How To Make a Rosary

Though it seems very hard, creating rosary materials such as rosary beads are easier than you think. A handmade rosary created with love, determination, patience and creativity is more valuable than a rosary purchased from a gift shop. Creating rosaries to give to your friends is real fun. You can also bring them the gift of joy, spirituality and communion with God.

There are different kinds of rosaries: The Anglican, The Chalet, The Ring Rosary, The Servite, and The Bracelet. However, we will discuss how to create a rosary used by the Roman Catholic Church called the five decade rosary. It is called the five decade rosary because it has a group of five with ten beads in each group.

To make your own rosaries, follow these easy steps and reach out for the divine grace and intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
   
Step 1: Gather materials. You can use small items for you to create your very own rosaries. You can use recyclables, seeds, semi-precious stones or any materials that you might find helpful. In order to start you will need 59 beads, a durable string and a cross or a small cruciform.
   
Step 2: Prepare the Cruciform. Be sure that when you find a cross for your rosary, it should have a small hole on it for the string. If not, you can drill a small hole on the top of the cross.
   
Step 3: Loop the Cross. Be sure that your string is thin but durable enough. Loop your cross into the string and leave enough string to create a sufficient loop for your beads.
   
Step 4: Tie the String. Now that you have looped your cross, secure it by knotting. Then start with your special beads.
   
Step 5: Beading. Choose 59 rosary beads of the same color, shape and sizes. But if you want to have your own combination, it is your choice. There is nothing wrong in adding into your rosary a bit of spur of creativity. However, don’t exceed beyond the limits of creativity. Remember that the rosary is a tool for a holy ritual of Marian devotion so it would be awful to use tiny plastic skulls for your beads.
   
Step 6: Thread the first bead in the string and secure it with a knot. Create a knot about a quarter of an inch spaced away from the first bead before you thread another three beads. Secure these beads with a knot.
   
Step 7: About a quarter of an inch spaced away. Tie a knot and thread one bead. This will now form the pendant of your rosary.
   
Step 8: Create a decade. Make a knot about ¼ of an inch spaced away from the last threaded bead. Then string ten beads. Secure these with a knot. You have now your first decade.
   
Step 9: Create a Marker. Make a knot ¾ of an inch spaced away from your first decade, place a special bead (usually, different in size, shape or color from your decade beads) on the string and tie a knot to secure placement.
   
Step 10: Repeat Step 8 and 9 to make 4 decades more. Ensure that you tie a knot to secure placements.
   
Now, you are finished! Try to create rosaries that will show your true character. Tell the person that you have personally created the rosary. They will appreciate your effort and will value your gift for the rest of their lives.

Significant People Involved in the Development of the Rosary

The word rosary is derived from the Latin word rosarium which means rose garden or a bunch of rose flowers. The rosary is primarily devoted to the meditation of the significant events in the lives of Jesus Christ and his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is believed that the rosary is in Marian description. Mary is believed to have miraculously symbolized for rose petals. When she was assumed into heaven, rose petals were found on her sickbed.

In the development of the present-day holy rosary, there were people who have contributed in its development that have worked hard and dedicated their efforts to the propagation of rosary as a great tool for Marian devotion. The following notable rosary people are the following:

1.) Desert Fathers
The Desert Fathers were Ascetics who lived in the deserts of Egypt around 3rd century. They were the first Christians recorded to use prayer ropes to take account of repetitive prayers of Jesus Prayer.

2.) St. Eligius
St. Eligius of Loye proposed of making a chair adorned with 150 gold and silver nails to be used as a guide in praying the Psalms of the Blessed Mary. St. Eligius is the patron saints of horses and horsemen.

3.) Venerable Bede
Venerable Bede, the Father of English History, believed that churches and public places in England and France should have available beads for the faithful.  Pope Leo XIII, known as the Rosary Pope, appointed Bede as a Doctor of the Church, a very important and glorious position.

4.) Saint Aibert of Crespin
-was recorded to have recited 150 Hail Marys daily with 100 genuflexions and 50 prostrations.  St. Aibert is a Benedictine monk known for his rosary prayer life and asceticism.

