Before You Discard: How to Properly Rehome Sacred Items

As Catholics, we're entrusted with sacred objects that have been blessed - rosaries, medals, statues, holy cards, Bibles and other devotional pieces that help lift our hearts to God. But what happens when they're broken, worn, or simply no longer needed?

Many of us struggle with what to do. Throwing them away feels wrong - and it should. These items have been blessed and set apart for holy use. They deserve to be treated with dignity, even at the end of their usable life.

At Our Lady's Attic, we believe no sacred item should end up forgotten in a landfill. Every object tells a story of prayer, devotion, and love - and many can find new life when treated with care.

Understanding Blessed Items

Once something is blessed, it becomes a sacramental - an object that draws us closer to God. Because of that, it should never be discarded casually. The church offers guidance on two main paths for such items:

1. Reverent Disposal - returning them to the earth or destroying them in a respectful way.

2. Reverent Rehoming - finding them a new home where they can continue to inspire devotion.

How to Reverently Dispose of Blessed Items

If an item is too damaged to repair or rehome you can burn or bury items. Items made of paper, cloth, or wood (example: prayer cards, scapulars, palm branches etc.) are appropriate for burning. It's important to burn privately and respectfully. Once the item has been burned you should bury the ashes. Items that cannot be burned can be directly buried into the ground. Examples of such items are those made of metal, ceramic, or plastic - broken rosaries, medals or statues. Wrap them in natural cloth and bury them on your property or a loved ones graves, symbolizing their return to God's creation.

"For dust you are, and to dust you shall return" - Genesis 3:19

If this feels daunting, you're not alone. Many Catholics prefer entrusting this process to someone who understands the reverence these items deserve.

How to Reverently Rehome Sacred Items

If an item is still intact or can be gently restored, it can continue its sacred purpose. Here are some ways to rehome it.

1. Donate it to a parish or religious order. Many churches accept gently used rosaries, missals, or statues, especially for mission work or nursing homes. Always check before donating - some parishes have limited space or specific requirements.

2. Pass it along to a friend or family member. A family rosary, a crucifix from your wedding, or a saint statue from your childhood home - these can carry generational blessings when intentionally passed on.

3. Rehome through a faithful reseller or restorer. Our Lady's Attic would love to help! I rescue, restore, and rehome sacred items with care and reverence. Each item is handled prayerfully, researched for authenticity, and presented beautifully so it may continue inspiring faith in a new home. I see each item not as secondhand, but as sanctified - a vessel of grace waiting to bless another soul.

Our Lady's Attic: A Rescue Mission of Reverence

When you send your sacred items to Our Lady's Attic, here's what happens:

• Each piece is gently cleaned and respectfully handled.

• If blessed, it remains intact and is offered for rehoming, never for casual resale.

• Broken or incomplete items are repurposed into devotional art or prayer kits, ensuring no sacramental is wasted.

• Any item that cannot be restored is disposed of reverently according to Church tradition.

We are more than a shop - we're a ministry of restoration, helping Catholics honor their faith through stewardship of sacred beauty.

How to Send Items for Rehoming

If you have a blessed item that need a proper home:

1. Gather them with care.

2. Include a brief note (optional) sharing their history or any blessings associated with them.

3. Ship or Drop them off at Our Lady's Attic. I'll ensure they are treated with dignity, either restored or rehomed, or properly retired.

"Nothing is truly lost that is given to God" - St. Francis de Sales

Every sacramental carries traces of grace - even long after it's original purpose fades. Through mindful stewardship, we honor the faith of those before us and keep beauty alive for those yet to come.

May this guide remind you that reverence doesn't end when an item's usefulness does. It continues - through care, payer, and restoration.