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| The Rosary
(from Latin
rosarium,
meaning "rose
garden") or
"garland of
roses" is a
popular and
traditional
Roman Catholic
devotion. The
term denotes
both a set of
prayer beads and
the devotional
prayer itself,
which combines
vocal (or
silent) prayer
and meditation.
The prayers
consist of
repeated
sequences of the
Lord's Prayer
followed by ten
prayings of the
Hail Mary and a
single praying
of "Glory Be to
the Father";
each of these
sequences is
known as a
decade. The
praying of each
decade is
accompanied by
meditation on
one of the
Mysteries of the
Rosary, which
are events in
the lives of
Jesus Christ and
his mother, the
Blessed Virgin
Mary. |
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The Holy Rosary is really a counting device and an
aid to the memory, because prayers are recited many times over and
some simple way of keeping count has always been necessary. |
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There are differing views on the history of the rosary. The real origin is hidden behind the veil of a
very long history. Perhaps, at the very beginning, some spiritual
people began with a collection of similar sized little pebbles, and soon
found that stringing them together was a practical idea.
Perhaps the length of hide, with knots tied in it at
intervals, came first. We simply do not know. But from time
immemorial, holy and meditative people of many religions, and none, have
found these items useful for their devotions.
The majority, nowadays, are probably used by Roman
Catholics, but that is not to preclude those of the Islamic, Jewish,
Buddhist, Hindu, Orthodox and Anglican Faiths, to name a few, having
their rosary traditions.
We are talking here of an era when there was
precious little in the way of written or even printed words for the mass
of the faithful. The expense of even a Bible, once they were
available and being printed, was way beyond the reach of most.
So they tended to stick to prayers that had been
memorised, and, as long as they had the prayers in mind together with a
reliable counting device, the
praying of the Rosary became a habitual and deep part
of devotional meditation. |
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You can read more about the
history of the rosary at
Wikipedia. |
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How To Pray The Rosary. The
rosary provides a physical method of
keeping track of the number of Hail
Marys said. The fingers are moved along
the beads as the prayers are recited. By
not having to keep track of the count
mentally, the mind is more able to
meditate on the mysteries. A five decade
rosary contains five groups of ten beads
(a decade), with additional large beads
before each decade. The Hail Mary is
said on the ten beads within a decade,
while the Our Father is said on the
large bead before each decade. A new
mystery is meditated upon at each of the
large beads. Some rosaries, particularly
those used by religious orders, contain
15 decades, corresponding to the
traditional 15 mysteries of the rosary.
Both five and 15 decade rosaries are
attached to a shorter strand, which
starts with a crucifix followed by one
large, three small, and one large beads
before connecting to the rest of the
rosary. The praying of the rosary is
started on the short strand, reciting
the Apostle's Creed at the crucifix, an
Our Father at the first large bead,
three Hail Marys on the next three
beads, then a Glory be to the Father on
the next large bead. The praying of the
decades then follows. Although counting
the prayers on a string of beads is
customary, the prayers of the rosary do
not actually require a set of beads, but
can be said using any type of counting
device, by counting on one's fingers, or
by counting by oneself without any
device at all. |
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When you purchase a Rosary from the
Clare Rosary Studio included in the package will be a very
useful and small folded leaflet (produced by
the St Patrick's Missionary Society)
picturing the Blessed Virgin Mary and notes
on How to Pray the Rosary. It includes the
Angelus, the Apostles' Creed and Hail Holy
Queen. It also lists the Joyful Mysteries,
the Mysteries of Light, the Sorrowful
Mysteries and the Glorious Mysteries. |
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You can read more about
How To Pray The Rosary at
Wikipedia |
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The Rosary makes an ideal present for almost any
occasion, including Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion,
Birthday, Anniversary, Engagement, Marriage, Easter, Christmas, or
even on no particular occasion at all for any relative or friend, or
even as an indulgent present for yourself. |
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It won't be long before Christmas is upon us again and
thoughts will be turning to fine and original, but inexpensive,
Christmas presents. Unusual and beautiful
gifts are not always easy to find, but here at Clare Rosaries you should
find plenty of inspiration. Please browse in our
Shop and come back from time to time as new
designs become available. |
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Parents wanting to fill children's Easter gift baskets with
Catholic Easter
Gifts can choose presents such as prayer items, room decor, Catholic
rosaries, or Christian toys. Come Easter morning even the most
religious of parents may think it enough to stuff an Easter basket full
of plastic Easter grass and a candy Easter egg or two. Kids love
devouring Easter candy, of course, but why not provide children with an
Easter basket gifts such as a religious rosary that will fill their
spiritual needs as well?
Read more > |
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