Restoring of Things Profaned

A form in the BOS for restoring to sacred use a church building, an altar, or other consecrated objects that have been profaned. It may precede the first church service after an act of vandalism or desecration. Portions of the prayer may be repeated for pastoral reasons at subsequent services on that day. The bishop or the parish priest may be the celebrant. Ps 118 and an antiphon may be sung or said in procession at the beginning of this rite. After the procession, each profaned object may be symbolically cleansed by use of signs of purification such as water or incense. The celebrant may touch, or extend a hand toward each object, declaring it “restored to the use for which it has been dedicated and consecrated.”