People Who Wear The Rosary As A Fashion Statement

[eustace scrubb]

I've probably called out almost five people on this in the past month and a half. Why has it become so popular lately as a fashion statement?!?? Most of the people I know who are doing it are Protestants in the "emerging church," but I've seen it occur across all social strata. I mean, there's young kids in black ghettos here who do it, too. I've seen it a lot. And according to a Catholic friend who did student teaching recently in a school that was in one, there's kids wearing them often.

*facepalm*

[CatherineM]

What I've seen is lots of people with them tattooed on their necks.

[StMichael]

It is also used by gangs.

Here is an old article from USA Today (3/2008) covering this:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-03-16-rosaries-gangs_N.htm

[quote name='eustace scrubb' date='14 June 2010 - 10:03 PM' timestamp='1276567433' post='2129033']
I've probably called out almost five people on this in the past month and a half. Why has it become so popular lately as a fashion statement?!?? Most of the people I know who are doing it are Protestants in the "emerging church," but I've seen it occur across all social strata. I mean, there's young kids in black ghettos here who do it, too. I've seen it a lot. And according to a Catholic friend who did student teaching recently in a school that was in one, there's kids wearing them often.

*facepalm*
[/quote]

[Winchester]

Some kid got suspended for wearing one and he claimed it was religious expression. I wish a bishop had slapped him in the forehead.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='eustace scrubb' date='14 June 2010 - 09:03 PM' timestamp='1276567433' post='2129033']
I've probably called out almost five people on this in the past month and a half. Why has it become so popular lately as a fashion statement?!?? Most of the people I know who are doing it are Protestants in the "emerging church," but I've seen it occur across all social strata. I mean, there's young kids in black ghettos here who do it, too. I've seen it a lot. And according to a Catholic friend who did student teaching recently in a school that was in one, there's kids wearing them often.

*facepalm*
[/quote]

I've never seen anyone wearing a Rosary who wasn't a nun or Religious sister, wearing a long rosary attached to the cord around her waist. (I lead a sheltered life, I guess.) Exactly how do they wear the Rosaries? Like necklaces? I have noticed a lot of Rosary bracelets on the Internet. And, there are Rosary rings, but I've never seen anyone wearing one.

[MissScripture]

How come it's okay to have rosary bracelets, but it's not okay to wear the regular rosary? Or is it really not okay to have rosary bracelets?

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='MissScripture' date='14 June 2010 - 10:25 PM' timestamp='1276572323' post='2129114']
How come it's okay to have rosary bracelets, but it's not okay to wear the regular rosary? Or is it really not okay to have rosary bracelets?
[/quote]

Maybe I misunderstood his post, but it seemed to me as if Eustace was mostly concerned about non-Catholics wearing Rosaries. He can correct me if I'm wrong.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' date='14 June 2010 - 11:33 PM' timestamp='1276572825' post='2129117']
Maybe I misunderstood his post, but it seemed to me as if Eustace was mostly concerned about non-Catholics wearing Rosaries. He can correct me if I'm wrong.
[/quote]
Well, my question wasn't so much in response to him, as it was a question I've been wondering and it just happened to fit here. Because I've always been taught that it's disrespectful to wear a rosary because it's not a piece of jewelry. But then I was thinking about the rosary bracelets, and wondering why that is okay, and then it came up here, so I asked.

[HisChildForever]

I have seen a rosary necklace - quite different from a rosary worn as a necklace. In other words, it is an actual piece of jewelry designed to look like a rosary. I saw many of these in Italy, especially Assisi. Also in Assisi, I purchased three St. Francis rosaries for my dad and brothers. My dad discovered a clasp on his. I was shocked because the rosaries were presented in the gift shop (gift shop of a Church actually) as rosaries, not necklaces, and they look like rosaries.

