Rosary Beads: OK To Wear As Necklace or Not?

Rosary Beads: OK To Wear As Necklace or Not?
By KristyAnn Harrold
Over the past few years, rosary bead necklaces have been showing up on the necks of celebrities like Madonna, as well as hip hop singers and other celebrities. This has started a fashion trend that has both shocked and dismayed some Catholics. The burning question by the Catholic masses has been, Is it or is it not OK to wear the rosary as a necklace?
What are Rosary Beads?

Rosary beads are used to count the series of prayers that make up the praying of the rosary. The prayers are combination of the Lords' Prayer, followed by 10 Hail Marys, and one Glory be to the Father. Each of these series of prayers are called a decade and the praying of each decade is combined with mediation on one of the mysteries of the rosary that recall the life of Jesus Christ. Catholics pray what are known as five "decades," which consist of five different meditations about the lives of Jesus and Mary.
Rosaries Necklaces Have Long Tradition

Christians have been wearing rosary bead necklaces for more than 500 years as protection from the devil and for comfort in times of stress or peril. The practice is still common in most Spanish speaking countries. It's only in recent years that some groups have caused issues by wearing the rosary not as a prayer tool or for comfort, but just as a fashion statement.
However, that doesn't mean it's wrong to wear one if it's done in a respectful manner and it's used for the correct purpose.
What does the Church Say?
The Roman Catholic Church says that sacred objects that are used for divine worship by dedication or blessing are to be treated with reverence. They go on to spell out that it is acceptable to wear a rosary if you are doing it to worship or show your dedication to God, but not for secular or non-religious reasons like fashion statements. All of this is stated in the Catholic Church's Code of Canon Law.
In other words, if you are wearing it because it is the "in" thing to do instead of to show your faith and dedication to the Lord, then you are wearing it for the wrong reasons. If you are wearing it to pray to our Lord, or to show your dedication to him, then there is nothing wrong with it and it is not sacrilegious.
Some priests do say that it is sacrilegious for a non-believer to wear a rosary in any fashion, but say that a believer can do so as long as it is a way to remind them that they should pray and that God is always close to their heart.
You can find rosary bead necklaces in several forms from simple plastic or wood to very expensive ones made of gold and real jewels. What they are made of doesn't matter; it's the meaning and the devotion you feel for them that matters.
Bottom Line? Yes, it's fine to wear the rosary as a necklace as long as you are doing it to show your faith and dedication, but not as a fashion statement.
MyHolyRosary.com offers an extensive line of quality, handmade Catholic rosary necklaces with Low prices and Free shipping. Some of the rosaries we offer: Baptism, Birthstone, First Communion, 14k Gold, One Decade, Silver, Swarovski rosaries and many, many more!
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Is It Acceptable to Wear Rosary Beads as a Necklace?

Is It Acceptable to Wear Rosary Beads as a Necklace?

Although Catholics all over the world use the Rosary to pray on a daily basis, it is very unusual to see them actually wearing rosary beads as a necklace. The devotion Catholics have to Catholic rosaries is very powerful. It’s the belief that Mother Mary and her appearance in any form are very powerful and Catholics believe that she gave the prayer to them. Learning how to pray the rosary is an art and often taught from one generation to another.

Rosary in Latin means garland or rose garden and the Catholic rosaries are made up of two parts. The actual rosary beads and the spoken prayer make up the parts to the prayer. Often the rosaries are a vocal prayer that can be said in two ways. You may wish to say the prayer aloud or silently, which is often preferred. The actual rosaries used to pray are often given to you as a small child and then cherished throughout one’s life.

Rosary beads can be made of several different materials and can be personalized to you and your desired style. Although it has become a very modern thing to actually wear rosaries as a necklace, some Catholics feel this is wrong. You should always respect what the rosary stands for and what they mean and that they are in fact sacramental . They are not simply a piece of jewelry for you to wear alongside other jewelry.

However, now-a-days , you often see rosary beads being worn by younger generations who do not fully understand the meaning behind them. Again, rosary beads are designed to help you count the number of Hail Mary's that you have completed. If rosaries are around your neck then this may prove to be difficult.

You need to have them for the right reasons and wearing them will keep you close to God and remind you to pray. Many celebrities wear them as a fashion statement, in a blasphemous or sacrilegious way, not fully appreciating there true meaning or what they stand for.

If you are purchasing rosary beads to wear as a necklace, a good way to gauge your true motives is to stop and ask yourself. What are my reasons for wanting to wear rosary beads as a necklace? Doing so will help determine your true motives. Remember, rosary beads are sacramental and should be treated as such. As long as you are wearing rosaries for the correct reasons then it is fine.

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