Rosary Beads: Ok To Wear As Necklace or Not?

Rosary Beads: OK To Wear As Necklace or Not?

By http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=KristyAnn_Harrold" >KristyAnn Harrold

Over the past few years, rosary bead necklaces have been showing up on the necks of celebrities like Madonna, as well as hip hop singers and other celebrities. This has started a fashion trend that has both shocked and dismayed some Catholics. The burning question by the Catholic masses has been, Is it or is it not OK to wear the rosary as a necklace?

What are Rosary Beads?

Rosary beads are used to count the series of prayers that make up the praying of the rosary. The prayers are combination of the Lords' Prayer, followed by 10 Hail Marys, and one Glory be to the Father. Each of these series of prayers are called a decade and the praying of each decade is combined with mediation on one of the mysteries of the rosary that recall the life of Jesus Christ. Catholics pray what are known as five "decades," which consist of five different meditations about the lives of Jesus and Mary.

Rosaries Necklaces Have Long Tradition

Christians have been wearing rosary bead necklaces for more than 500 years as protection from the devil and for comfort in times of stress or peril. The practice is still common in most Spanish speaking countries. It's only in recent years that some groups have caused issues by wearing the rosary not as a prayer tool or for comfort, but just as a fashion statement.

However, that doesn't mean it's wrong to wear one if it's done in a respectful manner and it's used for the correct purpose.

What does the Church Say?

The Roman Catholic Church says that sacred objects that are used for divine worship by dedication or blessing are to be treated with reverence. They go on to spell out that it is acceptable to wear a rosary if you are doing it to worship or show your dedication to God, but not for secular or non-religious reasons like fashion statements. All of this is stated in the Catholic Church's Code of Canon Law.

In other words, if you are wearing it because it is the "in" thing to do instead of to show your faith and dedication to the Lord, then you are wearing it for the wrong reasons. If you are wearing it to pray to our Lord, or to show your dedication to him, then there is nothing wrong with it and it is not sacrilegious.

Some priests do say that it is sacrilegious for a non-believer to wear a rosary in any fashion, but say that a believer can do so as long as it is a way to remind them that they should pray and that God is always close to their heart.

You can find rosary bead necklaces in several forms from simple plastic or wood to very expensive ones made of gold and real jewels. What they are made of doesn't matter; it's the meaning and the devotion you feel for them that matters.

Bottom Line? Yes, it's fine to wear the rosary as a necklace as long as you are doing it to show your faith and dedication, but not as a fashion statement.

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