Rosary Wearing

A few weeks ago a parishioner who works at a public school called me. The school principal had asked her about students wearing rosaries around their necks so my parishioner called to consult me.

This phenomenon has become widespread. Many people, especially young ones, are wearing rosaries around their necks. Celebrities too, you see them on TV and magazines. Most of these rosary-wearing people are not even Catholic. How does the Church view this?

I doubt the Church has an official pronouncement on this issue, but I can say this, the rosary is meant to be prayed. The rosary is a set of prayer beads not jewelry or a fashion statement. Religious men and women for centuries have worn a rosary, but not around their necks, rather hanging from their belts. This has been done for convenience, that way the rosary is handy to be prayed. I doubt many people today who wear the rosary around their necks do it for convenience just in case they decide to pray it.

If one wants to carry the rosary, it is better to keep it in one’s pocket. Instead of hanging it around one’s neck for decoration, it should hang around one’s fingers for prayer.

I told my parishioner that neither Catholics or non-Catholics at the school should be wearing the rosary around their necks. After a pause where she processed all I said, she concluded, “so it’s a sign of disrespect to be wearing the rosary around the neck.” I agreed.