Can I wear my Rosary?

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This may be an obvious answer but I seem to be getting very mixed messages when searching for answers on the internet. I have grown quite close to my Rosary, I feel at peace when I have it with me, I fear that having it in my pocket will damage it which has lead to me leaving it at home unless going to Mass. I would not think that wearing it in my circumstances would be sacrilegious because my reasons are that it signifies being close to God.

Should I wear it or should I not?
 
You cannot wear the Rosary as a piece of jewelry, however, you can wear it out of respect / devotion / desire to keep the constant reminder close to you.

That is my understanding at least, and I wear mine daily to help remind me of God’s presence, and to help pull me away from sin.
 
Thank you for your response, I don’t wear jewellery anyway, I honestly see it as vanity and stay clear of it. I have the exact same reasons as you have listed for wearing my Rosary, I feel at peace when I have it with me and feel close to God. Plus it’s there if indeed to pray.
 
There are accounts of people wearing their rosary into battle, in secret (under their clothes) in communist countries, etc. Also, they make rosary bracelets and rings. So, yes, you can wear your rosary. But, like Architect said, Don’t wear it like it is a fashion accessory. Also, don’t treat it like an amulet of some kind. That is superstition. The prayer is what can protect you. Not the rosary itself.
 
I’m confused about everyone saying not to wear it as jewelry. At the Catholic store by my house, they sell beautiful wrap rosary bracelets made by nuns from the local convent. Of course they are meant to be prayed on, but there is no question that they are intended to be jewelry as well. What’s wrong with that?
 
LaSainte said:
I’m confused about everyone saying not to wear it as jewelry. At the Catholic store by my house, they sell beautiful wrap rosary bracelets made by nuns from the local convent. Of course they are meant to be prayed on, but there is no question that they are intended to be jewelry as well. What’s wrong with that?
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Yes, as I said. They make rosary bracelets. But there is a small difference between wearing something as a fashion statement, and wearing it to keep it close to you.
 
marcaevans said:
This may be an obvious answer but I seem to be getting very mixed messages when searching for answers on the internet. I have grown quite close to my Rosary, I feel at peace when I have it with me, I fear that having it in my pocket will damage it which has lead to me leaving it at home unless going to Mass. I would not think that wearing it in my circumstances would be sacrilegious because my reasons are that it signifies being close to God.

Should I wear it or should I not?
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this has been asked before one CAF but no problem is asking again. I am not sure if you realize that wearing rosaries as a neckless is done by gangs and schools have banned them as a gang symbols. This came up in some of the previous threads. I think it is one thing to wear it under clothing as part of your devotion and understandings but wearing it as a neckless in the out an open can raise some problems. 1. it is wore as a well established gang symbol
2. it signals to others who don’t understand the rosary or know much about it that it is another piece of jewelry.
3. it can be misunderstood by others who may view it and they might not interpret that you are trying to be close to God.
While a number of religious orders wear or have rosaries dangling from their belts, this is not the same a wearing it as a neckless around the neck. While as someone pointed out Catholic stores selling rosary bracelets etc. this again is jewelry and basically not a sacramental in that context. A good pocket holder works very well and become easily assessable if one want to pray quickly.
 
The thing about wearing the Rosary is that it is often reason of scandal amidst Catholics, because it tends to be the case that the majority of those who wear the Rosary do not wear it as a sacramental, or are not Catholics and have no idea about what the Rosary even is.

So when we see a Catholic wearing the Rosary, we have that negative impression.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with wearing the Rosary, I guess (except for the reasons mentioned by Robwar!!) but I personally prefer not to do so. Even if it is not visible, the issue is that it may not be practical to remove it every so often to pray it. I have a small leather pouch to which I added a clip so that I can hold it on my belt, but others carry it in their pocket.
 
+JMJ+

I always wear my wrist Rosary, which I make myself. Aside from a great quick way to pray some decades while on break at work and elsewhere, it has generated some interest with some co-workers and patients since they look quite good in a manly way, honestly, which I use as opportunities to share my faith with them . I have already given some away, especially those who want a visible way to share their faith in Christ, Catholic or otherwise, but of course I always explain to them the original intent of these sacramentals.

Here is the latest one that I made today because I gave away my personal one a couple of days ago, with my tools of the trade. The beads and cross are non-magnetic hematite, by the way, and the singular metallic cross at the lower left I sometimes use:
 
How wonderful that you feel such a connection to your rosary. However, a blessed rosary is a sacramental and not a piece of jewelry. It’s purpose is to keep track of the meditative prayers of the divine mysteries of Joy, Light, Passion, and Glory in the life of Jesus and His mother Mary.
So take the rosary from around you neck and use it as it was intended…pray with it… and get the full benefit and graces from this most powerful sacramental.
 
I want to give a rosary to someone who is very ill with cancer. The rosary has water from Lourdes in the center medallion. I would like to be able to see her wear the rosary, as she is a very devout woman. Do you think that this is okay?
 
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