Getting objects blessed

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frenchbeatle

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I just returned from a trip to France. Since I didn’t have a lot of room in my luggage for souvenirs, I chose to buy rosaries from the places I visited to help me remember them. Since in the past, I have always asked priests to bless my rosaries, I plan to do the same for these, but this led me to a question: What is the benefit of blessing objects, such as rosaries? I had always done so in the past because I thought that’s what was supposed to be done, but I never really knew why. I’m thinking the power of the prayer is still the same.

Any thoughts?
 
First the question comes to mind if the item was Blessed to begin with? Because for example, I make a Rosary, it doesn’t mean it was Blessed. Or if I buy a chain and add a Cross or Crucifix to the chain, its also not Blessed. Its an item I put together.

This comes from Ebay in regards to Religious Items being Sold.

“If a donation is given for a blessed item the blessing is retained. However, it must be a legitimate donation and cannot be for a specified amount above the items cost to the dealer. If there is any profit made on the transaction the blessing is lost.”

“If you have an item blessed you may give it to anyone and the blessing is retained. If you buy a Miraculous Medal as a gift and, before giving it, have it blessed by a priest, the blessing is retained. Any blessed item may be given to another person, whether that person is Catholic or not, and the blessing is retained. The exception to this is for items blessed under the old regulations on indulgences. These blessings have all been abolished. These blessings were personal and do not pass on to another person if the item is given as a gift. So, if someone were to give you an old indulgenced crucifix or rosary you would not be able to gain the indulgences. The item is, however, still considered blessed in the ordinary sense”. END

Anyway I would take the items to the church upon your next visit and arrive early or stay later and ask the Father/Priest if he would kindly Bless the Rosarys or whatever for for.
 
GaryTaylor said:
First the question comes to mind if the item was Blessed to begin with? Because for example, I make a Rosary, it doesn’t mean it was Blessed. Or if I buy a chain and add a Cross or Crucifix to the chain, its also not Blessed. Its an item I put together.

This comes from Ebay in regards to Religious Items being Sold.

“If a donation is given for a blessed item the blessing is retained. However, it must be a legitimate donation and cannot be for a specified amount above the items cost to the dealer. If there is any profit made on the transaction the blessing is lost.”

“If you have an item blessed you may give it to anyone and the blessing is retained. If you buy a Miraculous Medal as a gift and, before giving it, have it blessed by a priest, the blessing is retained. Any blessed item may be given to another person, whether that person is Catholic or not, and the blessing is retained. The exception to this is for items blessed under the old regulations on indulgences. These blessings have all been abolished. These blessings were personal and do not pass on to another person if the item is given as a gift. So, if someone were to give you an old indulgenced crucifix or rosary you would not be able to gain the indulgences. The item is, however, still considered blessed in the ordinary sense”. END

Anyway I would take the items to the church upon your next visit and arrive early or stay later and ask the Father/Priest if he would kindly Bless the Rosarys or whatever for for.
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’

So if I bought a rosary blessed by the Pope on Ebay, then the blessing is nullified? That doesn’t make any sense…how would anyone know this anyway?
 
GaryTaylor said:
First the question comes to mind if the item was Blessed to begin with? Because for example, I make a Rosary, it doesn’t mean it was Blessed. Or if I buy a chain and add a Cross or Crucifix to the chain, its also not Blessed. Its an item I put together.
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I’m assuming that they were not blessed before because there was no indication that they were; no sign hanging above them, for example. I always assume every rosary I buy has not been blessed as there is no indication given either way.
 
frenchbeatle said:
I just returned from a trip to France. Since I didn’t have a lot of room in my luggage for souvenirs, I chose to buy rosaries from the places I visited to help me remember them. Since in the past, I have always asked priests to bless my rosaries, I plan to do the same for these, but this led me to a question: What is the benefit of blessing objects, such as rosaries? I had always done so in the past because I thought that’s what was supposed to be done, but I never really knew why. I’m thinking the power of the prayer is still the same.

Any thoughts?
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Blessing the sacramental sets it apart for a holy purpose. That is what I was taught.

Also, remember that when we bless ourselves with the sacramental of holy water with faith it is efficacious to protect the person from the evil one. I don’t mean this to sound superstitious, but blessed articles are advantageous to us, if we use them with faith in the prayer of the Church. (the blessing of the item.)
 
frenchbeatle said:
I just returned from a trip to France. Since I didn’t have a lot of room in my luggage for souvenirs, I chose to buy rosaries from the places I visited to help me remember them. Since in the past, I have always asked priests to bless my rosaries, I plan to do the same for these, but this led me to a question: What is the benefit of blessing objects, such as rosaries? I had always done so in the past because I thought that’s what was supposed to be done, but I never really knew why. I’m thinking the power of the prayer is still the same.

Any thoughts?
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Great question frenchbeatle! Here is what the Caltholic Encyclopedia says:

"Blessings are not sacraments; they are not of Divine institution; they do not confer sanctifying grace; and they do not produce their effects in virtue of the rite itself, or ex opere operanto. They are sacramentals and, as such, they produce the following specific effects:
  1. Excitation of pious emotions and affections of the heart and, by means of these, remission of venial sin and of the temporal punishment due to it.
  2. Freedom from power of evil spirits;
  3. Preservation and restoration of bodily health.
  4. Various other benefits, temporal or spiritual. "
Having read that, I am just going to go with what my mother told me as a child. She said, “It makes the item like a magnet which attracts the Holy Spirit, the angels, and saints. It also repels Satan and the devils.”
 
