My son was recently baptised, and this girl wore her rosary as a necklace to not be fashionable but to hold during the baptism. People were talking about her because she wore her rosary as a necklace. Is it proper to wear the rosary as a necklace?

-- Alicia Lankford Laffoon (alicialaffoon@hotmai.com), February 28, 2005

Answers

the rosary is not a piece of jewelry though some people think it so. it should not be displayed in a trite manner and as such should not be worn as a piece of attire. remember, the rosary is a holy object to be used for prayer. if you are comfortable enough, next time you see this you should gently correct the person who is engaging in this probably unintentional but disresptectful manner.

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), February 28, 2005.

Unfortunately across the pond in my country of pagan Engalnd, we have what is know as the Rosary Craze

Devil stops at nothing to attacking the church

-- Andrew (andyhbk96@hotmail.com), March 01, 2005.

Rosary is an aid to meditating on the mysteries of the Lord through Mary. The rosary through constant meditation and recitation over some time by a devout person and the repetition "fruit of thy womb JESUS" over and over makes that rosary quite special. If it is blessed by a priest, the rosary then may used as an sacramental. Hence, it has dual purposes, one for praying the mysteries and second, also as an sacramental, to keep under your pillow, around your neck, etc., in times of stress, fear, anxiety, nightmares, spiritual attacks, etc. It is most beneficial, nevertheless to pray the rosary rather than just using it as a sacramental without praying. Blessed medals and rosaries may even be given to afflicted non-Christians for relief because of their sacramental value.

-- Leslie John (lesliemon@hotmail.com), March 01, 2005.

The Rosary is often 'worn' as part of a religious habit. In this format, they are seldom used for praying.

I personally do not see any problem with wearing them.

-- Hugh (hugh@inspired.com), March 01, 2005.

Waring the rosary can tend to 'cheapen' a sacramental and the idea that they are really for praying.

When wore as part of a habit by monks or nuns, people who see them know they are people of prayer.

Howver when Britney Spears waers them, she does not appreciate the fact that these sacramentals are instrumental in converting the ignorant and averting dangers both physical and spiritual.

-- Andrew (andyhbk96@hotmail.com), March 01, 2005.

while rosary beads "look very nice...it is a great pity if they are only being used as a decoration and not for devotional purposes".

its not a great pity, its insulting to the Glory of God. how can one turn a religious sacramental into a piece of jewelry without it being an affront on our Savior who died for us?

they are definitely very fashionable at the moment, and seen as a nice piece of jewellery, not just a religious item

this is even a quote by a person who runs a catholic store. if this person perceives that somehow seeing a rosary as a fashion item makes it not just a religious item then why run a catholic store at all. since when did rosaries, crosses, relics, etc become JUST religious items?

He added that while such celebrities wearing rosary beads were "not doing wicked things and leading us astray, I am sorry that people are wearing them as fashion accessories and are not mindful of their religious significance".

deliberately flaunting the significance of God's sacrifice for mankind IS sin. even were it an item to be worn to show religious devotion, what makes brittney spears want to wear one? her catholic piety? or her desire to make another headline while flaunting her uncatholic behavior. what these celebrities are doing is a slap in the face to God, a HORRIBLE sin which obviously IS having an effect on others.

In past years the Roman Catholic Church has complained about celebrities such as Madonna, who is a lapsed Catholic, wearing crucifixes.

i was somehow under the impression that madonna was not a catholic at all and never really was. perhaps someone could correct me on that though.

Father Morris noted that the rosary also bears a crucifix. "It is a very odd thing to wear as a piece of decoration - the cross is an instrument of torture," he said. "Why not wear an electric chair?"

thats the first time i've heard that from a catholic. why wear a crucifix? hhmmmnn? maybe, father, because its a daily reminder that the sin we commit is directly responsible for the pain and suffering of our Lord Jesus. because it is an outward sign of our faith and devotion to God? why is it that a catholic priest does not understand the significance of the crucifix?

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), March 01, 2005.

oops

-- sorry (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), March 01, 2005.

Clear?

-- (a@b.c), March 02, 2005.