Detroit — Now that the new translation of the Mass is in effect, parishes may be wondering what they should do with old books such as sacramentaries, missals and hymnals.

In the case of the books actually used at the altar in worship, the answer is that they must be disposed of reverently, not just thrown out with the trash.

“Fundamentally, we handle all sacred objects by burying them or burning them,” said Daniel McAfee, director of the archdiocesan Office of Worship.

This clearly applies to the Sacramentary and Lectionary since they are” among the articles used in the Sacred Liturgy which ought to be blessed using the rite provided for this purpose,” according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Divine Worship in posting on the conference’s website, www.usccb.org.

But the secretariat and McAfee both indicated that the spirit of the Latin “De Benectionibus, edition typical” ought to be applied more widely than to the books specifically named or only if they were in fact blessed.

For example, the secretariat notes that missals are not named in the document, but ought to be disposed of reverently.

“Whether or not they were specifically blessed, they have been blessed by being used in worship,” McAfee said.

On the other hand, he said he does not think the rules for reverent disposal need be applied to old hymnals or the seasonal missalettes some parishes use. “You can get a little carried away with it,” he remarked.

“But if someone had a Daily Missal, you would not want to just throw that out – you don’t want to just toss out the Word of God,” McAfee added.