Wearing A Rosary

[Nechasin]

I rebuilt my rosary using the wire-wrapping technique shown in the following link.

Wire Wrapping

I use three wraps on each loop to represent God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. I have not had my rosary break since I used this technique. Although I will have to redo my rosary since I didn’t use high quality wire and the wire looks terrible. I keep my rosary in my back pocket in a case, and it has been washed numerous times, so this techniques does work. Before I used this, I was fixing it at least once a week if not more.

 

[DixiesFinest]

The Dominican order wears a rosary on their left side. This is because the left side is traditionally where the sword was kept. In its place the Dominicans wear the rosary, which is their weapon by which they will conquer the world.

-Rob

Careful with your words, or we will soon see a new Jack Chick tract entitled, “DOMINICANS: The Catholics next wave of attack.” I can see it now, “I have been told by very reliable insiders in the whore of babylon that the Dominicans wear rosaries on their left sides, because they believe its their ‘weapon.’ Their rosaries are special made with poison gas dispensers etc with which they can incapitate and kill!”

…yea, I can see it now

 

[Goth_Catholic]

I experienced and I think it was in some fashion recently that especially youth wore a rosary around their necks and to me it’s a blasphemy And I see them wearing it still nowadays.

Symbolism a big part of the goth culture, and many wear rosaries and other religious symbols as jewelry. A lot of Rock and Metal artists wear rosaries. Personally, I’m glad I can walk into Hot Topic and buy Catholic jewelry. It may not mean anything to anyone else, but it means everything to me.

 

[Rawb]

As I left Confession today I realized I didn’t have my rosary’s case with me (I’d had it out as I left the house, drove to the church, waited in line, and as I confessed) so, remembering this thread, I pulled it through a beltloop and then back through itself to let it hang down my side. I think one elderly woman saw me and smiled as she drove off. I also wore it when I went into Blockbuster after confession, but I took it off before I went into our Catholic store. I left the first four beads and crucifix hanging out of my pocket however.

I think it hung down to far, and it bounced and swung irreverently, so I don’t think I’d do it again. It could hit someone or something. I did like having the first beads hanging out of my pocket, however. I might start carrying my rosary that way, or maybe I’ll let a few more hang out so that it doesn’t hang and swing so low, but is still obviously a rosary.

 

[pipoluojo]

What is important is never to lose sight of what gives value to what we carry on ourselves, be it a rosary or other sacramentals - and that is how well we use them. These are primarily aids to prayer and would be practically valueless if they do not help us to pray more and be more sensitive of our status as children of God. What a sad situation it would be for one to carry a sacramental on him all day without having cause to touch or kiss it in prayer through the difficulties and victories, pains and joys, disappointments and consolations, etc. of the day!

 

[Apryl]

i was nervous about wearing my rosary around my neck… one former catholic told me she really enjoyed the blasphemy of it.

but then i spent a couple of hours in the mission district in san francisco, and it seemed like at least half of the older women were wearing rosaries. if an elderly mexican lady can do it, then so can i!

Where did I get the idea that you don’t wear a rosary around your neck?

I have noticed a number of younger people doing it. As a Catechist, I always teach our children that it’s not a necklace, and shouldn’t be worn as one.

Was I out of line? Do I need to change my paradigm?

I have also seen some wearing a Rosary and it looks just beautiful. There is a degree of reverence, but I don’t know what makes that any different.

 

[Dietrich]

I haven’t seen anything specific barring the wearing of a rosary around one’s neck, but for some reason it always looks disrespectful, or maybe ostentatious to me. I want to say to the person wearing it, “That isn’t jewelry, it’s for praying.” I see it a lot in the Hispanics around here, and I think it can, for some, amount to little more than a lucky charm. I know some Hispanic gangs have members tattoo a rosary around their neck or have Our Lady of Guadalupe tattooed on their back for ‘extra protection.’

Not discounting the power of the rosary in cases where people have been plagued by evil, I guess I object if it’s being worn casually or with the understanding that it has talismanic powers to protect it’s wearer.

 

[Goth_Catholic]

I want to say to the person wearing it, “That isn’t jewelry, it’s for praying.”
I wouldn’t be wearing it if I wasn’t praying with it.

Not discounting the power of the rosary in cases where people have been plagued by evil, I guess I object if it’s being worn casually or with the understanding that it has talismanic powers to protect it’s wearer.

It does protect the wearer. Mary’s 15 promises to those who devout themselves to her rosary.

 

[LilyM]

I wear a Rosary around my neck, only at night when I go to sleep. Not just to pray with (although I do so) but as a blessed object and a sacramental it actually DOES have some inherent power - like blessing yourself with Holy Water and so on.

 

[Mintaka]

It’s a custom in most of the Hispanic countries to wear a rosary around one’s neck. In medieval days, it was very common to do this, although it was also common to hang it off one’s belt, keep it in a bag, etc. There’s nothing wrong with it.

If you run a search for a blog called Paternoster Row, it has tons of art and information about rosary history and contemporary practice.

 

[lizzy_bird]

I have one of those lil bracelet rosaries that I wear everyday. I even sleep with it on at night.

 

[Promises]

Interesting that this post came to the forefront this morning. For some reason, I spontaneously put my rosary around my neck and tucked it under my shirt before going to work after I said my prayers. The rosary felt particularly precious to me this morning and I didn’t want to put my beads away. It feels good having them so close to my heart right now and is reminding me how connected I was to prayer this morning.

We are so blessed to have the rosary in our lives!

 

[Swamp_Yankee]

Pardon me, I don’t mean to interupt with an off topic question, but Rawb mentioned the tau cross. I’ve wondered about them from the first time I saw one. can anyone tell me something about them?

 

[Apryl]

I have one of those lil bracelet rosaries that I wear everyday. I even sleep with it on at night.

I have, and have worn, both a Rosary BRACELET and a Rosary RING.

Both of those things were designed to be worn. However, I just have issues with the wearing of a standard rosary.

Since I can’t find anything to make it a bad thing, and no one can tell me where I got that from (other than ‘someone said’), I will stop complaining – and wincing – when I see any one wearing the Rosary.

I just hope that at least most of the people wearing it are doing it as an act of reverance, not as one of disrespect (as in the singer Madonna)