Rosary Necklaces Keep Throwing Me Off!

[chrysostom]

Yes this topic has been done before.

 

But I keep seeing people with rosaries around their necks, and it makes me really excited to see another Catholic!

 

:yahoo:

 

And then I realize that it "coordinates" with the rest of their clothing and I'm like

 

[Anastasia13]

I would wear a Rosary because it I love wearing crosses and things, but I've also read it is disrespectful according to some really Catholic people, so I ever have. Two of mine are in two of my favorite colors.

[Nihil Obstat]

I would wear a Rosary because it I love wearing crosses and things, but I've also read it is disrespectful according to some really Catholic people, so I ever have. Two of mine are in two of my favorite colors.

Those people are wrong.

[Guest]

Sometimes the "really catholic people" are "really wrong" about some things.

[superblue]

it made me wonder also, I did ask my s.d ( priest ) once on wearing on, and he was not too keen on it being done either, the exception seems to be  for those who wear the rosary as a reminder of their devotion to Mary or Christ or other spiritual prayer related reasons.   Then my other wondering was, if the rosary was never intended to be worn around the neck, why are rosaries made big enough to fit around ones neck ?  And then one day I would really like the opportunity to question those gang members or non catholics who wear a rosary, why they wear it and do they know what they are wearing ?

 

when I was volunteering at a local homeless shelter, a volunteer was going around giving out hand made rosaries not all were big enough to fit around ones neck most were not, made out of cheap plastic from what I could tell, any how, clients were picking ones they could wear, and the ones that looked attractive, and I distinctly remember one client interacting with the volunteer and I do not recall the entire conversation but he asked, well if I am to pray it how am I going to if I do not know how, and she replied with I'll bring back some pamphlets on how to pray the rosary .   It was a nice gesture by the volunteer, but with out informing clients that it is a tool for praying, it to me kind of came across as giving out a necklace or good luck charm. Which makes me wonder if this is what non catholics view the rosary as.  ( I did follow up and bring some rosary pamphlets and stuck it in the left over bag of rosaries )

 

More over why would one want to wear a rosary as jewelry when one just likes the crucifix ? or wearing a cross in general seems like one would just choose that instead.

 

I would hope catholics would not take too much offense at people who do wear a rosary, because at the very least, they are wearing a very big symbol of faith, in Christ, where most employers would not allow an employee to visibly wear a crucifix or a scapular , we have people who are or are not catholic wearing a symbol of Christ in public for what ever the reason, and if it gets people looking at that Rosary and thinking about Christ, that has to be a start and hopefully the Holy Spirit takes their thoughts from there.  Plus for those catholics who are truly offended by others wearing a Rosary it gives that oh so holy offended person the chance to engage that person on a  civil, kind, and loving level of Christ, and find out about who that person is, and why they choose to wear a Rosary and in turn, in the love of Christ educate the person on what the Rosary means instead of condemning that person or turning that person away from Christ through lecturing and condemning.

 

 

[superblue]

Sometimes the "really catholic people" are "really wrong" about some things.

 

 

lol woooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ,talk about an open door to derail a thread.

[chrysostom]

I'm not particularly concerned whether it's good/bad. It just messes with my head a little.

 

I do have to say it's nice to see crucifixes and images of Mary in unexpected places though!

[Ash Wednesday]

When I was taught how to say the rosary growing up, I was told that it wasn't jewelry and shouldn't be worn like a necklace. (Now that I think about it, it was about the time Madonna was wearing them and people were copying her. Aging myself there, but whatever.)

 

But if someone is wearing it to spread it as a special devotion and praying it regularly, I can't fault them for that. The bottom line is that the rosary is a sacramental to be treated with reverence, and that's what should be kept in mind.

 

Despite the frustration of people treating it as just an object of fashion, there's always hope that someone will look deeper and find out more about the rosary. :)

Edited July 12, 2014 by Ash Wednesday

[Nihil Obstat]

Wearing it "like jewelry" is wrong. Wearing it out of pride is wrong. Wearing it, even around one's neck, as a devotional, is praiseworthy. Best to keep it tucked away.

[Luigi]

When you see someone wearing a rosary, engage them in a conversation - Which is your favorite mystery? Do you pray the Mysteries of Light? Is that hand made by Carmelite nuns? 

 

They may think you're crazy, but then we kinda think they're crazy, too. And maybe they'll get tired of being unable to answer the same questions they don't understand over and over again. And maybe they'll stop wearing the rosary as decoration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And maybe pigs will fly in the morning. But you will have made an effort. 

[PhuturePriest]

I always have my rosary swinging around my left hip belt loop. It's not there for fashion, and it's not there for pride. It serves many purposes, some of them being a constant reminder of my Catholic faith so I make my decisions accordingly, but it also serves as a great tool of evangelization. I can't tell you how many people always compliment it or ask about it, and that's when I can talk about the faith to complete strangers. I've had some people simply like it, and I've had others ask me if I'm a Buddhist -- both conversations served as great opportunities to share the faith to those who might not have a lot of knowledge about it (particularly the guy who thought I was Buddhist).

[Anastasia13]

Wearing it "like jewelry" is wrong. Wearing it out of pride is wrong. Wearing it, even around one's neck, as a devotional, is praiseworthy. Best to keep it tucked away.

What if you wear it as a necklace but also for the reminder it brings when you play with (rub and handle) the cross?

[brandelynmarie]

I always have my rosary swinging around my left hip belt loop. It's not there for fashion, and it's not there for pride. It serves many purposes, some of them being a constant reminder of my Catholic faith so I make my decisions accordingly, but it also serves as a great tool of evangelization. I can't tell you how many people always compliment it or ask about it, and that's when I can talk about the faith to complete strangers. I've had some people simply like it, and I've had others ask me if I'm a Buddhist -- both conversations served as great opportunities to share the faith to those who might not have a lot of knowledge about it (particularly the guy who thought I was Buddhist).

You wear it as a sword, FP. :knight: Edited July 12, 2014 by brandelynmarie

[brandelynmarie]

I sometimes wear a cord rosary wrapped around my wrist. It looks like jewelry, but I consider it my secret weapon :evil: I learned this from the year I spent at FUS. :)

[superblue]

can anyone answer as to why if the Rosary was never intended to be worn around the neck, why it is thus made to such a length so that it could be worn around ones neck ?