Hello friends! As I am still unable to post something today, I decided to post something from a friend I met online, Megan Dahle. She's a fellow Catholic from Harrisburg, South Dakota.
If
you’re one of those millions, choosing that special rosary that is just right
for you is an extremely important selection to make.
Praying the Rosary
The rosary
is a set of prayers
designed to venerate the Holy Mother. Use of a set of rosary beads when praying
the rosary provides a
physical means of keeping count of the prayers as they’re recited. Your fingers
move along the string of beads as you recite the prayers. This leaves your mind
free to meditate on the mysteries of the rosary.
Rosary
beads are physical objects that represent a part of our faith.
This makes them highly personal. While all the faithful basically perform the
ritual of praying the rosary
in the same manner, the special connection the rosary brings to our faith
holds specific meaning to each of us individually.
Choosing Your Rosary
Rosary
beads are a string of beads formed into a closed circle. Each of us has the
choice of purchasing a pre-made rosary
for our personal use or creating a customized string of
beads that symbolizes our private faith. Whichever you prefer, the rosary you
choose is important because picking the rosary that is right for you will increase the likelihood that
you will actually use it.
Not
only do you need a rosary that is visually appealing to you, it needs to feel
good in your hands.
When
you find the rosary beads that are just right for you, your rosary becomes a
motivator that calls you to prayer instead of a fashion accessory or keychain
that gets forgotten in a drawer.
Length of Your Rosary
The
length of the string of rosary beads can make a difference. Shorter rosaries
are commonly adorned with wooden beads linked together with a cord instead of a
metal chain. The beads are usually close together with little free space
between. Longer rosaries tend to have the beads spaced out a bit more, with
links of metal chain providing the space between them.
A
shorter rosary may make it more difficult for your fingers to slide along the
string. Without a definite space between the beads, your fingers may accidently
skip a bead. This will throw off your count of the prayers you’re reciting.
Shorter rosaries are easier to tuck into a pocket or purse when you’ve
completed your prayers.
The
longer rosaries make it easier to count your prayers with confidence because
the spaces make it easier to slide your fingers from bead to bead. The space
between the beads lets you count without having to look down at the beads.
Longer strings can tangle more easily, however, and will require more space to
store when not being used. One way to safely store a long rosary is to keep it
in a soft pouch.
The Feel of the
Beads
How
the beads feel when you touch them makes a difference. They should feel
comfortable to your touch so as not to distract you from your meditation and
prayers. Beads with a smooth surface will flow through your fingers easily.
Faceted beads with a jewelry-like structure are usually more visually appealing
but won’t move as smoothly through your hands.
Beads
with a multifaceted cut will reflect the light, creating a cascade of sparkly
points of colored light that may dance around a room. Rosaries made with each
bead resembling a precious stone, or glass birthstone rosaries, make gorgeous
strings of prayer beads. While looking great, remember that they will not glide
effortlessly through your fingers.
The
bottom line comes down to this: Do you want a rosary that is pleasing to your
hands, or to your eyes?
Basic Design or
Fancy Customization?
If
you’re thinking of giving a rosary to a new Catholic, a selection that is
rather plain and basic may be your best bet. Super-fancy rosaries may be
overwhelming to a budding Catholic or a child. A plain rosary is usually
characterized by round beads, generally wood or plastic, strung on a slender
cord-like rope. These are usually inexpensive, so you haven’t lost a big
investment if a child loses his or her rosary.
Remember
that the rosary beads are designed to call to you and to encourage you to pray.
You’ll need to ask yourself if the inexpensive, plain rosaries will do this for
you. Would a more elaborate or decorative rosary provide you more motivation to
pray the rosary? If you know that a visually beautiful, ornate rosary will
encourage you to use it more often, then your choice becomes fairly obvious.
Special Devotion
Rosary
Special
devotion rosaries generally have a centerpiece that is associated with a
specific saint or a particular devotion. These rosaries hold a special meaning
to those holding them. The beads will usually fall in line with the theme of
the centerpiece.
An
example would be the Divine Mercy rosary that has a centerpiece of the Divine
Mercy image of Jesus. The beads in this rosary will usually have red and white
swirls to signify the red and white rays that radiate from Jesus’s heart.
If
you have a specific devotion that is important to you, a special devotion
rosary may help you to focus on these intentions when you pray the rosary.
Men vs. Women
When
you’re choosing a rosary for yourself, or looking to give one as a gift, make
certain you choose one that fits the person who will be using it. For a man,
don’t pick one that is strung with jewelry-like, fancy decorative beads. A
man’s rosary is usually made with larger beads in a dark brown or black color.
A man’s bigger hands can manage the larger beads better, and the darker shades
of beads project masculinity.
For
women, consider the age of the recipient. If you’re choosing one for your
mother or another adult female, choose a beautiful color that you know she will
love. A classic, timeless rosary with an ornate crucifix as a centerpiece is
generally a sure hit. A carefully chosen rosary can become a treasured heirloom
that she passes down to the next generation.
