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Wearing of the Rosary
Wearing of a Rosary that one actually uses to pray is neither uncommon nor sacrilegious in various Roman Catholic-adherent cultures and was a common practice in the
Medieval and
Renaissance periods, particularly among religious (
monks,
nuns, and friars). Rosaries are also worn hanging from or looped over a belt, particularly with some
religious habits, pinned to and hanging from a shoulder or neckline, or wrapped around a wrist or arm as a bracelet. Some Christians feel that it is sacrilegious for a non-believer to wear a rosary around the neck. This is particularly true in Roman Catholic cultures that have histories of persecution, particularly among the Irish and English Catholics. Because Irish Catholic tradition is often seen as normative in the United States and Canada, this has been the source of some conflict in the past. The Roman Catholic Church states: "Sacred objects, set aside for divine worship by dedication or blessing, are to be treated with reverence. They are not to be made over to secular or inappropriate use, even though they may belong to private persons"
[41]. Thus it is acceptable to wear a rosary if one is doing so to show veneration, however it is not acceptable if one is wearing the rosary irreverently, such as wearing it as a piece of jewelry. Many saints have worn their rosary around the neck, and in the
Secret of the Rosary, it is mentioned that a person put his rosary around his neck to keep devils away from him.
Rosaries or rosary-like necklaces are often worn for non-religious purposes as a fashion or jewelry item, and are sold in different variations in popular jewelry and clothing stores. Such ornamental use, especially the wearing of a rosary around the neck, was heavily popularized by singer
Madonna in the early 1980s and has experienced a come-back in recent years. Wearing a rosary around the neck can be considered disrespectful if the person wearing it does not affiliate with the Christian religion. Ornate or medieval-style rosary sets are occasionally featured in
goth fashion.
As penance or reparation
Praying the rosary may be prescribed by priests as a form of
penance after
confession. Penance in this form is not generally intended as a "punishment"; rather, it is meant to encourage reflection upon and spiritual growth from past sins.[
citation needed]
Some forms of the Roman Catholic rosary are aimed at reparation
for the sins of others. An example is the
Rosary of the Holy Wounds first introduced at the beginning of the 20th century by the
Venerable Sister
Mary Martha Chambon, a
Roman Catholic nun of the
Monastery of the Visitation Order in
Chambery,
France.
[28] This rosary is somewhat similar in structure to the
Chaplet of Divine Mercy, is said on the usual rosary beads and is intended as an
Act of Reparation to Jesus Christ for the sins of the world.
[42]