5.) Saint Rosalia
-also known as La Zantuzza (Little Saint) was buried with a string of prayer beads in 1160.

6.) Saint Dominic
-was believed to have accepted the Rosary from the Blessed Virgin Mary herself, creating the origin of the holy rosary. St. Dominic is the founding father of the Preacher Friars called the Dominicans.

7.) St. Louis de Monfort
-had proposed five different methods of saying the rosary that are much holier and more personal. 

8.) Dominic of Prussia
-introduced in 15th century the 50 mysteries one for each Ave Maria.

9.) Pope Pius V
- is the pope who established the current form of the original fifteen (15) mysteries in 1569.

10.) Venerable Luis de Granada,
In 1587, he published in Italy a book entitled Rosario della Sacratissima Vergine Maria which also proposes methods of praying the rosary similar to the methods of St. Louis de Montfort.

11.) Pope Paul VI
In 1974 he issued the Apostolic Letter entitled Marialis Cultis which dedicated fourteen sections of the rosary to be used by the Roman Catholic Church.

12.) Pope Leo XIII
-He was known as the Rosary Pope. He is very well known to publish five Apostolic Letters and fourteen encyclicals about the importance of Marian and Rosary devotion. He also stressed the role of the Virgin Mary as the Mediatrix and Co-Redemptrix of the humanity.

13.) Pope John Paul II,
-in 2002 published the Apostolic Letter entitled, Rosarium Virginis Mariae which adds another five mysteries in praying the rosary – the Mysteries of the Light or the Luminous Mysteries.

Parts of The Rosary

The Rosary is an important factor for an individual to completely devote and meditate upon the life of Jesus Christ and his mother the Virgin Mary. In using the rosary, Christians believe that they are walking in a straighter path to get closer to God.
   
The word rosary is derived from the Latin word “rosarium” which means a garden of flowers or a bunch of flowers. It got its name because of the symbolism and association of the rose flower to Virgin Mary. It has been said that during Assumption of the Virgin Mary to heaven, petals of red rose flowers were miraculously found on her sickbed.
   
Basically, the rosary is a tool to help a Christian to keep track of praying the rosary (the prayer itself). The rosary refers to the physical tool and the prayer itself. There are different types of rosary that are being used by Christian all over the world.  The most common rosary that we use is the Five decade rosary or the Dominican rosary. This kind of rosary has different parts which are fully described below.

1.) The Loop.  The Loop refers to the entire circular part of the rosary. If we would wear the rosary as a necklace, it would be the part where we put our head into. This part is the largest and most important part for it contains most of the beads.

2.) Centerpiece. The centerpiece or simply the center consists of a medallion portraying the Virgin Mary or in some cases other saints. It joins the two end points of the loop.

3.) Pendant. The pendant is the part which hangs down from the center. It is a single length of chain. It has the crucifix at the bottom.

4.) Crucifix. Also known as the cruciform or simply the cross, it is an image of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Different kinds of cross used in a Dominican rosary are San Damiano, Cross of St. Francis of Assisi, Iconic Cross, Peace Dove Cross or the infamous Celtic Cross. Simpler rosaries use a plain cross known as the Latin cross.

5.) Chain. In this part you can find the beads, center and other important parts of the rosary.

6.) Beads. There are 59 beads in the rosary. 54 can be found in the loop, and the rest can be found on the pendant. There are basically three kinds of beads: Hail Mary Beads, Our Father Beads, and the Invitatory Beads. The invitatory beads can only be found in some rosaries, as the cross can be used in its place in commencing the prayer. 

7.) The Five Decades. Hail Mary beads are grouped and are called as decades. Basically, the term decade refers to the number 10. However, in praying the rosary, the Hail Mary beads have some other types of prayer and became part of the decade.

8.) Antiphon Beads. These beads refer to the three extra beads of Hail Mary that are strung in a triad that can be found on the pendant.

