It would be impossible to cover every possible scenario. Is it still blessed if it breaks 1 link how about 2 how about 20, How about it you lost a clamp and tied it together with thread? I had one that was given me by my mother that fell apart into 3 separate pieces one day.

and that would just be the rosary.

Is your status of St Francis still blessed if some kids run through the garden knocking it over and breaking off the bird? How about his hand? what if it breaks in half but can be glued? How about if your neighbor’s teenager accidentally runs it over while learning to drive?

I think the concept of dealing with it based on whether it still “IS” the object in question is the only practical way to approach it. If it is still a rosary, then it is still blessed. If it is destroyed to the point that you can no longer tell it is a rosary, use it for its stated purpose or repair it back into a functional rosary, then it is probably no longer blessed. Of course, at that point you are going to be getting a new one anyway.

 

[FrDavid96]

Thank you. No actual document then, I gather, but just the application of commonsense, could one say?

There are some church documents that explain the principle that when something is blessed, and that “something” later ceases to be that-which-it-was when it was blessed, the blessing ceases. It’s just that those documents aren’t the kind of thing we can find easily. It might actually be in the catechism–I haven’t checked yet.

This happens all the time. Holy water evaporates (as we just read). A church building is consecrated, but when it comes time to replace the carpet, we don’t have to burn the old carpet, nor is it necessary to re-consecrate after the new carpet is laid. If someone does a minor repair to a vestment (like replacing a button or snap) the vestment doesn’t get blessed again.

More to the point, rosaries break all the time. What it comes down to is asking the question “is that a broken rosary, or is that a collection of beads and chain which used to constitute a rosary?” If you would call it a broken rosary, then the blessing remains because the rosary remains.

 

[TimothyH]

Give your broken rosaries to the cantankerous, white haired, 83 year old lady who comes in at 5:30 AM to sweep and dust the sanctuary, replace the candles, and set up for 7:00 AM Mass. You will know her because she is yelling at the priest about bells or some plant or some picture hanging in the narthex.

She knows what to do with them. Don’t be surpised when you see it like new, haning in the adoration chapel next week.

-Tim-

 

[DaveBj]

99% of the time rosaries don’t “break.” What happens is that one of the eye pins or jump rings has been pulled open far enough that it has come unlinked. I can fix problems like that in a minute or two. A rosary whose metalwork has badly deteriorated can be rebuilt with new eye pins, jump rings, and chains. In either case I seriously doubt that a re-blessing is necessary.

 

[77stanthony77]

Deacon Lapey and FrDavid96 Thank you for all the info.

 

[Padraig1972]

I know this very nice catholic lady that makes really good, robust-strong rosaries.
If you like to get in touch with her, send me a message (not sure if one is allowed to do much marketing here at all).

God bless you.