About Making Rosaries

• The Fifteen Promises of Mary
• How Do You Pray The Rosary
• Making Rosaries

TO: Display of Rosary and Y-Necklace Components

The complete rosary consists of 150 beads, the same number of psalms in the Bible. In the twelfth century, religious orders recited togetherthe 150 Psalms as a way to mark the hours of the day and the days of the week. In order to pray the Psalms, though, people had to knowhow to read. People who didn't know to read wanted to share in the practice, so the rosary, or praying on beads began as a parallel to thepsalms. It was a way that illiterate persons could remember the Lord and his mother throughout the day.

The first rosaries consisted of a string of 150 beads, and as much as we do now, a person would pass over each bead after saying a prayer,usually the "Our Father". The "Hail Mary" as we know it wasn't even around at that time.

Various persons have added other things to the rosary over the centuries. In the fifteenth century, a Carthusian monk divided the rosary intofifteen brackets (or decades), and a Dominican assigned mysteries to each of the decades. His decades were the same as ours except forthe last two. In those two, the Coronation and the Assumption together made up the fourteenth decade, and the fifteenth decade was theLast Judgment.

The "Hail Mary" owes it's origin to the rosary. When people said the rosary in the twelfth century, Gabrielle'sgreeting "Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee" was often said along with the "Our Father". Later,Elizabeth's prayer, "Blessed are you among women" was added. It was not until the sixteenth century that thewords "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death" were added.

Today's complete rosary is made up of fifteen decades of the "Hail Mary" separated by an "Our Father" and a "Glory Be" and sometimesthe Fatima prayer "O My Jesus". We usually break the rosary up into three sets of five mysteries, and say a different set of mysteries eachday. There are variations however, and in some countries the rosary may even have different mysteries.

Making Rosaries

Materials:
59 beads (4, 6 or 8mm is typical; may mix sizes; usually glass or gemstone ), (typically either austrian crystal or firepolish glass beads, or gemstone beads).  Also of interest are glass druks, glass cross beads, glass madonna beads.
(either 59 beads of one size, or 50 - 54 beads of one size and 5 -9 beads of a larger size) 
[One Our Father and Three Hail Mary beads next to the crucifix, plus 50 Hail Mary beads
and 5 Our Father beads that form the major part of the chain]                     
59 1-1 1/2" eye pins (plated, sterling silver, or gold-filled) to go through each bead, and to make a chain-link
Rosary Center
here Cross or Crucifix (may also need a jump ring to attach the cross to the bead-link-chain

Tools:  Chain Nose Pliers, Round Nose Pliers, Wire Cutters

A Rosary is a string of beads with a crucifix. A short string of four beads (one Our Father, three Hail Mary) is attached to the crucifix which leads to a large circular strip of beads made of of five sets of (usually) one large bead and 10 smaller beads, (or 11 beads of the same size) called decades.    You might also make a 10 decade or a 15 decade rosary.

STEPS:
1)  Choose the color and size of the beads you want to use.   You might use either glass or gemstone beads.   You might select different colors for your Hail Mary Beads and your Our Father Beads.  When selecting a different color, it is best to use either a clear bead or a contrasting color.   Most people use garnet, amethyst or black onyx colors.  You might use the colors of your birth stones.

Most people use beads sized between 4mm and 8mm.  You might use glass or gemstone.  You might use smooth round or faceted round beads.  The Our Father Bead should be larger than the Hail Mary beads.

You may substitute letter beads for some of your Hail Mary beads.   You may use the letters to symbolize people or things of spiritual meaning to you, such as "Mom" or "Dad" or someone's initials.

2)  Select a Center Medal or Rosary Center

3) Select a Cross or Crucifix

4) Create your bead-link-chain.  Take an eye-pin, and put it through a bead.  You need a little less than 1/2" of the straight end of the eye-pin for making a loop.  So, you need the eye pin to extend at least 1/2" through the other end of the bead.  If it is longer, cut it with a wire cutters.  Use the round-nose pliers to twist the wire into a loop.   Your goal is to bring the tip of the eye-pin back to the hole of the bead.  Before you finish making the whole loop, however, link this developing loop into the already-formed loop of an eye pin, and then bring the tip to the hold of the bead.  Now stick the new eye pin through the next bead.  Create a loop, and so forth.

    -----------o       eye pin

    -----Oo             bead on eye pin

    (__Oo               begin to form a  new loop on
                              eye pin

    ---------ooOo   new eye pin linked to NEW
               LOOP-BEAD-ORIGINAL LOOP

    -----OooOo      bead on second eye pin

    (__OooOo        begin to form a new loop on
                             second eye pin

          ...and so forth

5) Your Rosary Center will have three loops attached to it, two on top, and one on the bottom.    Attach either end of your bead-link-chain to the top too loops on the rosary center.

