Praying the Rosary
Take these words of mine into your heart and soul. Bind them at your wrist as a sign, and let them be a pendant on your forehead. Deuteronomy 11:18
Devotional jewelry, charms and beads hold much power for the person they belong to. The words and memories associated with each item are strong reminders of the spiritual truth it symbolizes. This is seen even in the secular society in its selling of “best friends” charms and the passing down of family heirlooms.
But this passage brings to mind another type of devotional “jewelry”: my Rosary beads. I was once told that one should never buy one’s own Rosary; it should be given and received as a gift. And I must say I do feel a deep connection with the giver of each Rosary I pray with. Each of mine comes from a different person close to my heart and was bought in a different country. As I recite the words, the string of beads becomes a story, a relationship, a way to express my love for God and neighbor, tangibly and intangibly.
Julia DiSalvo
Originally published June 1, 2008