In praying the rosary, Catholics around the world have developed sincere and deep devotion to Mary and Jesus Christ. They believe that while meditating on the lives, joys, sorrows and miracles of the Son and his beloved Mother, they have also developed a great relationship with God.

The Importance of The Holy Rosary

Since the early beginnings of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, prayer has been accompanied with guides in form of beads, knots or strings which eventually evolved to the present day Rosary. From the Latin word rosarium which means “rose garden,” the rosary is a channel of Marian devotion. Mama Mary is said to be symbolized by roses because of miraculous apparitions and miracles which includes rose flowers. For nearly half a millennium, the Rosary helped Roman Catholics around the world in paving the way for greater understanding of the mysteries of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

It is said that the Holy Rosary is one of the most important gift to the world from Mama Mary. Basically, it is a combination of silent and verbal prayers of Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be to the Father. During the recital of the Rosary, these prayers should be recited five times. After meditation, this will be followed by the Hail Holy Queen and the Litany of Loreto.

We can see the importance of the Rosary to most Roman Catholics as most of them are doing this every day. Some catholic homes have dedicated a special place for a shrine or an altar dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Places have been made famous as a site for Marian apparition such as Lourdes and Fatima wherein the blessed Mary has strongly requested the importance of the rosary in salvation.

The Church claims that the importance of the Rosary is its emblematic symbol of a Catholic’s strong devotion. In one of his Apostolic Letters, Pope Leo XIII said that “As the various mysteries present themselves one after another in the formula of the Rosary, for the meditation and contemplation of men's minds, they also make clear what we owe to Mary for our reconciliation and salvation.” Pope Leo XIII is also known as the Rosary Pope because of his strong devotion to the Rosary that he issued twelve Apostolic Letters and five encyclicals purely devoted to the development and propagation of praying using the rosary.

Pope Leo XIII also influenced our present-day devotion of the whole month of October as the Marian Month. During this time, Roman Catholics around the world are expected to recite the rosary every day. In this event, the Catholic Church also suggested an importance of Marian devotion.  It was Pope Leo XIII who can be credited for the popularity of the Rosary at present times.

Pope John Paul II devoted October 2002 to October 2003 as the Year of the Rosary, to strongly emphasize and promote the recital of the Rosary in the whole Roman Catholic world. For most Catholics, it was an invitation to deepen Marian Devotion, in order to fulfill salvation and the apostolate of Mary for Jesus Christ. In this way, the catholic world brings this devotion to the rest of us. For most Catholics around the world, the contemplation and devotion of prayer using the Rosary leads to a natural desire for reconciliation and peace.

The importance of the Holy Rosary can be countless. It could be numerous as the number of individuals who recite the Rosary religiously and with strong devotion. The addition of the Luminous Mysteries by Pope John Paul II in 2002 created another way of Marian devotion as cited in his Apostolic Letter entitled Rosarium Virginis Mariae

The Different Kinds Of Rosaries

Most Christians are familiar with the traditional five-decade rosary and most of us are not fully aware that there are indeed other kinds of Christian prayer beads. There are some kinds of rosaries that Christians used in praying. Here is some description on the different kinds of rosaries.

1.) Franciscan Rosary. Otherwise known as the Franciscan Crown Rosary, this type of rosary is closely associated with the Franciscan order. This kind of rosary is also called a seven decade rosary because it consists of seven decades, unlike the traditional five decades. It also has an additional Hail Mary beads. When praying with this kind of rosary, an individual should meditate on the seven joys of Virgin Mary which includes the Annunciation, the Visitation to Elizabeth, Nativity of Jesus, Epiphany, Presentation of Jesus to the Temple, Resurrection of Jesus and the Coronation.

2.) Chaplets. The term chaplet is the French word for the rosary. This is somewhat a specialized kind of rosary to pray or offer a petition or devotion to a specific saint or angel. An example is the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy popularly associated to St. Faustina.

3.) Wedding Rosary. This is large type of rosary formed by joining two rosaries at the center. This is also called a lasso, as it encircles the bride and the groom during the wedding. This symbolizes that God joins two humans and thus sacred and cannot be separated except by death.

