What is the purpose of blessing a crucifix or other holy object?

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What happens when a priest or deacon blesses a crucifix, rosary, statue, etc.? How does this change the owner’s perception of the object?

Thank you.

Jill
 
So I have a cross that I wear around my neck (necklace).
Two years ago I brought it to a Priest for it to be blessed.
Apparently, when I gave it to him he thought it was a rosary (it kind of looks like one). When he blessed it he calling it a rosary gave it back to me and I said thank you.
Ever since then I have wonder if the blessing was valid, and if it was is my cross now a rosary?
 
I’d say the blessing most likely stuck. You could always have it re-blessed if your worried about it, but I wouldn’t be.
 
Jsmith17 said:
I’d say the blessing most likely stuck. You could always have it re-blessed if your worried about it, but I wouldn’t be.
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Hi Look Around and J Smith – I would completely agree. It sounds to me as though the Priest in question simply made a mistake. He may have thought it was a rosary because the chain has beads on it or something like that. Also Look Around, I agree with J Smith that if you have any doubts, certainly have it re-blessed.

Kathy
 
Irish_Kathy said:
Hi Look Around and J Smith – I would completely agree. It sounds to me as though the Priest in question simply made a mistake. He may have thought it was a rosary because the chain has beads on it or something like that. Also Look Around, I agree with J Smith that if you have any doubts, certainly have it re-blessed.

Kathy
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It is permitted to have something re-blessed? Wouldn’t that like re-baptizing?
ie. God already did it. (although I know there is conditional baptism)

If I get it re-blessed should I tell the priest (it would be another priest) what happened?
 
JillD said:
What happens when a priest or deacon blesses a crucifix, rosary, statue, etc.? How does this change the owner’s perception of the object?

Thank you.

Jill
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Hello JillD,
Perhaps the church wants the owner to remember that he/she joins the large group of faithful who reveres such objects to honor the person for whose dear merits the medal is struck, and to be aware that the object should not be profaned. The blessing is the token of the church’s respect for the saints (medal), our Saviour (crcucifix), etc. so dear to Catholics.
I am eager to read Fr. Vincent Sherpa’s answer to your question, though.

And may I ask, who else other than the Catholic Church does a similar “blessing”?
 
lookaround said:
It is permitted to have something re-blessed? Wouldn’t that like re-baptizing?
ie. God already did it. (although I know there is conditional baptism)

If I get it re-blessed should I tell the priest (it would be another priest) what happened?
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Hi Look Around 👋 – I’ve heard of people getting objects re-blessed before. They may have added medals to their rosary or something else. Or else, a rosary may have been blessed originally by a Priest, but is later blessed by a Bishop, Cardinal or even the Pope himself.

Also, think of it this way, the Priest gives us a blessing every time we leave Mass, or for other reasons.

Kathy
 
lookaround said:
Good point!
but a blessing on an “item” last forever correct?
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Hi Look Around 👋 – Yes, as far as I know, the blessing lasts forever. Also, as an example, I have many rosaries, some blessed, most not yet. I also happen to be blessed to have one rosary blessed by Pope John Paul the Great and one blessed by Pope Benedict. My sister knows someone who knows someone else who is presently studying in Rome. He was able to get them blessed. Anyway, these two rosaries are the ones I pray on most often, alternating between them. Anyway, I definitely pray the rosary better on these rosaries. I’ve even asked Pope John Paul the Great to help me to pray better and I think he is. So I’m becoming convinced that a blessed item really is a better object to pray with. Also, the one blessed by Pope Benedict is a constant reminder to me to include him in all my prayers.

Kathy
 
lookaround said:
Good point!
but a blessing on an “item” last forever correct?
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Not entirely. Because a blessing cannot be sold, (Look up “Simony”), if a blessed object such as a rosary is sold to another person, the blessing does not go along with it. The object must be blessed once again by the person who purchased it.

Also, sacramentals (such as rosaries, crucifixes, and even blessings) do not have the same rules applied to them as sacraments in so far as validity/form/matter are concerned. Something which is already blessed can be blessed again and again (consider when you “bless yourself” in the sign of the cross or are blessed at the end of Mass).

My priest explained it to us as follows: First, there is an object, then there is the blessing. The blessing is “attatched” to the object by the priest. The object remains simply wood or metal or plastic, but is considered sacred due to what is attached to it. As soon as something which would remove the attached blessing occurs (the item being sold etc.) that item goes back to simply being what it physically is without the attached blessing.

