Spiritual Corner - The Correct Ways to Dispose of Worn-Out Blessed Articles

A broken rosary, a worn-out scapular and a faded holy painting should not be discarded into the garbage because they have been blessed, and considered as holy and useful for us to be close to God.

The Church teaches us to respectfully return these blessed articles to nature. This is not superstition but a show of love-- an unwillingness to let consecrated things to be treated as garbage; a remembrance of how they have helped us to open up and receive God’s loving grace.

The correct ways to deal with blessed articles:

• Holy Water: Pour holy water onto clean soil (flower beds/beneath trees), not into the sewage.
• Scapular, holy pictures, prayer books etc.:--carefully burn them and bury their ashes in the soil.
  Note: do this outdoor, be safe, burn in small quantity, be aware of the fire regulations.
• Sacred images/crosses (made of wood or stone) that are damaged and can no longer be reverently used: Bury them directly in clean soil (they may first be wrapped in cloth as a sign of respect).
• Medals and rosaries made of metal:--can be melted and remodeled into other holy articles; if this cannot be done, bury them in clean soil.
• Wooden/cotton rosaries:--burn in small quantity and bury the ashes. Plastic/glass that cannot be burnt, take off metal crosses (to be melted and made into other holy articles for reuse) bury the rest in soil.
• Holy bookmarks, Holy Pictures :- do not throw away casually, but collect them together, burn and bury in soil. A gentle reminder: if uncertain of how to /or cannot dispose
  of the blessed articles, do consult the parish pastor or office which will regularly collect and correctly dispose of old blessed articles.

This is not superstition but love.

Blessed articles are neither “talisman” nor “magic weapon.” Their value lies in leading us to God, helping us to remember the Holy Sacraments, and living out our faith. Even if they are worn out, they still teach us that “the world will pass, but holiness is everlasting.”

From now on, when you come across old rosaries, or worn out scapular, please respectfully return them to God: burn or bury in clean soil. Give them a respectful farewell.

God Bless!
Yours,
Sr. Magdalena Yang