4.) Five Decade Rosary. This is probably the most famous kind of rosary. This consists of a cross or a cruciform and asset of five beads used in praying the Our Father, three Hail Marys, and the Glory Be. This type is also known as the Dominican Rosary due to the role of St. Dominic in promoting the rosary during his lifetime.

5.) Servite. This type of rosary is associated to the Servite Order of Mary. Instead of decades, it has seven sets of seven beads called weeks. In contrast with the Franciscan Rosary which is focused on the seven joys of Mary, the Servite is focused on the seven sorrows of Mary which are: 1. The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35) 2. The Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15) 3. The Child Jesus Lost in the Temple (Luke 2:41-50) 4. Mary meets Jesus Carrying the Cross (John 19:25-30)  5. Mary at the Foot of the Cross (John 19:25-30) 6. Mary receives the body of Jesus (Psalm 130) 7. Mary witnesses the burial of Jesus (Luke 23:50-56)

6.) One Decade Rosary. As its name suggests, the one decade rosary is a type of rosary which has only one decade. It was developed for easy prayer and hand carry. After the cruciform, it has five beads. It resembles the prayer ropes used by Orthodox Christians during the early church formation. Specific types of one decade rosaries are:

a.) Rosary Ring. This type of rosary can be worn on fingers and designed for immediate prayer using the rosary. It has a small crucifix and ten little bumps or beads.

b.) Rosary bracelet. Although you can wear this rosary on the wrist, this is not for ornament purposes. During the medieval times, people have worn rosaries in their waist for immediate access whenever they want to pray. Today, it is quite impractical so most people developed the rosary bracelet.

The Mysteries of the Rosary

In praying the rosary, an individual can meditate upon the different significant events in the life of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Originally, the rosary consisted of fifteen mysteries which are grouped into three main mysteries: Sorrowful, Joyful and Glorious. However, in 2002, Pope John Paul II published his Apostolic Letter entitled Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae adding the five new mysteries that are called as the Luminous Mysteries or Mysteries of the Light.

The first mysteries are called joyful mysteries and are recited on Mondays and Saturdays. The Mysteries of the Light or Luminous Mysteries are recited during Thursdays. The Sorrowful Mysteries are recited on Tuesdays and Fridays and during Wednesdays and Sundays, the Glorious Mysteries are recited.

Catholics around the world associate specific values and vrtues within each mystery.

According to the Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, “"This indication is not intended to limit a rightful freedom in personal and community prayer, where account needs to be taken of spiritual and pastoral needs and of the occurrence of particular liturgical celebrations which might call for suitable adaptations"

The following are the twenty mysteries that Catholics should meditate:

Luminous Mysteries:

1.) The Baptism at Jordan River (Virtue of the Mystery: Openness to the Holy Spirit-the Healer.)

2.) The Wedding at Cana (Virtue of the Mystery: To Jesus through Mary. The understanding of the ability to manifest-through faith.)

3.) The Proclamation of God’s Kingdom (Virtue of the Mystery: Trust in God)

4.) The Transfiguration (Virtue of the Mystery: Desire for Holiness)

5.) The Institution of the Eucharist (Virtue of the Mystery: Adoration)


Joyful Mysteries:

1.) The Annunciation (Virtue of the Mystery: Humility)

2.) The Visitation (Virtue of the Mystery: Love of Neighbor)

3.) The Birth of Jesus Christ (Virtue of the Mystery: Poverty (poor in spirit), Detachment from the things of the world, Contempt of Riches, Love of the PooR)

4.) The Presentation of Jesus Christ in the Temple (Virtue of the Mystery: Purity)

5.) The Finding of Jesus Christ at the Temple (Virtue of the Mystery: True Wisdom and True Conversion.)