[Slappo]

[quote name='MissScripture' date='14 June 2010 - 07:37 PM' timestamp='1276573058' post='2129119']
Well, my question wasn't so much in response to him, as it was a question I've been wondering and it just happened to fit here. Because I've always been taught that it's disrespectful to wear a rosary because it's not a piece of jewelry. But then I was thinking about the rosary bracelets, and wondering why that is okay, and then it came up here, so I asked.
[/quote]

There isn't actually anything inherently wrong with wearing a rosary around one's neck. If I had no place for my rosary on my person aside from around my neck, surely I would wear it around my neck rather than go without one just because of a lack of pockets.

There are some brown scapulars designed to also be able to be used as a rosary. I'm sure no one would critique someone for wearing that and also using it as a rosary.


There needs to be a clear distinction between wearing a rosary as a fashion statement and wearing a rosary as a sacramental. The former has problems, the latter has none whatsoever. It used to be that those praying the rosary during mass would put the rosary around their neck as they went up for communion. That way they could fold their hands underneath the altar rail and not be dangling their rosaries.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='MissScripture' date='14 June 2010 - 10:37 PM' timestamp='1276573058' post='2129119']
Well, my question wasn't so much in response to him, as it was a question I've been wondering and it just happened to fit here. Because I've always been taught that it's disrespectful to wear a rosary because it's not a piece of jewelry. But then I was thinking about the rosary bracelets, and wondering why that is okay, and then it came up here, so I asked.
[/quote]
It's fine to wear a rosary. Just not as a fashion statement.

[tinytherese]

Years ago I channel flipped and saw Mr. T wearing a big rosary around his neck and talking on TBN--a Protestant channel. That particular rosary was the exact same kind that I've seen given to children for prayer or decoration in their room. My little brother has had his since he was a baby.

I find it odd when "pimps" wear crucifixes as fashion statements.

[Luigi]

I think "rosary style" grows out of Hispanics in prison. Prison style inspired the whole droopy drawers thing, the tattooed tear dropping from the eye trend, the do rag, and only God in His omniscience knows what else. Prison style has been setting popular style for years in this country. The article linked above (by St. MIchael) doesn't state that directly, but it's implied by the focus on two students with Hispanic names.

[goldenchild17]

[quote name='eustace scrubb' date='14 June 2010 - 08:03 PM' timestamp='1276567433' post='2129033']
I've probably called out almost five people on this in the past month and a half. Why has it become so popular lately as a fashion statement?!?? Most of the people I know who are doing it are Protestants in the "emerging church," but I've seen it occur across all social strata. I mean, there's young kids in black ghettos here who do it, too. I've seen it a lot. And according to a Catholic friend who did student teaching recently in a school that was in one, there's kids wearing them often.

*facepalm*
[/quote]

As a fashion statement, not a good thing. But I think wearing a rosary is very good, aside from this. In today's culture where it can be seen as just a fashion statement, and thus scandalous, I'm not sure, and one may err on the side of caution and wear it under the clothes. However I think one should always give the benefit of the doubt until someone makes it clear their intention for wearing the rosary:

[quote]
Q: Can a rosary be worn as a piece of jewelry?
A: "Sacred objects, set aside for divine worship by dedication or blessing, are to be treated with reverence. They are not to be made over to secular or inappropriate use, even though they may belong to private persons" (CIC 1171).

Essentially, sacramentals such as rosaries must be treated with respect, particularly if they have been blessed. Reverence is the attitude of awe or respect that is most often given to sacred things. By its very definition, it is an interior disposition that usually cannot be determined by onlookers by appearances alone. A person may be wearing a rosary as a statement of faith, to keep it handy for praying throughout the day, or to avoid losing it. Those reasons would be indicative of reverence and would not interfere with the canon’s directive that sacramentals must be treated reverently.

