Wikipedia definition of rosary

The Rosary (pronunciation: /ˈrəʊz(ə)ri/, Latin: rosarium, in the sense of "crown of roses" or "garland of roses"[1]), usually in the form of the Dominican Rosary,[2][3] is a type of prayer used especially in the Catholic Church named for the string of knots or beads used to count the component prayers. When used as the type of prayer, the word is usually capitalized ("the Rosary"), as is customary for other names of prayers, such as "the Lord's Prayer", and "the Hail Mary". When referring to the beads, it is normally written with a lower-case initial ("a rosary").

 

Introduction  

- Origin of the rosary - the prominence of rosary beads from as far back as the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, and the prominence of the rosary throughout history

- The rosary of the Virgin Mary has been a familiar practise amongst Catholics, even during period of social upheaval, cultural change, and institutional reform

- The complexity of the symbolism behind the rosary - What it means to wear the rosary and the significance of this devotion 

- The material used to make the rosary and the significance of this material 

- The relationship between the rosary and the Scapular 

- Rosary imagery and paintings 

 

Origin of the rosary 

- The rosary's origin goes back to 1350-1400

- 1400-1450 the beginning of the 'rose-garden'

- Middle English: rosarie 

- Medieval Latin: rosarium  

"rose garden," mid-15c., from Latin rosarium "rose garden," in Medieval Latin also "garland; string of beads; series of prayers," from noun use of neuter of rosarius "of roses," from rosa "rose" Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper  

 

The rosary has had prominence as a religious symbol and within literature from 1350-1400's, and continues to develop meaning even to the present day. 

When one looks at its historic background, one can see its profound status as a symbol of religion throughout history, and one can further understand its complexity as a religious object today. 

 

‘The Mystery of the Rosary’ Marian devotion and the reinvention of Catholicism edited by Nathan D Mitchell [New York University Press 2009]

P1 ‘since its appearance… the rosary of the Virgin Mary has remained such a familiar practise among Catholic in the Latin West that its popularity has not been eclipsed even during periods of seismic social upheaval, cultural change, and institutional reform.’

P1 ‘Through successive historical epochs… the rosary, a ritually repeated sequence of prayers accompanied by meditations on episodes in the lives of Christ and Mary, has varies little in form, structure, or content.’

‘The mystery of the rosary argues that to understand the rosary’s adaptability and survival across chronological periods, cultures and continents, one must examine more closely the changes Catholicism itself began to experience after the reformation’ p2

‘The Mystery of the rosary argues, in sum, that the rosary survived and flourished because it was able to absorb the reframings of reform, representation, ritual, religious identity, and devotion that came to characterize early modern Catholicism ..’ p3

‘One of the attractions of the rosary – as both a devotion and an object of study – is its ability to focus attention on the central meanings and mysteries of the Christian faith… the rosary has enabled praying Christians to contemplate the “basics” of human existence as seen from God’s angle.’ P3-4

 

‘The Rose-Garden game: The Symbolic background to the European prayer beads’ by Eithne Wilkins (London : Gollancz, 1969.)

- ‘a rosary is both a rose-garden and a string of beads… As for the string of beads, every child has been mesmerised, in its cradle, by a chaplet of little round twinkling things..’ (13)

- ‘..there might be a sense in having such marbles strung and organised into a unity of another order, rolling in anther way, for a purpose not wholly idle..’ (15)

- Eighteenth century Austrian ‘need-beads’ for the protection of children from sickness and the Evil Eye – illustration

- 'The rosary goes round and round like a hurdy-gurdy. It was a perception to this which caused the old name for it, paternoster, to be transferred to various kinds of endlessly revolving mechanisms, such as dredging-machines and a now obsolete form of lift…’ (78)

- ‘Spinning and weaving are occupations, then, proper to the Virgin Mary as the great mother, and it is probably not accidental that two part of the spinning-wheel machinery are called ‘the maiden’ and ‘mother-of-all’… Even into the late eighteenth century, the distaff, or the more modern spinning wheel, was associated with her in popular art’ (97)

- In relation to the rosary the spinning-symbolism is here to be thought of it its positive aspect, as working the numinous idea into tangible form, working towards salvation’ (99)

- ‘both the wheel and the ‘working’ of the thread also have a negative aspect, which is that bringing forth more and more lives in the material world …thus preventing us from seeing through the illusion and gaining salvation.’

