Disposing of Roman Catholic books, statues, etc. as part of my conversion

[Ivanov]

I have been inquiring into The orthodox Church for some time now, and, thanks be to God, my wife and I are now "officially" catechumans. Having been in the RCC for nearly a quarter of a century prior to our sincere conversion to The Orthodox Faith, I am faced with disposing of those writings and statues (and even what were presented to me as 1st class relics of Saints). I have no qualms whatsoever about ridding ourselves of these things, but want to do so according to the mind and heart of The Church. I would greatly appreciate your answers (please include citations from Church Fathers and Holy Scripture) so that I can begin this task soon.

Also, I have posted on this forum previously (it's been awhile), and I want to ask forgiveness if I have offended anyone. I am aware of my weakness and vainglorious tendencies, and most sincerely hope for the forgiveness I seek from any and all.

With much gratefulness, in Christ Our Lord,

Ivanov

[Orthodox11]

You could donate the books to a library and the statues to a local Catholic church?

[choy]

Yes, donate them to a local parish who would love to have them.  Or to one of the local Catholic charities.

[Iconodule]

Where/ who are the relics from?

Also, it's not inconceivable that some benefit can be derived by an Orthodox from RC writings.

[Maria]

I have been inquiring into The orthodox Church for some time now, and, thanks be to God, my wife and I are now "officially" catechumans. Having been in the RCC for nearly a quarter of a century prior to our sincere conversion to The Orthodox Faith, I am faced with disposing of those writings and statues (and even what were presented to me as 1st class relics of Saints). I have no qualms whatsoever about ridding ourselves of these things, but want to do so according to the mind and heart of The Church. I would greatly appreciate your answers (please include citations from Church Fathers and Holy Scripture) so that I can begin this task soon.

Also, I have posted on this forum previously (it's been awhile), and I want to ask forgiveness if I have offended anyone. I am aware of my weakness and vainglorious tendencies, and most sincerely hope for the forgiveness I seek from any and all.

With much gratefulness, in Christ Our Lord,

Ivanov

When I converted to Orthodoxy, I donated all my Roman Catholic college theological texts to our private cathedral library, so that Orthodox priests and scholars could use them when they confronted a confused Catholic who was converting to Orthodoxy in the future. My Orthodox Priest took possession of my Melkite Eastern Catholic texts which he said were quite Orthodox. The statutes and relics were donated to my Catholic friends. An Eastern Catholic bi-ritual Priest sifted through my Roman Catholic books (those not intended for the college generation). Many of these books had been donated to me by other Catholics who had long since converted to Orthodoxy. Some he trashed as plain heretical; others he kept for the parish library. Incidentally, this priest who serves as a retreat master was shocked at the psycho-babble junk he encountered that was sold as religious goods. There were also books that supported New Age or Wiccan beliefs. It was so weird. Since I had never read those books, I did not realize what my fellow Catholic friends were ingesting.

One college text that I had gifted contained a great explanation of "created grace." This text was invaluable as many Catholics do not fully realize what the Roman Catholic Church actually teaches regarding sanctifying and actual grace, and how inconsistent these doctrines can be.

[Ivanov]

Where/ who are the relics from?

Also, it's not inconceivable that some benefit can be derived by an Orthodox from RC writings.

The difficulty with the relics is that only one has legitimizing papers and seal (St. Teresa of Lisieux). The other two were brought from Italy, but have no supporting papers (despite looking legit).. St. Augustine and St. Anne. There is another of a "Blessed"  Fr. Seelos (not canonized according to RCC tradition) and St. Faustina (whose writings and visions I prefer to avoid as spurious and strange).

I had mentioned to someone else that my concern in giving my books to Roman Catholics was that those items would tend to confirm them in their error, ie, 'here's some more soul-endangering stuff for you'!? As for the statues, if The Orthodox Church rejects the use of statuary, which should I act differently by giving statues to others. The use of those objects is inherent in my giving them to someone. I'm not making an argument here at all... this just seems like common sense.

I agree that there are some things in RCC writings that can be useful, and I welcome those honest things. But, after giving 25 years to their writings, not to mention thousands of dollars, I think it's time to drink from unpolluted fountains, clear streams, especially as my 'golden years' are on the horizon. 

Many thanks for all the helpful input!

Glory to Our God!

Ivanov

[Cyrillic]

Who are depicted on the statues? What writings are you talking about?

[choy]

Give the relics to the RC Bishop and let them decide on how to deal with it.

As with the books, deal with them according to your conscience.

The statues definitely give them to Roman Catholics.  Even though Orthodoxy does not use statues, I believe it is still tantamount to iconoclasm to throw them away.

[Aindriú]

Give them to me! Free stuff rocks.

[Maria]

Whatever you do, it is best to give relics to a devout priest as they would have more discernment.

If you just give them away to strangers, those relics may end up on E-bay, which has had enough relics and bread with mold in the shape of a saint on sale.

[Schultz]

I was able to unload a few items on some posters here who I know would treat them graciously and accordingly. 

[Ivanov]

Whatever you do, it is best to give relics to a devout priest as they would have more discernment.

If you just give them away to strangers, those relics may end up on E-bay, which has had enough relics and bread with mold in the shape of a saint on sale.

Yes, most especially the relics are to be kept safely until in the hands of a devout priest. There is no other option in that regard.

Thanks, Maria!

Ivanov

[Ivanov]

I agree that "free stuff rocks". Romans 5:15---> check it out

Ivanov

[Agabus]

Seriously, if the books are any good, send them to me.

