A blessed cross looks like any other cross. And yet for many people it is something different: an object that has been prayed over and is meant to remind them of God’s closeness. In this article we explain what the blessing of objects means in the Catholic tradition, what it is not, and how we handle it at LUNEXUS.
What does “to bless” mean?
The Latin word for blessing is “benedicere”: to speak well. A blessing (benediction) is first of all praise of God and at the same time a request for his help. People, houses, vehicles, fields and also objects that play a part in the life of faith are blessed: crosses, rosaries, medals, pictures.
At the centre is not the object but the person who uses or gives it. The blessing asks that this person be strengthened and accompanied in faith.
What is a sacramental?
The Catholic Church calls blessed objects sacramentals. The term sounds similar to sacrament but means something different. The seven sacraments, such as baptism or the Eucharist, were, in the Catholic understanding, instituted by Christ himself. Sacramentals, by contrast, are signs that the Church has established. They are meant to help connect prayer and everyday life with God.
A blessed cross on the wall, a medal on a chain, a rosary in a jacket pocket: they remind us to pause for a moment, to give thanks or to ask for help.
What a blessing is not
A blessed object is not a talisman. It does not work of its own accord and is no guarantee that nothing will happen. A St Christopher medal in the car does not replace attention at the wheel, and a guardian angel picture does not replace care. The Church expressly warns against treating sacramentals like magical means.
Rightly understood, a blessed object is a sign of faith and a companion. Its strength lies in the trust in God that it recalls.
Who may bless?
Most blessings of objects are given by priests and deacons. But many blessing prayers may also be said by lay people, for example parents who bless their child, or a family who ask for God’s blessing on their new home when they move in. A blessing of an object by the Church is usually given by an ordained minister with prayer and the sign of the cross, often with holy water too.
How we do it at LUNEXUS
Many of our items, but not all, are blessed in our own warehouse by a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Fulda. Every blessed item comes with a business-card-sized certificate card. It shows the date of the blessing.
Whether an item is blessed is always stated in its title or description. You will find all the blessed pieces gathered in the Blessed items collection. We explain the details of the process and the certificate card on our page Blessed items – how we bless.
Items that are not blessed include our T-shirts and the hand-carved wooden statues from South Tyrol. The statues come to you directly from the workshop and do not pass through our warehouse.
What is typically blessed?
- Crosses for the wall, to stand on a surface or as holding crosses, for example a lime wood wall cross or an olive wood holding cross.
- Medals and plaques such as the St Christopher medal for the car or the St Benedict medal.
- Rosaries, such as the wooden rosary with Miraculous Medal.
- Necklaces and pendants, for example an olive wood cross necklace with dove.
May blessed things be given as gifts?
Yes, and very gladly. A blessed cross for a christening, a medal for First Holy Communion or a St Christopher for passing the driving test are especially personal gifts. The blessing is for the person who receives the gift, and goes on accompanying them together with the object.
You will find gift ideas in our guides Christening gifts from godparents and grandparents and What do you give for First Holy Communion?.
And if a blessed object breaks?
Traditionally, blessed objects are not simply thrown into the household rubbish. It is customary to burn them if they are made of wood or paper, or to bury them in the earth. Many parishes also accept old devotional items. If in doubt, ask in your parish.
Frequently asked questions
Is a blessed cross different from a dedicated cross?
In everyday German, “gesegnet” (blessed) and “geweiht” (dedicated) are often used interchangeably. Strictly speaking, objects are blessed; “dedication” in the narrower sense refers, for example, to the dedication of churches and altars or to the ordination of persons.
Are all items at LUNEXUS blessed?
No. Many, but not all, items are blessed in our warehouse by a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Fulda. Whether an item is blessed is stated in its title or description.
How can I tell when my item was blessed?
Every blessed item comes with a business-card-sized certificate card. It shows the date of the blessing.
Can I also have an object blessed in my own parish?
Yes. Simply ask your parish priest. Many parishes also bless objects after the service or on particular feast days.
Does a blessed object protect against misfortune?
No, not in the sense of a guarantee. A blessed object is a sign of faith and recalls God’s companionship. It replaces neither caution nor prayer.
Written by Denis & Belinda. We run LUNEXUS and are happy to answer your questions personally on +49 30 2178 2502 (German and English) or at hallo@lunexus.world.
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