Rosary Beads Now Digital
Saturday, 22 May 2010 07:37 | 
Written by Angela Lovelock |
Rosary beads can be traced back almost a millenium. But what are they, and what do they mean?
Rosary beads can be traced back almost a millenium. But what are they, and what do they mean?
The catholics use them as prayer beads, which slip through the fingers as prayers are said, to help focus and structure long devotions.
The traditional rosary said by catholics has five decades of ten beads each, with starting beads, and a larger bead in between decades. A crucifix hangs from the end of the rosary. Each decade symbolises one event in the gospel. The events are grouped into mysteries of five events and decades each. As each bead slips through the fingers, a simple prayer is said, depending on the position of the bead. The life, death and resurrection of Christ are each represented as mysteries connecting the core events of biblical tradition into a single long prayer.
The name rosary means a garland of roses. It is interesting that this scent is associated with many marian apparitions. The rosary is considered a thing of beauty.
In some of the worst events of history the beads have become a place of refuge.Maximilian kolbe ( now saint) recited the rosary whilst condemned in a nazi concentration camp to a long lingering death of starvation. One by one all those condemned with him died, but the Nazis ultimately executed Maximillian when he survived too long for them. In the Rwandan genocide, Immaculee Illibagiza relied on the rosary, her sole occupation for months whilst hiding amongst those who sought to kill her. When the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima the rosary was credited with the survival of a handful of priests at the epicentre of the explosion.
Miracles have been attributed to the saying of the rosary beads. And dispensations offered to those who say them, for example at Fatima.
The divine mercy chaplet instituted by Saint Faustina can also use the same beads.
Protestants on the other hand see the beads a symbol of erroneous doctrine, and one facet of what is wrong with the catholic faith.
To some they are now reduced to be just a fashion statement devoid of all meaning. A top footballer and personality was seen wearing them, seen as sacrilege to those who accept their meaning.
To keep with the times, even an iphone application, now allows digital rosary beads. The rosary beads are A long tradition - what will they be 1000 years from now?
Rosary beads can be traced back almost a millenium. But what are they, and what do they mean?
The catholics use them as prayer beads, which slip through the fingers as prayers are said, to help focus and structure long devotions.
The traditional rosary said by catholics has five decades of ten beads each, with starting beads, and a larger bead in between decades. A crucifix hangs from the end of the rosary. Each decade symbolises one event in the gospel. The events are grouped into mysteries of five events and decades each. As each bead slips through the fingers, a simple prayer is said, depending on the position of the bead. The life, death and resurrection of Christ are each represented as mysteries connecting the core events of biblical tradition into a single long prayer.
The name rosary means a garland of roses. It is interesting that this scent is associated with many marian apparitions. The rosary is considered a thing of beauty.
In some of the worst events of history the beads have become a place of refuge.Maximilian kolbe ( now saint) recited the rosary whilst condemned in a nazi concentration camp to a long lingering death of starvation. One by one all those condemned with him died, but the Nazis ultimately executed Maximillian when he survived too long for them. In the Rwandan genocide, Immaculee Illibagiza relied on the rosary, her sole occupation for months whilst hiding amongst those who sought to kill her. When the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima the rosary was credited with the survival of a handful of priests at the epicentre of the explosion.
Miracles have been attributed to the saying of the rosary beads. And dispensations offered to those who say them, for example at Fatima.
The divine mercy chaplet instituted by Saint Faustina can also use the same beads.
Protestants on the other hand see the beads a symbol of erroneous doctrine, and one facet of what is wrong with the catholic faith.
To some they are now reduced to be just a fashion statement devoid of all meaning. A top footballer and personality was seen wearing them, seen as sacrilege to those who accept their meaning.
To keep with the times, even an iphone application, now allows digital rosary beads. The rosary beads are A long tradition - what will they be 1000 years from now?
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