Sacrelege

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JillianRose

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Hello-

Two days ago my son had a friend over from his Catholic School Class. He was wearing an “evil eye”. I have also seen other Catholics wear the Italin horn. I was wondering, is this sacrelege? It seems to be more of a tradition of nationality charm instead of religion. Wouldn’t it be considered superstition?
 
JillianRose said:
Hello-

Two days ago my son had a friend over from his Catholic School Class. He was wearing an “evil eye”. I have also seen other Catholics wear the Italin horn. I was wondering, is this sacrelege? It seems to be more of a tradition of nationality charm instead of religion. Wouldn’t it be considered superstition?
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It’s only superstition if you believe in it; if it is used as a cultural or ornamental appurtenace, IMNAAHO, there would be nothing wrong with it.
 
Sacrilege involves the desecration or profanation of a holy object, so no, neither one was an instance of sacrilege. It would only be superstition if the wearers thought the objects/pictures could do something.
 
Many years ago I was able to attend a monthly day of prayer, with Mass, by a Carmelite priest who does nothing but give retreats to priests, nuns, and those interested in learning more about contemplative prayer. I did witness him giving a deliverance prayer when something occurred after one of those Masses.

I remember him telling the group that attended that the Italian horn should not be worn. He said it was a symbol of the devil, even if the person who wore it did not know.

I could never understand why people did not choose to wear a crucifix instead.
 
Hi!!

I guess Sacrelege is the wrong word. I thought those symbols people wore had to do with magic, in the sense. Isn’t that against our Chruch teachings. Especially if you are a Catholic. Why would you need “magic”? Like not trusting in the Lord…
 
They are worn as a fashion statement in support of Italian-American heritage. At one time (before Christ) they were worn to ward off infertility but no one I know who wears one thinks of it in any but a secular way.
 
JillianRose said:
Hello-

Two days ago my son had a friend over from his Catholic School Class. He was wearing an “evil eye”. I have also seen other Catholics wear the Italin horn. I was wondering, is this sacrelege? It seems to be more of a tradition of nationality charm instead of religion. Wouldn’t it be considered superstition?
Click to expand...
If you scratch the surface on anything these days, it’s origins are probably pagan.

My opinion is, if it’s not generally recognised and used as a pagan symbol, it’s okay.
 
TheDoctor said:
Father appears to have been mistaken. Everything I have looked at says that the horn shape came from the crescent moon or peppers:

ehow.com/about_5033817_italian-horn_.html

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornicello
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Doc,
Thanks for the websites about the Italian horn. I used to wear a solid gold one, but not by choice. My parents always put one on me in Italy and in Italian-American neighborhoods for “protection” from curses. (Apparently only solid gold would work.) They stopped doing this once we lived in a non-Italian neighborhood. I wouldn’t wear one now because it does seem to indicate a lack of trust in God’s protection and because I get to choose my own jewelry now.
 
Cara_Serrano said:
Doc,
Thanks for the websites about the Italian horn. I used to wear a solid gold one, but not by choice. My parents always put one on me in Italy and in Italian-American neighborhoods for “protection” from curses. (Apparently only solid gold would work.) They stopped doing this once we lived in a non-Italian neighborhood. I wouldn’t wear one now because it does seem to indicate a lack of trust in God’s protection and because I get to choose my own jewelry now.
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Hi!

Cara I agree. We are sicilian and wear it out of tradition. (I don’t, but my husband does). What about the evil eye that other wear? I think that is what it is for.
 
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