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Q: Is it wrong to wear rosary beads around one's neck as a necklace? As a child my parents forbid it and I still respect the rosary in that manner. I have wondered about this and would like your view on this.
~ Juanita
Dear Juanita:
You and your parents are to be commended for wanting to respect the rosary. A blessed rosary is a holy thing which reminds us of spiritual truths, inspiring us to acts of devotion which then draw down God's grace upon us. As such, the rosary is known as a 'sacramental', part of a group of holy objects and actions which include blessings, candles, holy water, medals, statues, ashes and crucifixes.
The proper use and display of a rosary depends very much on the intent of the user. All of us have been shocked in recent years to see the desecration of holy objects by some promoters of popular culture, notably certain persons involved in the rock music industry. We have to be aware of how this affects the attitudes of young children in particular. There have been examples of the rosary being worn, just as you describe, by young people who have no idea of its spiritual value or history. You may be aware, too, of various adult jewellery outlets which sell what they call 'rosary necklaces' complete with matching earrings. The word 'rosary' is used loosely here, the only resemblance being the rosary-like beads which adorn the chain. It goes without saying, though, that any attempt to employ an actual rosary simply as costume jewellery, or even as a superstitious charm, is a sinful act.
Over the last few years, however, a number of Catholic stores have been selling a little necklace-type rosary which fastens behind the neck with a small clip. A number of genuine Rosary devotees have begun wearing these in a manner similar to how one might wear a holy medal on a chain. There is also a small minority of lovers of the Rosary who wear a full-size rosary around their neck in an effort to give public witness to their strong devotion to Our Blessed Mother and her call to pray the Rosary frequently. In such cases, where there is holy intent, the wearing of the rosary around the neck would seem permissible.
The best way of judging holy intent is to turn our mind to the purpose of rosary beads. For many years a number of women Religious wore long habits tied with a belt on which hung a rosary, and today at least one group, the Passionist Sisters, continues the practice. The rosary beads were carried in this manner so they would readily be at hand for frequent praying of the the Holy Rosary. In a similar way, if the rosary is truly a sacramental for those who wear it, inspiring them to greater and more frequent acts of devotion, then its use in this manner would appear to be acceptable.
God bless,
Father Norbert