So if I pay for a blessed object, then the blessing disappears??? I still don’t get it! How can anyone be certain of such a thing? I have plenty of blessed objects that were purchased for me as gifts on ebay and the like 😦
 
Thoughtfulone said:
’

So if I bought a rosary blessed by the Pope on Ebay, then the blessing is nullified? That doesn’t make any sense…how would anyone know this anyway?
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Not sure the “blessing” per se is nullified (though I have heard this)…

But it is CERTAIN the Indulgences are no longer there! This is stated in the norms on Indulgences. This is to keep people from selling blessed items with special indulgences…such as those blessed by the Pope (Plenary on Feast of St. Peter and Paul (see Manual for details… only cross, crucifix, rosary, scapular or medal…other things have the normal partial indulgence as is the case with the blessing of any Priest or Deacon).

As someone could try to do on say ebay…
 
Thoughtfulone said:
So if I pay for a blessed object, then the blessing disappears??? I still don’t get it! How can anyone be certain of such a thing? I have plenty of blessed objects that were purchased for me as gifts on ebay and the like 😦
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How are we certain the indulgence disappears? Cause the Church has made this the case: Norm 16.2 in Manual of Indulgences. Also ceases if the item is destroyed.

As for blessing I would get things blessed again that were sold…
 
Since we are talking about getting objects blessed I thought it would be good to chime in here and say that we can bless religious objects ourselves as well. That does not negate bringing the religious objects to a priest of course.

Anyway, the USCCB publishes a book called “Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers” which has over 400 pages of blessings and prayers that can be done for every life event from birth, death to the afterlife.

On Page 323 one will find the “Blessings for Objects” prayer. It states on the page “Prayer for Placing Objects for Prayer and Devotion…This prayer may be used when placing blessed icons and other images, or other objects used in the household prayer.”

Lord,
you are blessed and the source of every blessing.
Be with us now
and whenever we use this symbol of our faith.
May we strive always to be transformed
into the likeness of Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns forever and ever.
R/. Amen

You can also pray the appropriate scriptures as stated in the book along with the prayer:

Colossians 1:12-20, Luke 1:42-50, Ephesians 3:14-19;
2 Corinthians 3:17-4; Romans 8:26-31; 1 Corinthians 13:8-13;
Luke 11:5-13; Psalm 150
 
TempleofTheSoul said:
Since we are talking about getting objects blessed I thought it would be good to chime in here and say that we can bless religious objects ourselves as well. That does not negate bringing the religious objects to a priest of course.

Anyway, the USCCB publishes a book called “Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers” which has over 400 pages of blessings and prayers that can be done for every life event from birth, death to the afterlife.

On Page 323 one will find the “Blessings for Objects” prayer. It states on the page “Prayer for Placing Objects for Prayer and Devotion…This prayer may be used when placing blessed icons and other images, or other objects used in the household prayer.”

Lord,
you are blessed and the source of every blessing.
Be with us now
and whenever we use this symbol of our faith.
May we strive always to be transformed
into the likeness of Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns forever and ever.
R/. Amen

You can also pray the appropriate scriptures as stated in the book along with the prayer:

Colossians 1:12-20, Luke 1:42-50, Ephesians 3:14-19;
2 Corinthians 3:17-4; Romans 8:26-31; 1 Corinthians 13:8-13;
Luke 11:5-13; Psalm 150
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ACTUALLY …objects like crucifixes, medals etc are sacramentals that require a Priest or Deacon…Bishop to bless…

This book was I think published before the Official Book of Blessings came out from the Church which specifies that blessings of such sacramentals are done by a Priest or Deacon (not a lay person).

(and actually now that I read it again…note that your book says this prayer says it may be used when “placing blessed icons…etc” in the home…note it is “blessed” in the past tense…hence already blessed by a Priest or Deacon…(not a prayer for blessing them) this is just a prayer someone wrote for the use of a family to install the item …in a nice ritual way it seems) (and it is a prayer “blessing God” (ie praising him)…not the object)

Houses etc are things we can ask to be blessed etc…
and of course we can use the sign of the cross all the time…we are to bless and ask for a blessing…and perhaps use holy water etc…but some things need a blessing from a Priest or Deacon…
 
Bookcat said:
ACTUALLY …objects like crucifixes, medals etc are sacramentals that require a Priest or Deacon…Bishop to bless…

This book was I think published before the Official Book of Blessings came out from the Church which specifies that blessings of such sacramentals are done by a Priest or Deacon (not a lay person).

(and actually now that I read it again…note that your book says this prayer says it may be used when “placing blessed icons…etc” in the home…note it is “blessed” in the past tense…hence already blessed by a Priest or Deacon…(not a prayer for blessing them) this is just a prayer someone wrote for the use of a family to install the item …in a nice ritual way it seems) (and it is a prayer “blessing God” (ie praising him)…not the object)

Houses etc are things we can ask to be blessed etc…
and of course we can use the sign of the cross all the time…we are to bless and ask for a blessing…and perhaps use holy water etc…but some things need a blessing from a Priest or Deacon…
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Thank you for making the clarification… strike 1 for me in reading comprehension. :confused: It does indeed make sense that this would be more of a ritual performed after an object was already blessed.

Thanks again and God bless 🙂
 
TempleofTheSoul said:
Thank you for making the clarification… strike 1 for me in reading comprehension. :confused: It does indeed make sense that this would be more of a ritual performed after an object was already blessed.

Thanks again and God bless 🙂
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Your welcome…and I had to read it more than once to notice it 🙂
 
Is it still OK for me to bless other people? I do it almost every time that anyone sneezes.
 
MtnDwellar said:
Is it still OK for me to bless other people? I do it almost every time that anyone sneezes.
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Yes…Christians bless…(a great example is parents bless their children…) or asks for blessings…

Priests or Deacons though bless certain sacramentals such as Crosses etc…theirs is a particular blessing…and they have a particular facilty to bless in the name of the Church etc from Holy Orders…
 
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