Sorrowful Mysteries

1.) The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Virtue of the Mystery: Sorrow for Sin, Uniformity with the will of God)

2.) The Scourging at the Pillar (Virtue of the Mystery: Mortification)

3.) The Crowning with Thorns (Virtue of the Mystery: Contempt of the world)

4.) The Carrying of the Cross (Virtue of the Mystery: Patience)

5.) The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus Christ (Virtue of the Mystery: Salvation)

Glorious Mysteries

1.) The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Virtue of the Mystery: Faith)

2.) The Ascension of Jesus Christ (Virtue of the Mystery: Hope and desire for ascension to Heaven)

3.) The Coming of Holy Spirit into the Apostles Fruit of the Mystery: Holy Wisdom to know the truth and share with everyone

4.) The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Virtue of the Mystery: Grace of a Happy Death and True Devotion towards Mary)

5.) The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Heaven (Virtue of the Mystery: Perseverance and Crown of Glory)

These twenty mysteries are very significant events during the earthly lives of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. When we pray the rosary, we do not just merely recite them, instead we meditate within our hearts and souls. When we recite the mysteries, we must think of certain mysteries that Jesus Christ or the Blessed Virgin Mary had depicted.  Meditation is very powerful when we recite the rosary. With meditation, we add essentials and substance to our devotion.

When we learn how to pray the rosary, we were only concerned on mere memorizing the set of prayers and the repetitive rhythm. This is just normal. However, once we absorbed the thoughts, we must understand to determine our focus. Praying the rosary without meditation is very ineffective and hollow.

The Origin Of The Holy Roman Rosary

The Holy Roman Rosary is one of the most popular religious items in the Roman Catholic world. Its purpose is to meditate the mysteries of Jesus Christ and to devote a prayer ritual to Mama Mary. That’s why the rosary is a popular Marian item. The etymology of the word “rosary” is the Latin word rosarium, which means “garden rose” or “rose garland” or a collection of roses. It got its name because of the remarkable symbolism of the rose flower to Mama Mary. Rosary denotes two things:

1.) the physical item which consists of beads and ornament
2.) the prayer itself.

According to the official records of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, the rosary was miraculously given to Saint Dominic through an apparition of the Virgin Mary in Prouille Church in the 13th century. However, most religious scholars claim that a more evolutional progression and development happened. According to them, the practice of praying with a guide beads begun with the laity in their prayer of the monastic Liturgy of the Hours wherein they pray 150 psalms daily.

They also believe that since most of the laity did not know how to read, they have replaced the psalms with the Latin version of “The Our Father” using a string with knots to guide them. Also in the Middle Ages, evidences were critical that the Hail Mary was also recited with the Our Father using beads.
In the13th century Paris, makers of prayer beads existed. They were called the paternosters, originally from the name of the beads which they made – paternosters (a slight evolution of the Latin word for Our Father – Pater Noster). Also in France, St. Eligius of Loye has been noted to write a systematic counting of praying using prayer beads.

After that, the rosary became popular in the Roman Catholic world. It also appeared in some popular work of arts such as the statute of Madonna with Rosary at Milan’s Church of San Nazaro Maggiore and the Madonna with the Rosary by Murillo which is currently exhibited at the Museo del Prado, Spain. Some churches around the world are also devoted in the rosary such as the Rosary Basilica (Lourdes), Our Lady of the Rosary Basilica (Rosario, Argentina) and Nossa Senhora do Rosario (Brazil).

The popularity of the Rosary can be credited to Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903). Pope Leo XIII issued five Apostolic Letters and twelve encyclicals devoted to the propagation of the Rosary. He also devoted October as the Marian Month and added the invocation of the Holy Queen to the Litany. He promoted the importance of the Rosary as a sincere devotion to God and a direct road to salvation. He also suggested that man cannot change this devotion because the Rosary is an important ritual to meditate the life of Mary in her devotion to her son, Jesus Christ.  His devotion to the rosary earned him the title as the Rosary Pope because he greatly influenced the dogmatism of devotion to the Rosary and to Mama Mary.

It was only in 1569 when Pope Pius V ordered the establishment of the original mysteries. After nearly half-millenium, in 2002, Pope John Paul II issued an Apostolic Letter entitled Rosarium Virginis Mariae which incorporates an optional mystery – The Mysteries of the Light also known as Luminous Mysteries.