Worried about blessed rosary

[lena28]

As a gift when I was received into the Church, a sister gave me a rosary blessed by the Pope. I treasure it and try to keep it safe.
However, I was travelling last week and kept it with me in a bum bag (it was in a box). I felt a bit worried about this at the time (note that I am fairly scrupulous) but kept it there sometimes and in a safe locker at other times. On the way there I put it into my suitcase. I also gave it to one of my friends to hold on one occasion and she was asking me what it was (as she is not Catholic) and she took it out of its box and handled it.

Now I am scared that I have desecrated it and will have to have it blessed again. I don’t think I committed mortal sin as I don’t think I knew it was grave matter at the time (if it even was grave) but I would be sad as I really prize my rosary blessed by the Holy Father.

Any help? It would be much appreciated, thanks.

 

[FromTheAshes777]

Greetings friend,

Storing your Rosary, traveling with it, or allowing a friend to see or hold your Rosary is in no way desecrating it at all. It does not sound like you did anything wrong or inappropriate with it from reading your post. You have nothing to worry about.

Desecration is an action intentionally done and would need to be a severe mishandling and disprespect twoards a sacred object done with the intent to disrespect or blaspheme God. You have done no such thing. Peace be with you.

 

[lena28]

Thank you for such a kind reply. You have set my mind at rest, may God bless you!

 

[FromTheAshes777]

Thank you for such a kind reply. You have set my mind at rest, may God bless you!

You are most welcome.

If you ever do have a sacred or blessed object that was damaged beyond repair or was accidently made to where keeping it was not an option, I have been told that burning or burying is the proper way to dispose of these things, similar to how you would dispose of a U.S. flag in a reverent way.

Desecrating something though, as I said, is deliberately mishandling or disrespecting a sacred object intentionally. This can be done to show disrespect twoards God, or may be done simply because a person doesn’t really care, also a form of disrespect and irreverance.

Keeping a consecrated host as a souvenir from a Mass at the Vatican would be a very grave example. Intentionally spitting on a crucifix would be another. Things like that.

Those things would be sinful and could be mortal depending on the disposition of the person.