[jeaccatty]

But is it not corect to say that the things are still blessed for our use? Not in their own right.

I think that you are trying to make a distinction that is not present in the prayers. Yes things are blessed for our use, but they are blessed all the same. Is Holy Water only blessed if we use it? No, it remains blessed even if it sits unused. In fact Holy Water is a good example because it blesses other things as well - so if the water itself is not blessed, it could not impart a blessing on other things. Maybe I'm not understanding correctly, but I do think that you are moving close to the Lutheran position on the Eucharist - Christ is present in the elements during the sacrament (when they are being used), but then afterward (when they are not being used) they revert to simple bread and wine. This is not the case with the sacraments nor with blessings.

Fr David Moser