Rosaries

Armed with your answers to these questions, try to find the right beads for you – and others you may want to buy rosaries for – from the many materials rosaries can be made from. The symbolism of these beads can be interpreted in myriad ways. When I reach for one of my rosaries, I’m reaching for one that particularly reflects my mood, my thoughts, my desires at the moment of my prayer. These are very personal choices, and with a little thought, you will come up with the best materials for your rosaries.

Glass

There are some many kinds of glass beads: pressed glass beads, lampwork glass beads, fused glass beads, crystal glass beads, to name just a few of the most popular types. The type of glass bead you use doesn’t matter, as long as you like the look of it. My own preference tends toward crystal glass beads, because of the spectacular colors they come in, and for fire-polished glass beads, because of the extra shimmer they display. Among the most popular glass bead embroidery and bead-woven jewelry. These come in several sizes, from 15 to 6, with the larger numbers representing the smaller beads.

Metal

Metal beads can have good heft, something to consider if you want to feel the weight of your rosaries as you pray. They may need to be polished, especially with heavy use. Some metal rosaries are composed of a base metal overlaid with a silver, gold, or copper color. These are less expensive than solid silver, copper or gold rosaries, but you should be aware that their color will wear off in time.
Gold has been used to adorn religious icons, idols, and images for many thousands of years. In Christianity gold was used in paintings to represent Jesus and the Holy Family, and in Orthodox Christianity the icons of many saints are often represented with gold detail or appear on gold backgrounds. Silver, too, has a long history with religion. In the heraldry of the Middle Ages, silver symbolized purity and chastity because it remained unchanged by fire. Some people believe that solid copper can battle exhaustion, ease arthritis, and help promote healthy circulation.

Semiprecious stones

Naturally occurring semiprecious gemstones have been known since the earliest civilizations and have come to be associated with certain qualities. I like to use them for rosaries because they are part of the earth, part of creation story. The Old Testament tells of a bejeweled breastplate worn by Aaron, the high priest of the Hebrews. The armor was set with twelve precious and semiprecious stones – one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Among them was amethyst, peridot, onyx, jasper, and agate, all of which are available for the rosary makers today. I use many of these when I make rosaries for other people, often making rosaries composed of their birthstone. Let’s look at some of the more popular semiprecious stones.
Agate comes in a range of colors including black, blue, brown, green and red. Perhaps brown agate, traditionally worn by ancient soldiers to assure victory in battle, was the agate spoken of in Aaron’s breastplate. In folklore, agate is the stone of truth, and wearing it is supposed to ensure that one’s words are sincere. There are also patterned forms of the stone, such as black and white agate, moss agate, and banded agate.
Amethyst is a quartz that runs in shades from light lavender to deep purple. It has often been associated with royalty because of its color. Different cultures have credited amethyst with numerous qualities and abilities, from symbolizing peace and sincerity to protecting soldiers. In Aaron’s breastplate, the amethyst represented the prophet Math, known for his deep desire to please God. Christians of the Middle Ages believed amethyst could promote celibacy and purity, so it was incorporated in many church adornments of the time. Today, holistic healers believe its contact with the skin can bring about a relaxed state.
Bloodstone, with a dark green base flecked with spots of red, was considered in the Middle Ages to represent the blood of Christ. Sculptures of martyrs made in this period were often carved from bloodstone.
Carnelian is an agate from the chalcedony family. The ancient Egyptians believed carnelian ensured the soul’s passage to eternity. The Old Testament lists carnelian as one of the stones in Aaron’s breastplate, representing the tribe of Reuben. According to some carnelian has great focusing properties and can boost creativity and problem solving.
Fluorite comes in pretty pastel shades of green, white, purple, and lavender. The ancient Egyptians carved fluorite in scrabs, and the Chinese used it to make decorative and devotional statues. Ancient cultures believed fluorite has an energy that promotes peace and spiritual growth which makes it a great material for rosaries.
Garnets have a rich religious history. One tale holds that Noah used a garnet to light the path of the ark at night. Early Christians associated the garnet with the blood of Christ’s sacrifice, and Crusaders wore it in the belief it would help them find their way home. Once, garnets were exchanged as farewell tokens between friends as a symbol of their love for each other and a sign of hope that they would meet again. Today, garnets are credited with promoting health, order, insight, and strength. Garnets are traditionally birthstone of January babies.
Jade, to the ancient people, was an emblem of heaven and the earth. Confucius taught that jade has eleven virtues, including benevolence, fidelity, polite etiquette, wisdom, and sincerity. Hence, jade was not only a decoration, but also a symbol of ethics and good behavior.
Jasper, another of the stones in Aaron’s biblical breastplate, is supposed to protect the wearer from physical harm and from pain. Perhaps for this reason, is has a reputation in some folk cultures for reducing the pain of childbirth and thus is great stone for rosaries for expecting moms. Jasper comes in several colors, including red, green, brown, and mottled variety.
Moonstone is usually white, milky stone with highlights of lavender and sometimes pink. It is considered protective of women and children.
Onyx is an agate that comes in green, blue, white, and most commonly black. It is mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 2:12: “The gold of that land is good; bdellium and the onyx stone are there.”
Pearls have been associated with various religious ideas by peoples throughout history. Pearls represented nurturing aspects of religion. They were also associated with God’s creation of the universe, as a pearl seamed to be generated out of nothing by the oyster. Today, rosaries are made out of cultured pearls of all shapes and sizes.
Peridots were considered by ancient peoples as stones that had a great power for healing sick. They range from a greenish yellow to a deeper olive green and are the birthstone of those born in August.
Sodalite is a dark blue stone with veins of white and yellow. Today, some people believe sodalite can combat the effects of radiation, making this a good choice for rosaries for a cancer patient.
Turquoise is a blue and black-veined stone. It is considered as a protective and healing stone.

Wood

Jesus died on a cross made of wood. For this reason, rosaries made from wood can resonate deeply with Christians. Some legends say the cross was made of dogwood, same say olive, some say cedar of Lebanon. The Bible is silent on this subject, so for me, any kind of wood rosaries will do. Here are some other kinds of woods that are considered sacred or special.
Sandalwood has a sweet, light scent. Some religions believe sandalwood can bring one closer to the divine. Some believe that the scent of sandalwood can transform one’s earthly desires and help in meditation.
Cherry. There is an old legend about the Holy Family and a cherry tree. The legend goes that on the way to Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary passed a cherry orchard and Mary, pregnant with Jesus, begged Joseph to pick her some of the fruit. Joseph, out of spite, tells Mary to get the child’s real father to pick the cherries for her. At this moment, Jesus speaks from Mary’s womb and commands a bough of the cherry tree to come down to her. Joseph witnesses the miracle and repents his harsh words. By the fifteenth century this legend had made its way into a song, known as The Cherry Tree Carol.
Olive. There are olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane, some of which, legend claims, go back to he time of Jesus.

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