The Subtle Question On Every Divorced Person’s Mind Is When Do You Remove Your Ring?

Divorce is devastating and brings with it many painful decisions that need to be made, one of those being whether or not to continue wearing your wedding ring. When you take off your ring and what you do with it is deeply personal. A Million Unheard Souls contributor, Amanda Rose, offers some suggestions to help you make your decision.

Many divorced Catholics struggle with what to do with their wedding ring. Wedding rings often become part of who you are. So just how long should you continue wearing your wedding ring? What should you do with it? For some this is a simple decision, for others it is a more difficult decision.

Another consideration for many is the fact that their rings have been blessed, and they feel this decision poses a moral dilemma. Wedding rings that have been blessed are sacramentals; reminders of the sacramental grace conferred on a married couple, but if the marriage ends in divorce and especially if it is declared null through the annulment process, this is no longer the case. Therefore, the Church does not mandate that wedding rings must be kept or cannot be sold. What  happens to a wedding ring is a very personal decision and is left up to the spouse who remains in possession of it.

If you struggle with this quandary, you are not alone in your quest of what to do. There are no official “church rules” about when to take it off or what you’re allowed to do with the ring once it’s off. The civil laws that guide the plethora of details during a divorce don’t usually have much to say about the ring, either.

Since you’re left on your own for this important decision, I’d like to share ways some other people have dealt with this. Each and every person is unique and has their own personal perspectives, but maybe these examples of what others have done will help you decide what’s best for you.