Rosaries: Accessories of Faith

CEBU, Philippines — Roman Catholics from all walks of life may be very familiar with the five-decade rosary, but there’s actually more to rosaries than the five-decade variety.

These prayer beads that are historically linked with knotted prayer ropes date back to the third and fourth centuries. The term “rosary” does not just refer to one form of prayer, as it is actually used in reference to various forms of counted prayers and devotions.

From chaplets to the rosary bracelet, there are various rosary forms.

The Dominican Rosary

Emblemized as the “standard rosary,” the Dominican Rosary is the most well-known type of rosary among Roman Catholics.

Named after the Dominican Order for fostering the rosary devotion, the Dominican Rosary is mainly made of a loop of five set-of-ten beads, clinched by one bead in between and chained at its center by five beads that end with a crucifix.

Dominican tradition notes that the rosary was bestowed to St. Dominic by the Blessed Virgin Mary, through an apparition in 1214. Throughout the Middle Ages, the Order played an instrumental role in spreading the rosary devotion – the physical rosary prayer beads and the prayers associated with it.

The Franciscan Rosary

The Franciscan Rosary is similar in form with the Dominican Rosary, but is different since it mainly consists of seven set-of-ten beads, not five.

The prayers associated with the rosary are also different, as it focuses on meditation and reflection on the seven joys of Mary – the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity of Jesus, the Adoration of the Magi, the Finding in the Temple, the Resurrection of Jesus, and Assumption of Mary.

Also known as the “Franciscan Crown” or “Seraphic Rosary,” the origin of the Franciscan Rosary dates back to 1422.

Chaplets

Widely referred to as prayers for “personal devotionals,” chaplets are prayer beads that hold close associations with various Catholic devotions.

At times referred to as prayer beads that are intended to ask for the intercession of specific Saints, chaplets come in various forms and prayers – ranging from those made of beads threaded at three and 12-bead intervals (the Chaplet of the Infant Jesus), to chaplets made of 33 beads grouped in seven clusters (the Chaplet of the Precious Blood).

Among the most well-known is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which is a devotion that’s traditionally observed as a part of the Divine Mercy novena (traditionally observed on Good Friday to Divine Mercy Sunday, which is the Sunday after Easter Sunday).

Other examples would include the Chaplet of Saint Joseph, the Chaplet of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, the Chaplet of Saint Anthony, the Chaplet of Saint Patrick and Chaplet of Saint Philomena.

The Rosary Bracelet

Of the different types of rosaries, the rosary bracelet is closely tied with practical and fashion sensibilities, given its overall form.

Traditionally composed of beads set at a ten-and-one interval, various historians note that the general form of the rosary bracelet stemmed from a circa-Middle Age tradition wherein rosaries were worn around the waist.

The rosary bracelet is said to have evolved from rosaries being worn around the waist, only that wearing it around one’s wrist proved to be more practical for many.