- Giving in to earthy passions, that virginity is the ‘more perfect’ state, all religions which agree that ‘the aim of life is union with god’ – the direct relationship between the rosary and religious aspects, as well as direct relationship between the rosary and God.

- Traditional views that a life and union with god can be sought through giving up material possessions and sexual intercourse

- These quotations from ‘The Rose-Garden Game: the symbolic background to the European prayer beads’ reveals the long history of the rosary rooting from the 18^th century, right up to showing the more recent position the rosary has had in contemporary Europe.

- ‘My Greete beedes of goold’’ 1498 – ‘…the beads were made of kneaded petals from hibiscus rosa sinensis. The nuns of the Carmelite convent founded at Avila by St Teresa the Great make rosaries with beads of rose-petals… that they had the scent of roses, for the Virgin brought them from her rose-garden.’ (44)

‘…significant is that another Far Eastern rosary, with seventy-two black beads made of rolled and lacquered petals…

‘An even more ancient Hindu rosary is the Akshamala, a chaplet or necklace of berries called ‘eyes because of the characteristic slits in them… this eye is the third eye, the opening of which corresponds to attaining spiritual enlightenment, ‘illumination’

- ‘instrument of grace,’ is an apotropaion: like holy water or the sign of the cross, it works as a protection against evil, from moral temptation…'

 

Materials used for rosary beads

o   ‘the material will usually be an apotropaion or have sacred associations. If fruit or wood is used for rosary-bads, that most desirable is from a sacred tree.’  (45)

o   ‘Horn (the best, magically, is that of the unicorn) or bone is used by Muslims and Christians. Certain Tibetan Buddhist rosaries must have beads made from human skull-bone. Little skulls, made of bone or ivory, are also often seen attached to Christian rosaries.’ (45)

o   ‘Dead men’s teeth are reported as used…snake-bones of course have a magical function, as a protection against snake-bite, and a symbolic function because the snake biting its own tail is a symbol of immortality: they are used by Swiss, Austrian, and German peasants (especially shepherds, to protect the sheep against snake-bite), Tibetan Lamas, and Indian snake-charmers, who, like the Germans, call the vertebrae ‘snake-thorns’

o   ‘Apart from such objects, which may be either fixed or loose on a lace of wool or silk, hemp or leather, or fixed in a metal chain, there is almost no material, from lead, iron, and steel to clay (for Muslims, particularly good if from Mecca) and glass, that cannot be used to make rosary knops, and the knops may be round or oval, or rough, and lumpy, or smooth; they may be polished or carved’ (45)

o   ‘everywhere in the world the commonest materials are now wood and glass. There are very beautiful ones… of such precious materials as gold, silver, emeralds, rubies, diamonds, coral, jet, crystal, alabaster, pearls, lapis lazuli, and all other semi-precious stones, of polished or cut amber, of ebony, marble, ivory, jade, mother-of-pearl, enamel, and porcelain’ (46)

-          Rosary’s purpose as a jewellery item/luxury item: ‘From one point of view the rosary is an article of jewellery. But it is also a machine, and in its primitive form is very plain… but whether one approves of it or not, luxury, like sex, cannot be kept out of religion. If something is important to people because it is useful or numinous or, like prayer beads, both, they cannot be stopped from making it decorative as well.’ (48)

-          ‘all through the Middle Ages and until well into the sixteenth century there were a number of ways of carrying or wearing the beads. They might be carried in one hand, or over or between the clasped hands, or twined round the fore-arm rather like Jewish prayer-straps… The beads were very often worn round the neck, by men as well as women…’ (51)

-          ‘Since the beads had a complex value, at once numinous, aesthetic, and social, the presentation of a rosary amounted to a compliment to which there is no modern equivalent.’ (51)

-          Secularisation of the Rosary: ‘As long ago as 1918 it was asserted that the Muslim rosary was going out of use as a devotion; the younger generation were using the beads merely as something to toy with. Now and then someone will even assert that the Muslim beads never had any religious meaning. In fact there has been a gradual process of secularisation, and when knowledge of a meaning has been lost, there will always be those who say there never was a meaning.’ (57) – lost meaning behind the rosary

 

The rosary bead was a prominent symbol in lots of eighteenth century art work.

- This image shows a central figure: the blessed Virgin Mary also known as ‘Our Lady of the Rosary.’

