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Facts about the rosary: How it developed, why it matters
MIAMI | The “Poor Man’s Breviary,” it’s been called. But a better nickname for the rosary might be “the Bible on a string.”
Photographer: James Dwight Davis
A sweet-faced statue of Our Lady of Lourdes greets visitors to St. Boniface Church, Pembroke Pines. She holds a rosary, as St. Bernadette saw her. Someone has also placed another rosary in her hands.
For millions, the rosary is the heart of personal devotion. Those 59 beads retell the lives of Jesus and Mary, illuminating their special relationship to each other – and to us.
In appearance, the rosary is a necklace of beads – wood, glass, crystal or other materials – with a cross as a pendant. But its name is drawn from the Latin word rosarium, or “rose garden,” an old term for a collection of literary works.
The rosary does hold a library of several important Church prayers including:
The rosary also calls Catholics to meditate on several “mysteries,” or events from the lives of Jesus and Mary. Since medieval times, they have fit into three groups:
Continued below.
ADOM :: 'The Bible on a string'
MIAMI | The “Poor Man’s Breviary,” it’s been called. But a better nickname for the rosary might be “the Bible on a string.”
Photographer: James Dwight Davis
A sweet-faced statue of Our Lady of Lourdes greets visitors to St. Boniface Church, Pembroke Pines. She holds a rosary, as St. Bernadette saw her. Someone has also placed another rosary in her hands.
For millions, the rosary is the heart of personal devotion. Those 59 beads retell the lives of Jesus and Mary, illuminating their special relationship to each other – and to us.
In appearance, the rosary is a necklace of beads – wood, glass, crystal or other materials – with a cross as a pendant. But its name is drawn from the Latin word rosarium, or “rose garden,” an old term for a collection of literary works.
The rosary does hold a library of several important Church prayers including:
- The Apostles’ Creed, summarizing foundational Christian beliefs in the triune God, the virgin birth, the death and resurrection of Jesus, and his return.
- The Our Father, or the Lord’s Prayer, voicing faith in God, his daily provision and his lordship over the universe.
- The Doxology, glorifying the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- Salve Regina, an anthem to the “Holy Queen, mother of mercy.”
The rosary also calls Catholics to meditate on several “mysteries,” or events from the lives of Jesus and Mary. Since medieval times, they have fit into three groups:
Continued below.
ADOM :: 'The Bible on a string'
