How do you hold your rosary when praying?

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Most of the time I don’t even have it in my hands. Normally I say it while getting ready for work, driving, or even in the shower. I use my fingers more than anything. 😀

When I do have the time to sit and pray with my rosary in hand, it’s usually both hands. I normally hold the crucifix in my left hand and work around the beads with the other.
 
I use my left hand because I like to do the sign of the cross during the Glory Be. I don’t think it matters at all, whatever is comfortable.
 
I don’t think about it. And I don’t hold a rosary when driving.
 
When I say the rosary I also hold the cross in my left hand and move around it as well while praying the mysteries.
 
Catholic361 said:
When I say the rosary I also hold the cross in my left hand and move around it as well while praying the mysteries.
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So do I! I can’t withstand the thought of my being responsible for leaving Christ dangling on the cross while saying the rosary. I literally cringe whenever the crucifix drops from my hands, and I automatically apologize to Him. I also automatically apologize when I see the crucifix dangling from the hands of others. It causes a sense of distress within my chest and mind, as though I’ve been a witness to something I should not have seen.
 
For me, if I see someone in public praying a rosary with the cross dangling, it is more of a witness to the faith. Everyone can see what is going on, and you can see they’re not fiddling with keys, or something else of a banal nature. Everyone at the crucifixion saw Jesus hanging there.
I understand that we are not to make public spiritual displays with the goal being the recognition of man. Seeing the cross could also keep well meaning people from interrupting that persons pray time with idle chat.
Dominus vobiscum
 
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Two handed. Unless I’m in the car. If I’m in the car it’s hanging from the turn signal thingy and I’m using my fingers to count. I’m just not that coordinated and I don’t think Our Lady wants me to cause an accident.
 
Iustinus1 said:
If you missing a bead does the Rosary still count?
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The beads are just a beautiful and convenient way to keep count of where we are, and they offer an opportunity for beautiful artisanship or the simplest design, which can also be a work of art. Not restricted to beads, beautiful rosaries can be made of long strips of leather, fabric, or rope, also, by knotting small knots for the Hail Marys and larger ones for the Our Fathers. So, don’t worry if a bead or knot is missing, just go ahead and pray the prayer.

When I detasseled corn for a hybrid seed company while in high school, I had to almost run down the rows, yanking every tassel about to throw pollen, so there was no time to worry with a rosary, nor tap my fingers. Instead, I talked silently to myself, in my head, as we all do as we go about our days and nights.

At the beginning of each prayer, so I wouldn’t forget where I was when distracted by horrendous hairy-legged spiders’ webs, corn mites, or the occasional bumblebee or snake, I said, in that louder internal tone of voice that we use when we admonish ourselves, “6–2nd Sorrowful, 6–2nd Sorrowful” (much as we type on the Perpetual Rosary thread here on CAF), then prayed the 6th Hail Mary of the 2nd Sorrowful Mystery in my normal internal voice.

That method worked well for the circumstances.
Our area wasn’t exactly friendly to Catholics, so I didn’t pray the rosary aloud because of fear of what the bullies might do if they heard me.
 
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If I know that my hands are occupied (while driving or at work) I use a rosary ring and rotate it around my index finger. Given that I read on the web site of a traditional order of Carmelite Nuns that you need a true rosary on your person when doing so; I keep one around my neck. Works for me.
 
I also use a rosary ring when praying while driving. But I don’t worry about having the real one. And I could never bring myself to placing a rosary around my neck. I am not being judgemental, but the nuns that taught us as kids stressed quite strongly to never do that. Some lessons you learn as a kid would be real hard to discard.
 
I was told this once: “Wearing a rosary around your neck as a fashion statement is not proper.” (Think Madonna the performer). “Wearing it to keep it safe, or close for use is acceptable.” Seems logical to me. Most of the ones I make will not fit over a head. I have two from Holy-land Gifts in Jerusalem that will, but I’ve never done it. I’ve made smaller sets for pocket carry, and now ring rosaries.
 
I understand that. I don’t wear for it to be seen, under the shirt. Even still, I would just keep it in my pocket as an alternative. Funny that you mention nuns; as it was, as I mentioned, on the web site of an order of Carmelites that said to have the real rosary on your person when using a rosary ring.
 
Left hand, one hand just beads pulled along with my thumb
 
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Amen to that. Please stop doing else but driving. Pray the rosary daily… just not while driving.
 
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That’s how I do it. Didn’t know there was a proper way… I guess I just did it right by chance!
 
I hold my rosary in my right (dominant) hand and let the beads slide through my fingers and fall owing to the weight of the rosary itself.

I know there are different schools of thought on this, but please, especially with drivers being like they are today (many of them inexperienced, constantly on their cell phones, and distracted), do not do anything other than paying attention to the road, while you are driving. That rosary can wait. As I always say, I know you will drive safely, but look out for those who do not — and they are out there in abundance. The various states of the US do not have especially stringent requirements for getting a driver’s license.
 
I suspect that I miss as many Hail Marys as I add. I guess you could say it all come out in the wash.
 
Since I live on a rural gravel and dirt road, I’ve seen a few weird things. Late evening, someone was doing probably 65 down my straight section with the “limit” set as 40. (From my house, I can see about a mile each way clearly. I drive at most 15, maybe 20). As they passed, their entire driver seat area was lit up with the glow of mobile phone. Deer can pop up here anywhere. Please be safe, and watch out for the morons.
Dominus vobiscum
 
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