Msg Base:  AREA 3  - ASK FATHER (AMDG)
  Msg No: 50.  Fri  8-28-92 21:49  (NO KILL)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Dan Pacheco
 Subject: sacramentals

DP|Dear Father,
  |        In light of your response to the question about burying St. Joseph
  |statues, consider the following:
  |        I recently received a flyer from TAN books that says:
  |                ------------------------------------------------
  |.
  |                >SPIRITUAL DYNAMITE<
  |                        -Free-
  |                Blessed Miraculous Medals
  |.
  |        To "plant" at abortion mills, adult bookstores, lingerie shops, exoti

  |bars, erotic theaters, smut video shops, etc.
  |.
  |To be "Watered" by you prayers for an end to these evils-- especially by
  |praying the Most Holy Rosary, and even more particulary, by praying it
  |before the Blessed Sacrament for the intention that Our Lord and Our Lady
  |will remove these evil praces in accord with God's holy will.
  |.
  |SUGGESTED USE: 3 to 6 medals per establishment
  |SUGGESTED REQUEST:  10 to 30 at a time.
  |.
  |These medals have been blessed at a special Mass offered for the specific
  |intentions of all those who use these medals-- for whatever use they are
  |put to.  They have been blessed using the fullest, most traditional ritual
  |of the Roman Catholic Church, just before Mass, using holy water and
  |incense....
  |                        ----------------------------
  |.
  |        The flyer goes on to tell the story of a girl who "planted" these
  |medals at adult bookstores, which soon afterwards were blown up.  Thus,
  |the term "Spiritual Dynamite."
  |.
  |        The idea seems OK to me, since it's little different from sprinkling
  |holy water around your house to invoke the prayers of the Church.  However,
  |I remember you saying that burying St. Joseph statues was sacrilegious
  |since people can ask st. Joseph himself for favors.
  |        I would like to know if this is an "old tradition", as the flyer call

  |it, and if the church has ever officially spoken out for or against it.
  |In my opinion, the medals serve as a reminder to pray and have no power of
  |their own.  I am, however, reminded of statues that weep, which is the
  |language of simple people of simple faith, as Fr. Rene Laurentin says.
  |        Thank you for your time!
 
Dear Dan,
 
Vatican II in its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, teaches that
sacramentals dispose people to receive the chief effects of the
sacraments.  They render holy the various occasions of life.  They
draw their power from the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ
through the intercession of the Church (SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM,
## 60-61).
 
It should be obvious that the sacramentals are to be used reverently.
I see no reverence whatever in burying statues upside down or
"planting" clumps of medals at abortion mills.  Such activities are
superstitions and bring religion into disrepute.  I think there is a
world of difference between such antics and sprinkling holy water in
one's home or during various ceremonies.  The latter is a conscious,
free, reverent act which symbolizes spiritual cleansing and the
freshness of growth in spiritual life.  The use of holy water before
bedtime renders holy the ordinary occasion of going to bed to sleep
and gain strength to labor for God and others the next day.
 
I doubt if the Church has ever actually condemned many silly
practices.  They stand self-condemned before true and well-instructed
piety.  They are too miserably petty to draw the attention of
bishops.
 
By the way, burying statues is not sacrilegious "because people can
ask St. Joseph himself for favors."  It is sacrilegious because it
involves irreverence toward sacred objects meant to foster true piety
and prayer.
 
                                        Sincerely in Christ,
 
                                                Father Mateo