Rosary

[Stormy]

Hi

I still do not have my rosary. I did find out how to pray with one. I had no idea that it was used to meditate on the life of Jesus. As a typical non-Catholic I just thought it was a random string of beads with a crucifix.

Crucifix... That is my problem. I can not bear to see Jesus on the cross. It is partly sadness because of what was done to him... but also the fact that he is no longer on the cross. He is in Heaven. I know it is symbolic, and many people love it, but not me. I also wonder if it could not be considered a graven image?

So anyway... it is almost impossible to find a rosary without Christ nailed to the cross. I did find one, but it is a child's rosary. It is a simple wooden cross with different pastel painted wooden beads.

But it is for a child! What is the difference? Will it even have the correct number of beads? Is that standard?

One thing I read was that Mother Teresa carried simple wooden rosaries with colored beads... like that of a child. She gave these to people.

That lifted my spirits. At least if I am to look the fool... I will be in good company!

Do you know where I can buy a rosary like Mother Teresa's?

 

[Chris†opher Paul]

Crucifix... That is my problem. I can not bear to see Jesus on the cross. It is partly sadness because of what was done to him... but also the fact that he is no longer on the cross. He is in Heaven. I know it is symbolic, and many people love it, but not me. I also wonder if it could not be considered a graven image?

In my opinion, I think that it is a good thing that we are uncomfortable with the image of the Crucifix. It reminds us of exactly what Christ did for us in a sobering way.

Remember, we arent suppose to always feel "warm and fuzzy" as Christians, but we are supposed to go through pain and offer it to Christ.

 

[nyj]

Originally posted by Stormy
Crucifix... That is my problem. I can not bear to see Jesus on the cross. It is partly sadness because of what was done to him... but also the fact that he is no longer on the cross. He is in Heaven. I know it is symbolic, and many people love it, but not me. I also wonder if it could not be considered a graven image?

1 Corinthians 1:23
...but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles...

 

[ZooMom]

Remember, Stormy, it was Christ's Crucifixion that saved you. The Resurrection is proof of the Promise made to us, but Christ on the Cross is our Salvation.

 

[kern]

Why are there so many Hail Marys in the Rosary? Since most of the mysteries are about Jesus, it would seem to make more sense to have all those Hail Marys be prayers about Jesus instead.

-Chris

 

[Wolseley]

I still do not have my rosary. I did find out how to pray with one. I had no idea that it was used to meditate on the life of Jesus. As a typical non-Catholic I just thought it was a random string of beads with a crucifix.

Isn't it nice to know there's more to it?

Crucifix... That is my problem. I can not bear to see Jesus on the cross. It is partly sadness because of what was done to him... but also the fact that he is no longer on the cross. He is in Heaven. I know it is symbolic, and many people love it, but not me. I also wonder if it could not be considered a graven image?

Of course it's a graven image. It is an image, and it is engraved. However, it is not an idol. You and I can worship Christ whether we have that little piece of pewter/silver/aluminum/plastic/gold/whatever in front of us or not. If we were literally worshipping the image itself, then it would be the "graven image" forbidden in the Bible. As it is, however, a crucifix is just a picture, like any other picture. It's not God, just a picture of God.

So anyway... it is almost impossible to find a rosary without Christ nailed to the cross. I did find one, but it is a child's rosary. It is a simple wooden cross with different pastel painted wooden beads.

There are a couple things you could do here; you could buy a rosary that you really like, and then find a plain cross about the same size and style that you also like, and replace the crucifix with it; or, you could find a "Risen Christ" crucifix; this is a picture of Christ in robes, with His arms raised in front of the Cross (after His Resurrection, naturally). I personally don't care for the "Risen crucifix" symbology, but that's me. There are also rosaries out there that already have them from the factory as well. I'll have to hunt around and see what I can find on-line for you.

But it is for a child! What is the difference? Will it even have the correct number of beads? Is that standard?

