I personally would not wear a rosary as a necklace. However, if you go to the rosary manufacturers’ catalogs and websites, you will notice that they manufacture and market items known as rosary necklaces, which have a clasp halfway through the circular section of the rosary necklace, making them designed to be worn around the neck. I’ve seen such products offered for sale in Catholic book and gift stores, including the one operated by my diocese. Because of the gang connotation, it’s a little on the questionable side.
However, if I saw someone who obviously didn’t know the purpose of a rosary wearing one about their neck, I might, if I knew the person, tell them something like, “If you ever want to know what it’s really used for, and how to do it, let me know,” in a friendly way, maybe even with a wink and a smile. That might pique their curiosity, and who knows where that may lead? Maybe even to a conversion?
I just want to comment about a trend I’ve noticed in society as a whole, especially over the last fifteen years or so: Every group has its vocal members who claim an offense quite loudly, where no offense probably was intended. I know I’ve been been guilty of being a little touchy about some things, and pray I haven’t needlessly alienated people out of such reactivity, particularly in matters of faith. I’ve been praying about this a lot lately, as it occurred to me that reacting in thinking the worst motives may have lost, through my failure to slow down and think before speaking, souls that could have been lead to Christ. I don’t want that on my conscience, and I don’t want to stand in front of my Maker having to explain such foolish shortsightedness. A rosary, after all, unless it has been blessed by a priest or a deacon, is merely a set of beads and medallions on a string, chain or wire. It is the blessing and prayers said with it that makes it a sacramental. Obviously, it shouldn’t be desecrated. But is that a reason to ascribe bad motives to people I know slightly, and perhaps turn them off from the faith forever? And furthermore, wearing one around one’s neck may look tacky, but it isn’t actually desecrating a rosary.
I don’t know where this thought is taking me, but I pray that considered, discreet, and charitable teaching might be one way that I can be blessed as a peacemaker instead of adding to the rage that is already in the world. Don’t ask me to reason this out further; as I said, this is something I’m discerning.
And just maybe that rosary necklace, initially used in a secular way, might be a piece of advertising for Our Lady!
