"Deconsecration" of Sacred Objects: Linens and Vestments

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PetraG

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I know a church can be deconsecrated and put to another use. I have seen parts of vestments, such as embroidered or embellished portions, used by Anglican churches put to another use, both to make new vestments and framed as sacred art.

What are the rules for re-using textiles that have been put to sacred use in the Mass: that is, vestments and altar linens, for example?
  1. What can be legitimately done? Do they have to be re-used for the same purpose (that is, a portion of a chasuble put to use in making a new chasuble or stole or perhaps a corporal or purifcator re-hemmed to make another corporal or purificator) or can they be used to make sacred art (such as mounting and framing a portion of sacred art embroidered onto a chasuble).
  2. How does it need to be done? Is there a ritual prior to the work being done, similar to the deconsecration of a church? I would assume that scraps leftover after re-use need to be disposed of in the same manner as if the entire article were being retired, but is that true?
 
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We have a museum of sorts, an archive, where certain items of past Bishops and priests are kept.
Not that this answers your question.
 
Vestments and linens may be blessed, but, they are not “consecrated”. When these wear out, are damaged, etc. the fabric may be used for other things (our parish uses white linens to make “white garment” bibs for infants who are baptized) or disposed of.
 
I know; that’s why I put it is quotes. My issue is that I’m not finding definitive documents about this. I know a whole range of things people in the Church do, which is fine except that when it comes to topics about which I know the answer that isn’t a very good metric.

In other words, while I’m definitely interested in what you all do out there, I’m also interested in knowing how you know that is appropriate (or if you don’t do something, what lead you to conclude it is not appropriate).

A lot of times, the short answer is that somebody laid down that rule in some parish at some time that nobody remembers, and that is just “the way it is done” or “not the way it is done.”

That information is not irrelevant to me, but information on what the Church has actually said is even more of interest.
 
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Our priests, our sacristains, other staff members, like me, are educated. We keep copies of the most recent documents from both the Vatican and the Bishops readily on hand. We read, we attend conferences. When we have any doubt, one of us will call the Chief Liturgist for the Diocese.

I realize this forum and some blogs give the idea that parishes are out there making it up as they go along, however, that is not the case in many places.

There are no documents in force that tell parishes how to deal with stained or torn vestments/altar linens.
 
Oh, depend on it that some parishes make things up as they go along. Yours may not, but there are those that do.

You’re a good resource, then. If there are no documents governing these things, what’s the authority you rely on? Your diocesan office of liturgy? That makes sense—there has to be something.
 
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PetraG said:
What document(s) have this stuff in them?
Click to expand...
As I said, you are asking for what is not there. Asking to prove a negative.

There is no “Vatican Decree on the Disposal of Old Vestments”.
 
I amended my post. Your answer is that a bishop will typically have an office of liturgy that answers this kind of question.

The bishop is the chief liturgist of his diocese, so it makes sense that where variability in practice is allowed the bishop’s judgement is the ultimate arbiter in his diocese.

Is that the answer that you’re getting at?
 
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I was once instructed by my parish priest to cut down an over large purificator to the right size, and the left over portion was made into a lavabo towel.

Orphreys and/or galloon trim can be unpicked from a damaged chasuble and reused on a new chasuble, or in the case of metal thread embroidery, it can also be unpicked/removed and depending on size perhaps reused as a vesica (attach by applique) on a chasuble. Sometimes these can also be reused as orphreys or trim on superfrontals or gospel stand banners, or if large enough/sufficient length reused on frontals/antependiums.

Large altar cloths can be cut up and made into credence table cloths or purificators & lavabo towels.

Thread bare or unusable small altar linens e.g. purificators/lavabo towels generally are burnt and the ashes buried. (Some places keep these and burn them in the Easter fire at the Vigil Mass each year). The same applies to the remaining portions of vestments that are left over after what is re-usable has been removed, afaik. And if repairing say a maniple, or stole, the section that was damaged and removed also must be burnt and the ashes buried.

No ritual is observed when repairing/restoring vestments that I am aware of, nor have been told of and I’m 100% certain one of my priests would have told me if there was). I do not know if there is any for chasubles that are badly damaged and no longer usable. I would think if still usable, then donating it to a lesser well-off parish would be the right thing to do.
 
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My point is that the disposal of these fabrics is simply not something that rises to the need of calling the Diocese, it is common practice as it is not regulated under any document.

I suppose a Bishop could set a policy for his Diocese, but, I’ve never heard of one on old vestments.

The group I mentioned in another thread, Mary Mother of God Mission Society, raises money with the items made from unusable vestments. They are always happy to take them, I’d suggest that you reach out to them to learn about the makers.
 
I found what I needed:

The Disposition of Works of Art No Longer Needed for Sacred Use
§ 166 § Sacred art that is no longer useful or needed or that is simply worn out and beyond restoration deserves to be treated with respect. To insure the protection of worn or used sanctuary furnishings, vessels, vesture, and other liturgical artifacts, many diocesan bishops have issued directives about their proper disposition when they are no longer suitable for worship. In addition, with the closing or merging of parishes, vessels and vestments can be available for the use of other parishes and missions. In disposing of such artifacts pastors should consult the diocesan worship office or chancery to learn what directives or procedures are in effect.
–Built of Living Stones, USCCB

The Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon (where I am) has a liturgical handbook. It took me awhile to find it, but it directs questions to the Archdiocesan Office of Divine Worship. People directly working at parishes can contact the office directly; that Archdiocese doesn’t require routing the question through the pastor.

So–in the US, at least, questions are best directed to the diocese, as each bishop handles these things somewhat differently.
 
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