- The symbolic rosary is the central symbolic object in the image, along with the white lily flowers which suggest purity and virginity

- The virgin Mary is placed elevated above the two saints, showing her prestigious position, as well as showing how she is placed above every man and woman by God.

- The two saints are dressed in black cloaks which suggests that they aren’t as pure and powerful as the Virgin Mary who is dressed in light, pastel blues and pinks.

- They hold the white lily flowers

- In the virgin Mary’s arm is the baby Jesus who is dressed in white, revealing his absolute purity and innocence

 

 

‘The Rose in the Garden’ chapter five of ‘The Rose-Garden Game: The Symbolic Background to the European Prayer Beads’ Eithne Wilkins

o   ‘why a string of beads is thought of as a garden of any kind is not self-evident. Why a string of beads can be worn round the neck should be called a chaplet, a wreath, a garland, is less puzzling; one can at least see a basic principle common to both garland and necklace. But again it is puzzling to find that the beads, whether worn round the neck or in some other way, can be regarded both as a wreath of roses and as a garden of roses...’ (105)

o   ‘… Mass for Rosary Sunday, the words ‘like a rose planted beside the waters,’ quasi rosa plantata super rivos aquarum are used symbolically of the Virgin Mary…’

o   ‘the history of how the term ‘rose-garden,’ rosarium, came to be applied to the beads lies partly in the Middle ages…. Through overwhelming associations of the rose-garden with seclusion and love, with mystery and wisdom…’ (106)

o   ‘In the fourteenth century a Benedictine abbess composed a Rosarium Jesu of fifty rhymed prayers, from which the hymn Jesu Dulcis memoria comes. Rosarium was a title especially used for hymns of praise, more especially praise of the Virgin Mary.’ (106)

o   ‘Although the development began in the twelfth century, it was especially during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries that the rose, rose-bush, rose-garden, and rose-garland were used, with almost monotonous persistence… by the middle of the fifteenth century the concept ‘rose-garden,’ as also ‘wreath of roses,’ was well established as symbolising devotion to the Mystic Rose, mother of the Divine Child…’ (106)

o   ‘The rose has countless associations of a romantic and magical as well as of a mythological, medicinal, and purely aesthetic horticultural kind. One thinks at once of the Wars of the Roses; of the Tudor Rose, the Rose of England; of coins called rose-nobles and rose-ducats… whatever form it takes and wherever it appears, the rose has extraordinary symbolic potency. It is a flower older than the human race…the rose is also the flower of blood and suffering…the red rose is often used as a symbol of Christ’s blood. Through its association with the slain god, it is also the flower of resurrection..’ (108-109)

 

                                        

18th century - colonial period Mexican oil painting on a marble slab 

 

‘Oil painting on a marble slab. The central subject is the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child on her lap. Her oval face has regular features and her eyes are cast down at the Child. From under a large gilt crown her long wavy brown hair falls about her shoulders. She wears a red dress with a gilt hem and is cloaked in a dark blue mantle covered with gilt stars and a gilt border. A sceptre is in her left hand while a gold cross on a chain is suspended from the other. Gilt stars circle her head and her feet rest on a crescent moon. The Child faces forward also with his head turned to the left side of the painting. Golden rays circle his head. He touches the scepter with his left hand while reaching toward the cross with his right hand. At the loins he wears a loose white cloth. Two blonde cherubs with only the tops of their red clothing showing about the neck are at the Virgin's feet. Two more blonde cherubs one in blue, the other in red clothing visible from the neck up are at the head of the Virgin. A circular puff of cloud surrounds the central subjects. In the cloud on the left is the half-figure of a Saint visible only from the waist up. He is bearded and has the top of his head shaven. A black and white robe with gilt trim completes a monk-like garb. He holds a stalk of white lilies in his left hand, the other is on his breast. In the cloud on the right is another half-figure of a Saint visible from the waist up. He is also bearded and has a gold circlet about his head too. The top of his head is shaved and both his hands are folded on his breast. His robe is dark blue with gilt trim. The sky is pink and blue. The ground is brown and at either end are clumps of green trees while dim blue mountains and lake are in the center. A bearded Saint with a gold circlet around his head kneels on the right. One of his feet shows with its sandal shoe, near it is a staff lying on the ground. His robe is black with gilt trim and a small dark yellow cape over it. In his upraised hands is a stalk of white lilies. Another bearded Saint with a gold circlet around his head kneels at the left. Both his sandaled feet are visible. He wears a dark green robe with gilt trim. A long yellow cloak with fancy gold trim drapes about his figure. He also holds a stalk of white lilies in his upraised hands.’

