Types of rosaries

RedDuke50 · #1 Jul 13, '12, 6:55 pm

What types of rosaries do you like and why? I like rosaries and the kind that I like most (despite me not really being in contact with other types) is wooden ones.

TheRealJuliane · #2 Jul 13, '12, 8:24 pm

I prefer natural materials. I don't even like the thought of an all-metal rosary! I have a wooden one and it feels warm in my hands. Growing to like it more and more over time.

James_OPL · #3 Jul 13, '12, 9:23 pm

I prefer olivewood, but I have this most beautiful rosary made from topaz and tigers eye.

Christine85 · #4 Jul 13, '12, 9:32 pm

My favorite is ones made of all miraculous medals
http://www.cammonline.org/index.php?...l-auto-rosary/

Though I just us one with clear tin cut beads

Which I've attached medals onto.
Sometimes I'll use my plastic string glow in the dark one too

odile53 · #5 Jul 13, '12, 9:37 pm

I have a gorgeous all sterling silver rosary which was made for me by the Carmelite Sisters of Denver. It has smooth sterling silver beads which slide with ease through my fingers. The crucifix is very ornate, the center medal is of Our Lady of Victory (I have a devotion to Bl. Nelson Baker,) and I had a side medal of St. Ignatius of Loyola attached to it.

My other "weapon of choice" is a sterling silver, dark blue aurora Swarovski crystal rosary. It has a Sacred Heart centerpiece, the reverse is Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. I had attached to it the Marian Medal I earned as a teenage Girl Scout, as well as a medal of St. Michael. (Years ago, I was mugged in New York: I fought off the attacker screaming the prayer of St. Michael at the top of my lungs, and as he ran off, I yelled after him, "Yeah! Keep running, because if I can't kick your ---, St. Michael will!" I don't know if St. Michael personally intervened, or if the mugger just thought I was nuts, or both, but it worked.)

I inherited my great aunt's rosary (she was a Sister of Charity and an operating room nurse.) It too has sterling silver fittings, crucifix, and center medal, and is of rock crystal, vintage about 1950. I have wonderful memories of her, and her sister, who was a Carmelite, whenever I use it.

Here's a hint about sterling silver: It doesn't tarnish when you use it frequently. Your own body oils keep the oxygen in the air from oxidizing it. So if you have a silver rosary, or one with silver findings, use it frequently! Let your prayers polish it!

creole54 · #6 Jul 13, '12, 9:49 pm

I chose 'other' because the most comfortable, least distracting rosary for me is one made from Job's Tears seeds (Mother Teresa was often seen with a Job's Tears rosary). They're smooth and slip through the fingers easily, and also warm to the touch.

Another wonderful seed for rosaries is from the Spina Christie bush. Tradition has it that this is the thorn bush from which Christ's crown of thorns was made. The seeds are smooth, small ovals - perfectly sized for a rosary. I have no idea if the spina christi bush is native to the Holy Land or not, but what a touching coincidence it would be if it was.

ETA: After thinking about it, I think I'd change my answer to 'any of the above' if I could. I just love rosaries. I have well over 100 of them, made from all types of wood, glass, gemstones, seeds, metals..you name it.

UpUpAndAway · #7 Jul 13, '12, 10:24 pm

Anything except plastic.

I have about thirty rosaries made of all kinds of materials. My current favorite is an all-metal St. James five-decade model with shell-shaped beads.

RedDuke50 · #8 Jul 13, '12, 11:52 pm

Thanks for the responses. And I realized I forgot to say why I like wooden rosaries.
Well, my grandmother (now deceased) told my mom that rosaries should be made of wood because Christ was crucified on a wooden Cross. So I guess olive wood would be the best for me because it reminds me of two of the mysteries of His Passion ( agony in the garden and the Crucifixion).

Really, I like Rosaries that have carved Our Father beads, plain crucifixes, and Sacred Heart medals. But I do not mean to put down all of your guys's rosaries, I am sure they are amazing.

Christine, I have never seen one with all Miraculous Medals! It looks very nice.
Odile, I like your saying of polishing your rosary with prayers.
Creole, I didn't know about the bush. And I totally forgot about the all of the above option.

Christine85 · #9 Jul 14, '12, 2:14 am

Odile53- had to laugh at your story that mugger mustve been freaking out. Hahaha!!!

RedDuke50 · #10 Jul 15, '12, 11:25 pm

I suppose the results are most people like wood, then metal, then stone/glass. But then can change if anymore voters come.

And if anyone wishes to post pictures/links of their rosaries then it would be appreciated. I always like looking at rosaries...
(I am not sure if posting pics. is against the rules or not, but I saw one thread where that was kind of all it was.

)

RJB · #11 Jul 21, '12, 3:02 pm

The one I use most frequently is black and I got it at the Univ. of Notre Dame many years ago. My mother gave me hers, which is sterling silver with Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal inserts. Absolutely beautiful.

Remember in Scripture when Peter caught 153 fish? Not a coincidence that if you say 3 Mysteries, you will say a Hail Mary 153 times.

RedDuke50 · #12 Jul 21, '12, 4:40 pm

Thanks for responding RJB. I didn't think anyone else was going to respond to me...

I never realized that! Thanks for sharing!