[Iconodule]

The difficulty with the relics is that only one has legitimizing papers and seal (St. Teresa of Lisieux). The other two were brought from Italy, but have no supporting papers (despite looking legit).. St. Augustine and St. Anne. There is another of a "Blessed"  Fr. Seelos (not canonized according to RCC tradition) and St. Faustina (whose writings and visions I prefer to avoid as spurious and strange).

I don't know if the Orthodox Church has a similar system of legitimizing papers. If there's even a chance that they're authentic, I would hold on to them or donate them to your new Orthodox parish (that is, the ones of Orthodox saints).

As for the statues, if The Orthodox Church rejects the use of statuary, which should I act differently by giving statues to others.

There is no actual rule in the Orthodox Church against use of statues. Actually there is evidence that they were in use- 2-dimensional icons just took over and supplanted them. 

I agree that there are some things in RCC writings that can be useful, and I welcome those honest things. But, after giving 25 years to their writings, not to mention thousands of dollars, I think it's time to drink from unpolluted fountains, clear streams, especially as my 'golden years' are on the horizon. 

Understood. 

[Ivanov]

Seriously, if the books are any good, send them to me.

You're too kind... LOL  I'm stupid, so as you might imagine, the books are bad... unless you have a car you want to trade for them 

Ivanov

[Ivanov]

Quote:

I don't know if the Orthodox Church has a similar system of legitimizing papers. If there's even a chance that they're authentic, I would hold on to them or donate them to your new Orthodox parish (that is, the ones of Orthodox saints).

As for the statues, if The Orthodox Church rejects the use of statuary, which should I act differently by giving statues to others.

There is no actual rule in the Orthodox Church against use of statues. Actually there is evidence that they were in use- 2-dimensional icons just took over and supplanted them. 

I agree that there are some things in RCC writings that can be useful, and I welcome those honest things. But, after giving 25 years to their writings, not to mention thousands of dollars, I think it's time to drink from unpolluted fountains, clear streams, especially as my 'golden years' are on the horizon. 

Understood. 

Many thanks.. very helpful, Iconodule!

Ivanov

[/quote]

[Aindriú]

Whatever you do, it is best to give relics to a devout priest as they would have more discernment.

If you just give them away to strangers, those relics may end up on E-bay, which has had enough relics and bread with mold in the shape of a saint on sale.

Thanks for following up my post with this...

[Melodist]

St. Augustine and St. Anne.

Keep them in your prayer corner, or as someone else mentioned above, donate them to your Orthodox church or maybe a Catholic church where they will receive the veneration due to those saints.

[Maria]

Whatever you do, it is best to give relics to a devout priest as they would have more discernment.

If you just give them away to strangers, those relics may end up on E-bay, which has had enough relics and bread with mold in the shape of a saint on sale.

Thanks for following up my post with this...

If you are sincere and are seeking information, I may have a book I can send you.

[Aindriú]

Whatever you do, it is best to give relics to a devout priest as they would have more discernment.

If you just give them away to strangers, those relics may end up on E-bay, which has had enough relics and bread with mold in the shape of a saint on sale.

Thanks for following up my post with this...

If you are sincere and are seeking information, I may have a book I can send you.

I don't want to sell off, if that's what you're wondering.

[William]

I wouldn't mind a relic of St. Augustine. 

Or give it to an Orthodox priest. He's a saint in Orthodoxy, too.

[neon_knights]

I think donating them to the local Catholic parish would definitely be the best idea.

[AZCatholic]

Ivanov , I sent you an email.

[Michael36]

Where/ who are the relics from?

Also, it's not inconceivable that some benefit can be derived by an Orthodox from RC writings.

The difficulty with the relics is that only one has legitimizing papers and seal (St. Teresa of Lisieux). The other two were brought from Italy, but have no supporting papers (despite looking legit).. St. Augustine and St. Anne. There is another of a "Blessed"  Fr. Seelos (not canonized according to RCC tradition) and St. Faustina (whose writings and visions I prefer to avoid as spurious and strange).

I had mentioned to someone else that my concern in giving my books to Roman Catholics was that those items would tend to confirm them in their error, ie, 'here's some more soul-endangering stuff for you'!? As for the statues, if The Orthodox Church rejects the use of statuary, which should I act differently by giving statues to others. The use of those objects is inherent in my giving them to someone. I'm not making an argument here at all... this just seems like common sense.

I agree that there are some things in RCC writings that can be useful, and I welcome those honest things. But, after giving 25 years to their writings, not to mention thousands of dollars, I think it's time to drink from unpolluted fountains, clear streams, especially as my 'golden years' are on the horizon. 

Many thanks for all the helpful input!

Glory to Our God!

Ivanov

I would say, keep the relics which belong or supposedly belong to Canonized Saints, especially the St. Augustine one. My old Church had two pieces of the true cross, and they both came from the Catholics. The first one was sent by the Pope (can't remember who) to St. Tikhon while he was being persecuted as a sign of solidarity. The relic never made it to St. Tikhon and ended up in a ROCOR church which passed it on to our Church. The other piece was randomly found by a parishioner who bought a wall cross at a Roman Catholic Church's basement sale. They found a reliquary hidden in the back and it had a piece of the True Cross with the Vatican seal on it.

As for the other stuff, give away the books and get rid of the statues. They aren't canonical and the Latins never should have started that tradition to begin with. I don't think that's iconoclasm. I would happily throw away icons of God the Father too.

[LBK]

I would happily throw away icons of God the Father too.

The proper way of disposing of heretical icons is by burning. 
   

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