Using Non-devotional Blessed Objects

[Klarisse]

My grandmother knitted me a "prayer shawl" which is too heavy, large and lopsided to use as a shawl. However, it is useful as a blanket, which she suggested. In addition to praying the entire time she knitted, she said she brought it to a prayer group to pray over it and also had a priest bless it.

 

Is using it as a blanket violating canon 1171 by using a sacred object for a secular use or otherwise sinful? What would count as inappropriate use? How could I use a blessed blanket (or food or a house etc.) appropriately?

[phatcatholic]

The canon you referred to is talking about sacred objects set aside for divine worship, as in, the celebration of Mass or the sacraments. But that is not the purpose of a prayer shawl. The purpose of the thing is to cover yourself with it, so there is nothing inappropriate with using it as a blanket.