Ordinarily speaking, then, if someone is spotted wearing a rosary, he should be charitably presumed to be wearing it for just reasons. Only if the rosary is being put to an objectively sordid use (e.g., a rock star is using it as a prop in a music video, obscenely contrasting the symbolic purity of the rosary with the immodest or immoral actions of the performers) can we be sure that the rosary is being treated irreverently. [/quote]
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2004/0410qq.asp

From the Secret of the Rosary:

[quote]8th Rose

...Our Lady blesses not only those who preach her Rosary, but she highly rewards all those who get others to say it by their example.
Alphonsus, King of Leon and Galicia, very much wanted all his servants to honor the Blessed Virgin by saying the Rosary. So he used to hang a large rosary on his belt and always wore it, but unfortunately never said it himself. Nevertheless his wearing it encouraged his courtiers to say the Rosary very devoutly.
One day the King fell seriously ill and when he was given up for dead he found himself, in a vision, before the judgement seat of Our Lord. Many devils were there accusing him of all the sins he had committed and Our Lord as Sovereign Judge was just about to condemn him to hell when Our Lady appeared to intercede for him. She called for a pair of scales and had his sins placed in one of the balances whereas she put the rosary that he had always worn on the other scale, together with all the Rosaries that had been said because of his example. It was found that the Rosaries weighed more than his sins.
Looking at him with great kindness Our Lady said: "As a reward for this little honor that you paid me in wearing my Rosary, I have obtained a great grace for you from my Son. Your life will be spared for a few more years. See that you spend these years wisely, and do penance."[/quote]

and

[quote]
27th Rose

Blessed Alan relates that a man he knew had tried desperately all kinds of devotions to rid himself of the evil spirit which possessed him, but without success. Finally, he thought of wearing his rosary round his neck, which eased him considerably. He discovered that whenever he took it off the devil tormented him cruelly, so he resolved to wear it night and day. This drove the evil spirit away forever because he could not bear such a terrible chain. Blessed Alan also testifies that he delivered a great number of those who were possessed by putting a rosary around their necks.
Father Jean Amat, of the Order of St. Dominic, was giving a series of Lenten sermons in the Kingdom of Aragon one year, when a young girl was brought to him who was possessed by the devil. After he had exorcised her several times without success, he put his rosary round her neck. Hardly had he done so when the girl began to scream and cry out in a fearful way, shrieking, "Take it off, take it off; these beads are tormenting me." At last, the priest, filled with pity for the girl, took his rosary off her.
The very next night, when Fr. Amat was in bed, the same devils who had possession of the girl came to him, foaming with rage and tried to seize him. But he had his rosary clasped in his hand and no efforts of theirs could wrench it from him. He beat them with it very well indeed and put them to flight, crying out, "Holy Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, come to my help."
The next day on his way to the church, he met the poor girl, still possessed; one of the devils within her started to jeer at him, saying, "Well, brother, if you had been without your rosary, we should have made short shrift of you." Then the good Father threw his rosary round the girl's neck without more ado, saying, "By the sacred names of Jesus and Mary his holy Mother, and by the power of the holy Rosary, I command you, evil spirits, to leave the body of this girl at once." They were immediately forced to obey him, and she was delivered from them.
These stories show the power of the holy Rosary in overcoming all sorts of temptations from the evil spirits and all sorts of sins, because these blessed beads of the Rosary put devils to rout.[/quote]


EDIT:

And the indulgence for doing so:

[quote]To those who openly wear the rosary out of devotion and to set a good example: a hundred days' indulgence -- confirmed by our Holy Father Pope Innocent XI on 31st July 1679, and received and made public by the Archbishop of Paris on 25th September of the same year.[/quote]

Edited June 15, 2010 by goldenchild17

[Maximilianus]

[quote name='Luigi' date='15 June 2010 - 01:59 AM' timestamp='1276577978' post='2129153']
I think "rosary style" grows out of Hispanics in prison. Prison style inspired the whole droopy drawers thing, the tattooed tear dropping from the eye trend, the do rag, and only God in His omniscience knows what else. Prison style has been setting popular style for years in this country. The article linked above (by St. MIchael) doesn't state that directly, but it's implied by the focus on two students with Hispanic names.
[/quote]
Wearing rosaries is common in Hispanic cultures, this could explain the Hispanic names.