Rosary, Baptismal Crosses, (and maybe more) - general questions

[~Anastasia~]

Just wanted to start a thread so I don't continue to derail another one on confession by asking my questions.

On being told some carry their rosary to confession, I asked whether it was the same as a baptismal cross for an Orthodox Christian.

Michie replied:

Some cultures like the Latino culture wear theirs for prayer & comfort. I know I have contemplated the Crucifix on the rosary myself & I have seen others do the same.

When you speak of a baptismal cross...I'm not sure what you mean.

(A lot of explanation about the baptismal cross - the question is at the end!)

We receive a Cross as part of our Baptism in the Orthodox Church. It is blessed by the priest, who bestows it after Baptism, and there are words he uses as well. We are expected to wear it at all times from there forward. I have often seen small children wear their cross pinned to the shoulders or other parts of their clothing if they are too young to wear a necklace.

It is actually a canon that we are to wear them. This article explains fully, but in brief the reasons being:

- a freely-offered visible expression that we are part of the Orthodox Church, demonstrating a voluntary commitment to our affiliation with the Orthodox Church and with Christianity in general
- a connection to our Baptism
- a recognition of our religious freedom
- a voluntary and conscious commitment to Christian commandments that apply to the Orthodox Christian by canonical regulation norms

(part of the reason for the wording and emphasis may be that the article is about defending the right of an Orthodox Christian to wear the Baptismal Cross as a requirement of our faith)

For myself, my Cross does remind me constantly of my baptism. It serves as a connection point, and a comfort as well. Among the "small t traditions" I think some consider it to be a source of protection, but I am unaware of the Church having that sense officially.

I put a cross upon myself some fourteen years ago and never took it off, so I'm accustomed to that, but my baptismal cross is from my Godmother and manages to serve much more as a reminder somehow - maybe because I know this significance of this one.

Anyway - all of that to say what a Baptismal Cross is. It is not uncommon to kiss the cross, I would think, or hold it for comfort.

I know a rosary is for prayer. I wasn't sure if a person had a special one, or if the Crucifix on it was maybe special, or if a Cross of any kind is given at Baptism?

Since it was mentioned someone might hold a rosary for comfort when approaching confession, I just wondered.


Thanks!!!

 

[Michie]

Interesting! What a beautiful tradition. I had never heard of the Orthodox wearing one or even mentioning it. When I was in the process of entering the RCC, I was presented a blessed Crucifix & Bible. It was not really explained to me in any detail what presenting those items meant. But it was a cross meant to be hung on the wall. When I was in RCIA we were presented rosaries that were handmade by some parishioners made of a seed called Job's tears. They were blessed & presented to us in class & we learned the rosary on them. I still have it. The only thing we were ever instructed on was that blessed items could never be sold as they are considered sacramentals. The only thing in Catholicism I have heard of wearing at all times is a scapular. And you must meet certain requirements to do so.

In Catholicism rosaries are always used for prayer & contemplation but there are certain cultures that wear them as well. Not so much for a fashion statement but prayer, witness & comfort. Anglo funerals, you will see a rosary in the deceased's hands. Most Latino funerals you'll see the deceased wearing it around the neck.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Hmmmm that's interesting.

I had considered a rosary to probably be something like a prayer rope. Not everyone has one, and they are most often used as a way of counting the Jesus Prayer. I don't think there's any other significance to the intervals than as marks for how many knots fall in between. I think they are seldom worn, but may be sometimes? It seems they are generally held in the hands, as far as I know.

I had not heard about blessed things not being sold, but I guess it never entered my mind. Blessed things must be properly disposed of - that I know. They are not to be thrown in the trash.

I have heard that there was a tradition of icons needing to be gifted to you, and were not supposed to be purchased for yourself, but when I asked, I was told that isn't really true. And I guess it's possible the icon might not be blessed? I don't know if they bless them when new. A hand-painted one ... usually has had the Jesus prayer recited over it, often for every brushstroke. So while that's not the same as being blessed ... it seems it might be even more so than a simple blessing. But there is a tradition of placing them in the altar for 40 days when received.

So there is no identifier, or necklace, or anything similar worn by Catholics? I had thought there probably would be.

But yes, when I go to Church, EVERYone is wearing their Cross. Always. (At least I see almost all of them; some of the men probably have them under their shirt/tie.) And I was told never to take mine off.

It does seem like a rosary can offer comfort though, from what has been said (in the other thread too?), and I would say the baptismal cross can as well. But I guess that's the end of their similarity.

Thanks for the information. It's good to learn what other Churches teach.