It doesn't make the slightest bit of difference if it's for a child or an adult, or even if you have one in your hand. What counts with a Rosary are the prayers, not the beads. You can count the prayers on your fingers, if you want to; but having the beads makes it easier.

99% of all rosaries are standard, whether for children or adults, uinless you're getting into something like a Franciscan seven-decade rosary, but they don't make those for little kids. My two-year old has one of the wooden jobs with the colored beads; he likes to sling it against things to hear the noise it makes....Mommy and I keep trying to tell him that that's not what being a "prayer warrior" means, exactly........

One thing I read was that Mother Teresa carried simple wooden rosaries with colored beads... like that of a child. She gave these to people.

This is true, she did.

That lifted my spirits. At least if I am to look the fool... I will be in good company!

Do you know where I can buy a rosary like Mother Teresa's?

Leaflet Missal, or any good Catholic bookstore or on-line service should have them. Again, let me look around for you.

 

[nyj]

Originally posted by kern
Why are there so many Hail Marys in the Rosary? Since most of the mysteries are about Jesus, it would seem to make more sense to have all those Hail Marys be prayers about Jesus instead.

The rosary did not start out as the 5 decade rosary that we are all familiar with today. Actually it started out as a string of 150 beads, 1 bead for each Psalm. It was used by the clergy to recite the daily Psalms. As the rosary began to see more lay usage it changed from being a help to recite the Psalter. The laity, mostly an uneducated, poor population did not know all 150 Psalms by heart, nor could they read the Bible (if they could even afford one) to recite the Psalms as well. It was at this point that the rosary "swapped" prayers from the Psalms to the Hail Mary. A change often attributed to St. Dominic during his fight against the Albigensian heresy. It has remained in similar form now for the past several centuries.

For more info read the following links:

http://www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/fatima/rosary.html

http://www.kofc.org/knights/Rosary/rosaryarticle.cfm

http://rosarycreations.com/scriptural_rosary_history.htm

 

[nyj]

Stormy,

You might want to check out the following site:

http://www.margaretsrosaries.com/rosary.htm

Andrea, the woman who runs this site makes each and every rosary by hand. They are of excellent quality and inexpensive price. You can even contact her and explain to her what you want and I'm 100% confident that she'll work with you to get you what you want. I've bought rosaries from her (and I've talked to her over at another Catholic message board - Catholic Convert) and was even inspired by her to create my own (it's flex-wire but I'm quite fond of it).

 

[chelcb]

Wolseley,

I pray you will answer my post, I know you are busy moderating the forum but I have always wondered this, I read years ago that a rosary must be said while fingering the beads, if you are driving then it can be said with the rosary about your persons. Is that true? I sometimes will pray my rosary with out getting up to get my rosary, but I feel like I am doing something that is wrong. If I didn't have to have the beads about me all the time I probably would pray the rosary more often.

 

[ZooMom]

I hope that's not true. When I was in the hospital recently for kidney stones I was waiting to be taken in for a CT scan when the lady before me coded on the table. I have never been that close to a death before. I had to wait quite a while on the gurney out in the hall, because naturally they couldn't move the lady while trying to revive her. I spent the time praying a Rosary for her. I didn't have my beads, heck I didn't even have my wedding rings, but I used my fingers to keep track of the decades.

I can't imagine that that was 'wrong'.

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

Originally posted by chelcb
Wolseley,

I pray you will answer my post, I know you are busy moderating the forum but I have always wondered this, I read years ago that a rosary must be said while fingering the beads, if you are driving then it can be said with the rosary about your persons. Is that true? I sometimes will pray my rosary with out getting up to get my rosary, but I feel like I am doing something that is wrong. If I didn't have to have the beads about me all the time I probably would pray the rosary more often.

The beads are just to help you keep track of your place. There is nothing wrong with praying the Rosary without the beads.

