Is it a bad idea to buy sacramentals online?

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yawnernonner

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If you don’t know you’re committing simony, but you might, is it better to just not do it, or what?
 
Buying holy objects? I just want to buy a Brown Scapular, but I’m worried.
 
You can buy a scapular, a rosary, a medal, etc. at a bricks and mortar store or online. It’s fine. Once you have it blessed you can treat it as something dedicated to sacred use. Until then it’s just an object.
 
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t simony limited to buying/selling religious privileges and offices? Like bribing your way into the seminary or the diaconate?
 
There is nothing wrong with buying a Brown Scapular. Wear it well!
 
I might be wrong on this and my memory may be failing me but I recall reading somewhere that when something like a blessed sacramental is given away or sold, it loses its blessing and has to be blessed again by the Priest??? Could someone clarify please?
 
yawnernonner said:
I just want to make sure that these Scapulars from Amazon are legitimate and I won’t be committing sin.
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There is nothing wrong with buying such things online. However, those particular Scapulars don’t look traditional.

When buying anything Catholic on Amazon, it important to know the manufacturer, publisher, author, etc.

In itself, buying sacramentals online is morally nurtural. What you typically cannot do is sell/buy Blessed objects online.

(However, some argue that it’s ok to buy a Blessed object if you goal is to rescue it)

I pray this helps you. However, if you have further question, I suggest you speak with your priest.

God Bless
 
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It is thus unlawful to exchange ecclesiastical benefices by private authority, to accept any payment whatever for holy oils, to sell blessed rosaries or crucifixes. Such objects lose, if sold, all the indulgences previously attached to them (S. Cong. Of Indulg., 12 July, 1847).
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Found here: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14001a.htm

I’m not sure what that abbreviation is. Anyone have any idea?
 
It is an apostolate. The free ones are cheaply made relative to other scapulars. They rely on donations and people purchasing their other scapulars to keep their apostolate afloat.

I also just realized that you pay shipping. Didn’t think of that before.
 
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I looked at some sacramentals on Amazon but decided to purchase from catholic.com instead (actually leafletonline.com may have been where I got them, I can’t recall now). I decided not to go with Amazon because when I was searching for the sacramental the descriptions that man of the companies wrote said things that made it look as though sacramentals are superstitious, such as “protection charm” or “demon protection ghost hunter” or “home decor protection.” I’m sure there were some legit Catholic companies selling on Amazon, but I decided to go directly to ones I knew were truly Catholic. I hope that makes sense.
 
I’d suggest buying from a Catholic goods store, simply because they are run by individuals or families and have taken a big financial hit over the past few years. Support your local shop or buy from an apostolate like our hosts or the advertisers on this site.
 
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