Disposing of Blessed Objects

The Diocese of Superior, Wisconsin notes, “Once a religious object is blessed and dedicated for divine worship or veneration, it must be treated with reverence and must not be used in either an improper or profane way.” (cf. Code of Canon Law, #1171)

That means throwing a blessed item in the trash is not a reverent way to dispose of it. But the Church does provide guidance for their proper disposal. “The basic rule for the disposition of these items is to burn or to bury them,” states the Diocese of Superior. “Therefore, the normal ‘rule of thumb’ is that anything that has been blessed should be burned (and then the ashes buried) or simply buried.”

If you’re reading this and anxious about the palms, rosaries, and prayer cards you’ve thrown away over the years, there’s no need to lose sleep over it. The Diocese of Superior explains, “It is not a sin to throw away blessed items, but out of proper respect, one should dispose of them in this way. If devotionals have not been blessed, such as some of the holy cards and such that come through the mail, those are simply pictures and can be thrown away. It you feel uncomfortable throwing them away, you can burn or bury them as well.” They also pointed out that if you can’t burn an object, you can take it apart to prevent it from being used in a profane way in the future.