The section of the Catechism on sacramentals is particularly enlightening on this subject, if you have any extra time I would suggest you look through it- Paragraphs 1667-1679.
 
Irish_Kathy said:
Hi Look Around 👋 – Yes, as far as I know, the blessing lasts forever. Also, as an example, I have many rosaries, some blessed, most not yet. I also happen to be blessed to have one rosary blessed by Pope John Paul the Great and one blessed by Pope Benedict. My sister knows someone who knows someone else who is presently studying in Rome. He was able to get them blessed. Anyway, these two rosaries are the ones I pray on most often, alternating between them. Anyway, I definitely pray the rosary better on these rosaries. I’ve even asked Pope John Paul the Great to help me to pray better and I think he is. So I’m becoming convinced that a blessed item really is a better object to pray with. Also, the one blessed by Pope Benedict is a constant reminder to me to include him in all my prayers.

Kathy
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Hi Kathy,

I agree, a blessed object is a better one to pray with, especially the rosary. A blessed rosary comes with several special attachements including indulgences that cannot be gained without the blessing.

*35. Use of Articles of Devotion (Obiectorum pietatis usus)
The faithful, who devoutly use an article of devotion (crucifix or cross, rosary. scapular or medal) properly blessed by any priest, obtain a partial indulgence.

But if the article of devotion has been blessed by the Sovereign Pontiff or by any Bishop, the faithful, using it, can also gain a plenary indulgence on the feast of the Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, provided they also make a profession of faith according to any legitimate formula. *
The above grant is taken from Norm 17 of the [1967] Apostolic Constitution The Doctrine of Indulgences. Also Norm 19 of the Enchiridion [1968]
 
When a priest or deacon blesses an object, he is praying that God will bless the person who uses it. The blessed object “carries” this prayer so that the person will be blessed by God each time he or she uses it.
 
Jsmith17 said:
Not entirely. Because a blessing cannot be sold, (Look up “Simony”), if a blessed object such as a rosary is sold to another person, the blessing does not go along with it. The object must be blessed once again by the person who purchased it.

Also, sacramentals (such as rosaries, crucifixes, and even blessings) do not have the same rules applied to them as sacraments in so far as validity/form/matter are concerned. Something which is already blessed can be blessed again and again (consider when you “bless yourself” in the sign of the cross or are blessed at the end of Mass).

My priest explained it to us as follows: First, there is an object, then there is the blessing. The blessing is “attatched” to the object by the priest. The object remains simply wood or metal or plastic, but is considered sacred due to what is attached to it. As soon as something which would remove the attached blessing occurs (the item being sold etc.) that item goes back to simply being what it physically is without the attached blessing.

The section of the Catechism on sacramentals is particularly enlightening on this subject, if you have any extra time I would suggest you look through it- Paragraphs 1667-1679.
Click to expand...
If someone gave it to someone else (as a gift) would the blessing remain?
 
Jsmith17 said:
Hi Kathy,

I agree, a blessed object is a better one to pray with, especially the rosary. A blessed rosary comes with several special attachements including indulgences that cannot be gained without the blessing.

*35. Use of Articles of Devotion (Obiectorum pietatis usus)
The faithful, who devoutly use an article of devotion (crucifix or cross, rosary. scapular or medal) properly blessed by any priest, obtain a partial indulgence.

But if the article of devotion has been blessed by the Sovereign Pontiff or by any Bishop, the faithful, using it, can also gain a plenary indulgence on the feast of the Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, provided they also make a profession of faith according to any legitimate formula. *
The above grant is taken from Norm 17 of the [1967] Apostolic Constitution The Doctrine of Indulgences. Also Norm 19 of the Enchiridion [1968]
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Hi J Smith :wvae: – Thanks for explaining everything further for all of us. 👍

Hi Look Around 👋 As long as the item isn’t sold, as far as I know, the blessing will remain. But the same is not true if the item is sold. Also, I can certainly confirm by my own personal experience that Pope John Paul the Great is certainly helping me in my prayer life, especially since I’ve personally asked him to do so. I also dedicate my prayers specifically for my sister and her family, along with the rest of my family as well.

Kathy
 
Everything is Blessed to focus our weak intellect toward God and Jesus Christ, Our Creator and Father and Savior!!

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Proi Nobis Peccatoribius!

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