Rosary Beads - Their Recent Rise in Popularity

Rosary Beads - Their Recent Rise in Popularity

By Claire Pascal


Has your mother ever tried relentlessly to get you to pray the rosary? Well David Calvillo of McAllen, Texas used to have just that problem. Like most men today David was tentative to pray to rosary because he had never really seen other men doing it.

All of this doubt David held inside him was gone after just one day. David attended a retreat with nearly 80 other men, and they all prayed the rosary in its entirety together. David really felt great after this and realized what a silly mistake he has been making throughout the years of his life. He had been missing out on doing something wonderful for 49 years of his life.

David has made it his goal to try and help other men realize what they too have been missing out on with the creation of a new group on the internet. David's group goes by the name "Real Men Pray the Rosary".

The rosary consists of 59 beads that form into a shape that looks like a necklace. Each of the beads on the rosary is meant to have a prayer said while you hold the individual bead. 53 of the beads are meant for Hail Marys to be said on them, while the remaining 6 are intended for Our Fathers. While the traditional way of praying the rosary is to actually have a hold on the beads and move from one to the next, some fresh, innovative ways have been emerging as of late with the introduction of new technology.

The iPhone is now famous for its commercials claiming, "There's an app for that". Apple listed 150,000 different applications, or apps, for its iPhone, iPod Touch, and the new iPad. There have been a handful of apps to come out in the past year or so that let users pray the rosary on their Apple products digitally. How does this work? Well, a digital version of the rosary is displayed on the screen while the person using it prays just like they normally would on each bead. The apps let you even move the beads after you are done praying and are ready to move on to the next one.

While saying the rosary has become less popular in recent years, Catholics and Christians alike are trying to find more ways then just technology to revive its use. Different ways of saying it are being introduced and doing different things while saying it are also being brought to the table. Also rosary beads shaped to model footballs, baseballs, and basketballs are now being marketed to try and spark the interest of men and boys. The rosary is supposed to be a way to become closer with Jesus by praying and thinking about his life. Pope Benedict XVI is trying to encourage people to pray the rosary, and is also glad to see the recent increase in its popularity in the last few months stating, "the Rosary is experiencing a new springtime."

Two great signs that the rosary is making a comeback have been brought to attention by a group called Rosary Army, and also by Creed Rosary Manufacturing Company. Rosary Army shows anybody who wants to how make their own rosary out of twine. They also accept volunteers to just make rosaries so that they have some to hand out to individuals who really want them, but cannot afford it. Creed Rosary Manufacturing Company has noted a definite increase in rosary bead sales, and many different religious groups have been ordering the beads to fit custom descriptions that they like.

Some different rosary beads that have been reported have been quite strange, but pretty cool none the less. David Lerma of Mission Texas reportedly has a gigantic rosary that is kept inside a case because it is made from petals of roses. His group that gathers two times a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays is named the Prayer Warriors. They meet at a different members house each time they pray together.

It is great to see the rosary becoming something that is used widely again by members of the Catholic and Christian faith. The falling off of the rosary was not good and hopefully this recent upturn in its popularity keeps on going. If you are interested in learning about David Calvillo's rosary group they are on Facebook. If you search for "Real Men Pray the Rosary" you will come upon their page, which now has 6,000 friends and is growing by the minute.

Claire Pascal is a featured author at the best online store for all your Catholic needs, The Catholic Gift Shop. At the store you will find patron saint medals, Catholic rosaries and rosary beads, Confirmation, Christening, and Baptism gifts for anybody you know. However, The Catholic Gift Shop is not only limited to these items they have much, much more to offer as well. The Catholic Gift Shop is the site to visit for all of your religious needs!



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