Styling Rosaries... Rosary Styles

Whether you have prayed the rosary for a long time or are just getting into it, you will find there are a few styles of rosaries.  The most basic kind can usually be found for free.  They are made with a nice thin rope, barrel knots, and beads.  They are often made by church groups and can last years or days, depending on how well made they are and how they are treated.  They are good for having in your pocket and using on the go, or if you come across someone that you want to give a rosary to that is in need of one, because they don't usually cost a whole lot to make.

The next kind of rosary is a wire strung rosary.  This is usually made with jewelry wire, beads, the clamp, station, and crucifix.  They can be basic or elaborate.  Generally there are seed beads used as the spacers in between the Ave beads and extra between the decades and Pater beads.

Chain link rosaries have beads that are on eye pins and link together in the group of ten beads and then commonly have some chain between the Ave's and the Paters, but not always.  There are variations where a different style bead will be used for the Pater or bead caps will be used to distinguish the Pater from the decades.

The last type of rosary is wire-wrapped links.  These rosaries have beads that are connected very securely together using jewelry wire that is wrapped around the post.  These are much harder to break and are considered very durable.  Links that connect the decades to the Paters can even be wrapped for durability.  These rosaries tend to be on the more expensive side since they take considerably longer to make (sometimes three times as long as the chain link rosaries).

Regardless of the style you choose, a rosary should help you focus on the prayers you are praying.  You might prefer a simple one or one that is a bit more ornate; one with sentimental value or one that you picked up along the way that is very inexpensive and could easily pass along to someone else.  The most important thing is that you pray the rosary.  Any benefit beyond that is wonderful, but not the core of what you are praying.

Rosaries are sacramentals and should be blessed.  Through the blessing and the faith of the person with the rosary, protection is given to the person in possession of and praying the rosary.  Merely holding the rosary in your hand offers protection.  So, pick the rosary that suits your needs best, and start praying.

Wire strung, chain link, and wire wrapped rosaries are all available at my store, www.craftsbychristina.com.