 

[chelcb]

Originally posted by ZooMom
I hope that's not true. When I was in the hospital recently for kidney stones I was waiting to be taken in for a CT scan when the lady before me coded on the table. I have never been that close to a death before. I had to wait quite a while on the gurney out in the hall, because naturally they couldn't move the lady while trying to revive her. I spent the time praying a Rosary for her. I didn't have my beads, heck I didn't even have my wedding rings, but I used my fingers to keep track of the decades.

I can't imagine that that was 'wrong'.

 

No, no, I mean in a ordinary situation. Sometimes I admit that I just don't feel like getting up and finding where I left them last. And what about blessing them, why is it important to have them blessed?

 

[ZooMom]

Originally posted by chelcb
 

No, no, I mean in a ordinary situation. Sometimes I admit that I just don't feel like getting up and finding where I left them last.

Oh. I really don't think it makes a difference. The Mysteries are what is important, not the beads. The beads are a reminder and a way to keep count. I do try to have a Rosary with me all the time. It helps me to pray all day long. Every time I touch it or think about it, I remember to say a prayer for someone somewhere. I have Rosaries at work, in my car, at home, in my purse, and in the diaper bag.

And what about blessing them, why is it important to have them blessed?

It is only to consecrate them to a holy purpose.

 

[Wolseley]

According to the most recent copy of Handbook of Indulgences, it is the prayers of the Rosary that are indulgenced, not the beads themselves.

Rosaries should be blessed to consecrate them for a holy purpose, just as any sacramental should be blessed, whether it's a medal, a statue, a scapular, or a picture of Padre Pio.

 

[Wolseley]

Stormy: I did some checking around, and here are some sites that might help you.

From http://www.justcatholic.com/, a couple of "Risen Savior" crucifixes, just to show you what they look like:

Here's another one from a different site, http://www.st-jude.com/:

And from http://www.catholicfamilycatalog.com/rosaries.htm, one of those children's rosaries that Mother Theresa used to carry around:

Hope this helps!

 

[chelcb]

What would be an example of a holy purpose?

 

[ZooMom]

Praying the Rosary and meditating on the Mysteries is the holy purpose. So that 'we may grow to imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise'.

 

[Stormy]

Wolseley: Thank you so much! I am going to order the child's rosary that you found for me. Maybe later I will be able to get a regular rosary. But for right now it just makes me too sad seeing Jesus that way and would totally distract from my concentration while praying the Rosary.

I really feel foolish but can not help the way I am. :o

 

[chelcb]

Originally posted by Stormy
Wolseley: Thank you so much! I am going to order the child's rosary that you found for me. Maybe later I will be able to get a regular rosary. But for right now it just makes me too sad seeing Jesus that way and would totally distract from my concentration while praying the Rosary.

I really feel foolish but can not help the way I am. :o

 

Stormy,

I am not trying to be funny or anything but what are you going to do when you get to the sorrowful mysteries where you have to meditate on Jesus passion? Feeling sad over Jesus' death is a fuitful prayer during the sorrowful mysteries.

 

[Caedmon]

Originally posted by Stormy
Wolseley: Thank you so much! I am going to order the child's rosary that you found for me. Maybe later I will be able to get a regular rosary. But for right now it just makes me too sad seeing Jesus that way and would totally distract from my concentration while praying the Rosary.

I really feel foolish but can not help the way I am. :o

Oh Stormy... it's ok. When I took my Rosary out of the box the first time, it scared the heck out of me. I had never seen, touched, or otherwise interacted with something THAT Catholic. lol

It took me a while to actually say one. (I still haven't memorized the Apostle's Creed and Hail Holy Queen. :o ) All I could do for a while was just carry it in my pocket. You have to get accustomed to it. It doesn't just become "ok" all of a sudden. Plus, you should read and learn about Mary and her love for us, so that it doesn't freak you out. When I found out about her love, it got so much easier for me.

I hope you continue to learn more. You'll grow to love it. It's wonderful.