 

 

 

The wearing of the rosary and symbolism (Wikipedia) 

The idea that the wearing of the rosary was filled with hidden symbolisms and religious meaning, and that one wore it to show absolute religious dedication and sacrifice.

'The Apostolate of Holy Motherhood writes that the Virgin Mary encourages the faithful to wear the rosary and scapular because "it will help them to love Jesus more" and serve as a "protection from Satan."'

In many cases, religious followers wear the rosary out of habit as a part of their daily life as a follower of religion. That sacred objects were 'designated for divine worship by dedication or blessing.' That the wearing of these divine objects 'are not to be employed for profane or inappropriate use.' This is the concept that the wearing of sacred objects such as the rosary is a testament and statement of faith. That it would not be respectful to wear such objects as merely jewellery. 

 

 

‘The Rose-Garden Game: The Symbolic background to the European prayer beads’ by Eithne Wilkins (London : Gollancz, 1969.)

Rosary’s purpose as a jewellery item/luxury item: ‘From one point of view the rosary is an article of jewellery. But it is also a machine, and in its primitive form is very plain… but whether one approves of it or not, luxury, like sex, cannot be kept out of religion. If something is important to people because it is useful or numinous or, like prayer beads, both, they cannot be stopped from making it decorative as well.’ (48)

- ‘all through the Middle Ages and until well into the sixteenth century there were a number of ways of carrying or wearing the beads. They might be carried in one hand, or over or between the clasped hands, or twined round the fore-arm rather like Jewish prayer-straps… The beads were very often worn round the neck, by men as well as women…’ (51)

- ‘Since the beads had a complex value, at once numinous, aesthetic, and social, the presentation of a rosary amounted to a compliment to which there is no modern equivalent.’ (51)

 

Secularisation of the Rosary: ‘As long ago as 1918 it was asserted that the Muslim rosary was going out of use as a devotion; the younger generation were using the beads merely as something to toy with. Now and then someone will even assert that the Muslim beads never had any religious meaning. In fact there has been a gradual process of secularisation, and when knowledge of a meaning has been lost, there will always be those who say there never was a meaning.’ (57) – lost meaning behind the rosary

 

 

The Finger Rosary or Rosary Ring

A rosary ring is worn around the finger

It has ten indentations and a cross on the surface 

A finger rosary is similar to a ring, however somewhat larger 

Rosaries like these are used by either 'rotating' or 'just holding them between a finger and thumb while praying' 

A 'Ring Rosary' is also known as a 'Basque Rosary'

 

 

an image taken from Wikipedia of a finger rosary 

- one can clearly see the ten indentations and the cross on the surface of the ring

 

The Rosary and Scapular

'The Rosary and Scapular are inseparable" - these words were words attributes to the Virgin Mary by Lucia Santos 

Throughout history, the rosary and the scapular have been objects of religious devotion and prayers 

These objects have also been associated with a number of religious figures, with specific indulgences which have been attached to them

The rosary and the scapular are regarded as 'devotional elements of Catholicism

'Although many of the faithful choose to pray the rosary and wear the scapula, the linking of the rosary and the scapular is not formally reflected in church doctrine'

 

Meditative basis 

The spiritual and meditative benefits of the rosary and Scapular have been emphasised by Popes and Saints

Pope Pius XII said that the brown Scapular: "Let it be your sign of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary"

"And truly, from the frequent meditation on the Mysteries, the soul little by little and imperceptibly draws and absorbs the virtues they contain, and is wondrously enkindled with a longing for things immortal, and becomes strongly and easily impelled to follow the path which Christ Himself and His Mother have followed."

 

Image of rosary and Scapular side-by-side

Saints and Popes have emphasized the spiritual and meditative benefits the rosary and Scapular

Pope John Paul II is best known for his devotion to the rosary. He states that he viewed the Scapular as 'habit' to orient one's Christian life. A sign of devotion to the Holy Virgin Mary

 

"The sign of the Scapular points to an effective synthesis of Marian spirituality, which nourishes the devotion of believers and makes them sensitive to the Virgin Mother's loving presence in their lives... devotion to her cannot be limited to prayers and tributes in her honour on certain occasions, but must become a "habit", that is, a permanent orientation of one's own Christian conduct."