6) Create a bead-link-chain of 4 beads.  Attach one end of this chain to the bottom of the rosary center.  Attach the other end of this chain to the cross or crucifix.

REMEMBER:  Rosary's are personalized statements of spiritual connections.  They may be personalized by things of spiritual importance to you, either through selection of various types of beads, or the addition of charms, mandalas or other pendants of significance.

The Fifteen Promises of Mary
to Those Who Recite the Rosary

(Given to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan)

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the rosary, shall receive signal graces.

2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the rosary.

3. The rosary shall be a powerful armour against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.

4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.

5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the rosary, shall not perish.

6. Whoever shall recite the rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysterie shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.

7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.

8. Those who are faithful to recite the rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.

9. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the rosary.

10. The faithful children of the rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.

11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the rosary.

12. All those who propagate the holy rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.

13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.

14. All who recite the rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only son Jesus Christ.

15. Devotion of my rosary is a great sign of predestination.

How do you pray the Rosary?

To pray the rosary you should use a Rosary. A Rosary is a string of beads with a crucifix. A short string of five beads is attached to the crucifix which leads to a large circular strip of beads made of of five sets of one large bead and 9 smaller beads, called decades.

You begin on the crucifix with a Sign of the Cross and an Apostles' Creed. Say an Our Father on the large bead and one Hail Mary for each of the next three smaller beads. On the next large bead, say a Glory Be to the Father, announce and meditate on the first mystery and say an Our Father. Say a Hail Mary for each of the following smaller beads, then begin the cycle again with a Glory Be and the second mystery. You end with the Prayer After the Rosary and a Sign of the Cross.

The usual Rosary contains five decades. The mysteries include the Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries and the Glorious Mysteries.

The Joyful Mysteries, to be said on Mondays and Thursdays, as well as Sundays from the beginning of Advent until Lent:

The Annunciation of Our Lord
Meditation: The angel said to Mary, "You shall conceive and bear a son and give him the name of Jesus. And he will be called Son of the Most High." Luke 1:31-32

The Visitation
Meditation: "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb ... Blessed is she who trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled." Luke 1:42-45

The Nativity of Jesus
Meditation: While Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. Luke 2:-6-7

The Presentation in the Temple
Meditation: When the day came to purify them according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus up to Jerusalem so that he could be presented to the Lord. Luke 2:22

The Finding in the Temple
Meditation: They came upon him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard him were amazed. Luke 2:46-47

The Sorrowful Mysteries, to be said on Tuesdays and Fridays, as well as Sundays during Lent:

The Agony in the Garden
Meditation: Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane ... He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer. "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass me by." Matthew 26:36-39

The Scourging at the Pillar
Meditation: The people said, "Let his blood be on us and on our children." At that, he released Barabbas to them. Jesus, however, he first had scourged. Matthew 27:25-26

The Crowning with Thorns
Meditation: They stripped off his clothes and wrapped him in a scarlet cloak. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they fixed it on his head ... and began to mock him. Matthew 27:28-29

The Carrying of the Cross
Meditation: Jesus was led away, and carrying the cross by himself, went out to what is called the Place of the Skull. There they crucified him. John 19:16-18

The Crucifixion and Death
Meditation: The curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two, Jesus uttered a loud cry and said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." After this, he expired. Luke 23:45-46

The Glorious Mysteries, to be said on Wednesdays and Saturdays, as well as Sundays from Easter until Advent:

The Resurrection of Our Lord
Meditation: The angel spoke, "Do not be frightened. I know you are looking for Jesus the crucified, but he is not here. He has been raised, exactly as he promised." Matthew 28:5-6

The Ascension into Heaven
Meditation: Then he led them out near Bethany, and with hands upraised, blessed them. As he blessed, he left them, and was taken up to heaven. Luke 24:50-51

The Descent of the Holy Spirit
Meditation: Tongues as of fire appeared which parted and came to rest on each of them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:3-4

The Assumption of Mary
Meditation: Blessed are you daughter, by the Most High Lord, above all the women on earth; and blessed be the Lord God, the Creator of heaven and earth. Judith 13:18

The Coronation of Mary
Meditation: A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of  twelve stars. Revelation 12:1

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

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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.

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 our death. Amen.

Glory Be to the Father
Glory be to 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.

Prayer After the Rosary
Hail! Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His Life, Death and Resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech You, that, meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

AN ADDED NOTE FROM Elaine of Manlius, NY:

"Nice site on rosary making however you have omitted the newer luminous mysteries of the rosary, which are said in between the Joyful and the Sorrowful mysteries as they represent the active ministry of Christ. These mysteries were the idea of our late Pope, John Paul (the Great). And the mysteries are as follows: 1. The baptism of Christ; 2. The wedding at Cana; 3. The proclamation of the Kingdom (and the forgiveness of sins); 4. the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor; 5. and the institution of the Holy Eucharist. "