silly question

lily71 · #1 Feb 21, '12, 8:44 pm

Hi there,

This is a very silly question, but one I feel I need to ask. I wear a miraculous medal, given to me by a friend (a priest), and so he also blessed it. While I realize that cleaning it wouldn't wash away the blessing, is it ok to clean the medal? Or should I just let it do it's patina thing?

thanks.

iloveangels · #2 Feb 21, '12, 8:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by lily71

Hi there,

This is a very silly question, but one I feel I need to ask. I wear a miraculous medal, given to me by a friend (a priest), and so he also blessed it. While I realize that cleaning it wouldn't wash away the blessing, is it ok to clean the medal? Or should I just let it do it's patina thing?

thanks.

This is a sweet innocent question on this board tonight. It's entirely up to you, Lily. If you like the patina look or not is up to you.

I have a St. Joseph medal that I put on my key chain 27+ years ago when I converted to the Church. I've worn it in my pocket all these years. It has a beautiful shimmer to it now, which is funny because it's just a cheap base metal piece. It's worn a little thin too. 27 years is a long time. I hope your lovely medal does something even nicer, no matter whether you decide to wash it or not. God bless you. Pax et Bonum.

svid2 · #3 Feb 21, '12, 10:20 pm

Mine stays on always, even in the shower. I like to think our Lady appreciates an occaisional cleaning of Her medal.

promethius · #4 Feb 22, '12, 9:26 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by svid2

Mine stays on always, even in the shower. I like to think our Lady appreciates an occaisional cleaning of Her medal.

I'm sorry, I just have to share because I was dying too hard laughing not to...

The first thing that popped into my mind when reading this post was

"Splish Splash, Mary's medal's in the Bath!"

**Trishie** · #5 Feb 21, '12, 10:21 pm

There is no reason why you should not wash a medal.
To reassure you: the blessed vessels used for the Eucharist are washed.

odile53 · #6 Feb 21, '12, 11:14 pm

If you can figure out what kind of metal the medal is made of, you can clean it more effectively. A real sterling silver medal can be occasionally polished using sterling silver polish. It comes in different forms (liquid, paste, and pre-treated cloths.) Be aware that using silver polish will remove the desirable oxidation on a medal that uses it as part of the design just the same as it would remove any tarnish.

For silver colored metal jewelry (not sterling) I like to use Nambe metal paste. You can usually find it in a jewelry store, or a department store with a jewelry department. It leaves a beautiful shimmer even on aluminum.

Don't polish too frequently, you will wear down the medal's images.

lily71 · #7 Feb 22, '12, 8:14 am

Thanks guys.

I think I realized what I though was tarnish was actually the overlay that had worn away. Upon closer inspection, it appears that it's more of a copper color, and well, probably copper.

And, that's fine.

Of course, I just realized I did not put it on this a.m. LOL.

centurionguard · #8 Feb 22, '12, 8:40 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by lily71

Hi there,

This is a very silly question, but one I feel I need to ask. I wear a miraculous medal, given to me by a friend (a priest), and so he also blessed it. While I realize that cleaning it wouldn't wash away the blessing, is it ok to clean the medal? Or should I just let it do it's patina thing?

thanks.

I certainly don't think its a silly question. As others have said; washing it won't change the effects of the Blessing itself which is a Sacramental. An outward sign of an invisible sacred good.

rhiannonh · #9 Feb 22, '12, 8:48 am

Blessings

are spiritual so you wouldn't be washing anything away.

But I wonder if we know the rules of what we can and can't do with something once it is Blessed? People often want things blessed thinking it gives a little extra something..... and I am by no means taking away that hope for them. But aint there strict rules about what and when you can wear and do when an item is blessed as such if one is following it all correctly?