The wearing of a Scapular has been viewed as constant meditation by Bishop Leo De Goesbriand: "Wherever I am, whatever I am doing, Mary never sees me without seeing upon my body an evidence of my devotion to her."

The wearing of the Scapular has been seen as a constant meditation by the Bishop Leo De Goesbriand: "Wherever I am, whatever I am doing, Mary never sees me without seeing upon my body an evidence of my devotion to her." - This statement portrays the compete devotion shown by religious followers such as Geosbriand, and the significance of wearing these holy objects as a sign of religious sacrifice.  

 

Rosary-based prayers / Prayers of the Holy Rosary

Rosary-based prayers are a set of Christian prayers said on a set of rosary beads. 

'These prayers recite specific word sequences on different parts of the rosary beads. They may be directed at Jesus Christ, the blessed Virgin Mary or The Father.' http://religion.wikia.com/wiki/Rosary_based_prayers 

'The best known example of a rosary-based prayer is simply called the "Holy Rosary" and involves contemplation on five rosary mysteries, while Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father prayers are recited.'

This particular rosary prayer is said to go back several centuries, with the specific dates being ambiguous.  

 

Prayers of the Holy Rosary

The Sign of the Cross: "In the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

 

The Apostles Creed: "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, Our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into Hell. On the third day He rose again; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; and thence He shall comes to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen."

 

The Our Father: "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil. Amen."

 

The Hail Mary: "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death. Amen." 

 

Glory be to the Father: "Glory be the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen."

 

The Fatima Prayer: "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Your Mercy".

 

The Hail, Holy Queen: "Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus; O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary."

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Beaded Rosaries with crucifixes 

 

 

The symbol of the rosary is used within paintings and imagery during the eighteenth century 

The rosary is portrayed being held by the Virgin Mary, and its prominence is central in much of the artwork

 

Eighteenth century painting of the Virgin Mary and rosary

La obra representa a la Virgen del Rosario llevando al Niño Jesús en sus brazos

The work represents the Virgin of the Rosary carrying the child Jesus in his arms 

[Image taken from Wikipedia]

The image shows the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus sat on her knee. 

They are positioned above the angels, which are shown to be below. This shows their religious standing and their higher-ranking religious position. 

The baby Jesus is shown holding the rosary beads and crucifix which shows both his religious rank and purity as a child of God. 

He is shown as naked which again shows his purity and innocence, will the Virgin Mary wearing an extravagant pink, blue and gold robe and headdress. 

 

This image depicts the Virgin Mary, holding the baby Jesus with the central object being the rosary.

The baby Jesus, as well as the Virgin Mary are shown to be holding the rosary beads which portrays their purity and innocence, as well as acting a symbol of their religious devotion and sacrifice. 

The Virgin Mary is clothed in an extravagant gold and forest green robe, with gold showing her royalty and religious wealth. 

Both the baby Jesus and Virgin Mary are shown to be wearing golden crowns which shows their religious prosperity and richness. 

 

 

La obra representa a la Virgen del Rosario llevando en brazos a su hijo, el Niño Jesús, y rodeada de ángeles.

The work depicts the virgin of the rosary carrying her son, and surrounded by angels 

[Image taken from Wikipedia]

In this image, baby Jesus is positioned on the knee of the Virgin Mary. 

The rosary is shown to be held and intertwined around the two of them. 

The Virgin Mary is shown to be wearing a gold, pink and blue robe, with the baby Jesus showed as only wearing a tiny swaddling clothe to cover his dignity. 

Angels are shown to surround the two main figures in the painting. 

They are looking up to the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, which emphasises the position of these two individuals. 

The central object in this image is the round religious object held in the left hand of the Virgin Mary and the rosary. 

 

Campeche Jose - Virgin of Solitude, from the Minimos de la Victoria convent 

 

 

 

The rosary as an item of jewellery

- The sign value of jewellery during the 18th century 

- Classed as an object of luxury 

- In Hogarth's 'A Harlot's progress,' he displays the value of earrings during the 18th century 

Important to note the value attached to items of jewellery, and the status which jewellery would of given to individuals 

 

 

 

Secondary sources used: 

 

- ‘The Rose-Garden Game: The Symbolic background to the European prayer beads’ by Eithne Wilkins (London: Gollancz, 1969.)

- ‘The Mystery of the Rosary’ Marian devotion and the reinvention of Catholicism edited by Nathan D Mitchell [New York University Press 2009]

 

Images taken from Wikipedia