Is it okay to wear a rosary around your neck?

[Musa80]

Sorry if this has been asked before, though a search of thread titles didn't bring up anything. Would it be considered improper to wear a rosary around the neck, under the clothes? I keep finding myself away from home and wishing I had it with me, but I cannot bring myself to toss it in my pocket with keys, loose change, pocket lint, and other "junk", and rosary bracelets are a no go for me. I tend to break anything I put around my wrist.

 

[EDB]

I personally don't like it - it feels like it's treated as mere jewelry. I personally have a small white pouch I carry it in. That way it's not just thrown in a purse or pocket, but it is easily carried with you. My husband has a tapestry pouch. You can usually find them in any Catholic book/religious goods store.

 

[a.d.ivNonasNovembres]

I read somewhere you shouldn't (don't remember where) but tbh I feel soooo comfortable with it round my neck sometimes I sleep with it there :o

 

[Rhamiel]

latin american countries seem to have no problem with people wearing the rosary, as far as I know only western Europe and the USA Catholics seem to discourage it
but since live in the USA, I do not wear the rosary, never felt right to me, but that is just me, I have no problem keeping it in my left coat pocket, i only keep a rosary in it, sometimes a prayer card, so it keeps the feel of being sacred and it is easy to carry

 

[Winter]

I wear it - but I keep it private - I don't display it and I don't treat it like jewelry. Its a comfort for me when I'm going thorugh difficult times. Sometimes, I just keep a pair in my purse. I guess it really depends on my situation. I hope there isn't anything wrong with wearing it though - I never heard we shouldn't, so I hope I haven't done anything wrong.

 

[Musa80]

Thanks for the replies folks. It seems to me from the replies and searching out different sources on the net, that it really depends on intent. I would agree that it would wrong to wear one as jewelry, but aside from my wedding band, I am a man and I don't do jewelry. Since it seems to be seen differently depending on culture, it is probably best to keep it under the shirt so as not to scandalize anyone.

 

[Winter]

Yes, that's what I do. I just keep it under my shirt.

 

[Rhamiel]

I never heard we shouldn't, so I hope I haven't done anything wrong.

it seems to be more of a cultural thing, we should treat the rosary with respect, if it is a blessed chaplet then it is a spiritual tool. so as a general rule, wearing the rosary is discouraged, but since the rule is about respect, I do not really think it is a "hard and fast" rule, but more of a suggestion

 

[Rois]

I don't think there is anything really wrong with it, I just probably wouldn't feel comfortable with that (not being used to it). and then there are people who wear a rosary in music videos as decoration/jewelry. that's a little different.

 

[Anygma]

i used to ware mine around my wrist. i was shown to ware it that way by some youth from a young religious order. i really enjoyed the convenience of having it on hand and as a reminder to pray often. once i was complimented on the nice bracelet. to that i replied, oh no, it's not a bracelet, it's my rosary.

since having kids i stopped waring it that way because i didn't want to imprint the beads on the side of their head while nursing. wish i had known it was ok to ware around the neck as long as it's not worn as jewelery. apparently many saint wore it that way. i've been keeping it in my jeans pocket, but i only ware them when i go outside. in the house i ware PJs. i miss having my rosary always with me.

my rosaries i use the most are wooden beads on string so they would not break. I remember when i was a kid one time i was visiting at one of my aunts place and i was digging in her junk drawer and found a rosary in it, i thought it was pretty and put it around my neck. my aunt told me it was not a necklace and said to take it off, it was not meant to be worn that way so it was always the impression that i got. that's almost 30 years ago

 

[EDB]

I wear it - but I keep it private - I don't display it and I don't treat it like jewelry. Its a comfort for me when I'm going thorugh difficult times. Sometimes, I just keep a pair in my purse. I guess it really depends on my situation. I hope there isn't anything wrong with wearing it though - I never heard we shouldn't, so I hope I haven't done anything wrong.

You certainly haven't done anything wrong! Sorry if I came off that way. I just meant that for me, personally, I didn't like it. I don't believe there is any official teaching for or against it!

 

[MoNiCa4316]

if you wear it underneath your shirt, I don't see anything wrong with that. The only objection would be people wearing a rosary like it's a piece of jewellery. But if you just want to keep it with you, to pray, and not to display to others, that's fine IMO

 

[Caedmon]

There's no rosary police, but almost every priest I've talked to about it has discouraged it. You also need to take into consideration that many people who espouse viewpoints antithetical to proper Marian devotion wear them as jewelry, namely celebrities and criminals. In fact, last semester, a high school girl was told that she couldn't wear her rosary because it was a gang symbol.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,423143,00.html

 

[SweetBee]

I have a wooden bead rosary that smells like roses, it came in a special little oval shaped case that I keep it in, so it's convenient if I want or need to take it somewhere with me. I have another rosary with plastic beads that I could probably wear around my neck if I wanted, but I'd feel weird because I don't think most people would understand and I'd probably get a lot of stares and questions. My 15 month old daughter wears it sometimes though, she puts it on and runs around the house saying "GOD! GOD!"...LOL.

 

[Musa80]

I have a wooden bead rosary that smells like roses, it came in a special little oval shaped case that I keep it in, so it's convenient if I want or need to take it somewhere with me. I have another rosary with plastic beads that I could probably wear around my neck if I wanted, but I'd feel weird because I don't think most people would understand and I'd probably get a lot of stares and questions. My 15 month old daughter wears it sometimes though, she puts it on and runs around the house saying "GOD! GOD!"...LOL.

That is awesome. Your kid is a fast learner. Took me near 26 years to learn how to toss aside all care and call out to God.

 

[Antigone]

As long as you don't wear it to be all purdy 'n stuff, I don't see why not. Lots of priests and monks wear it around or at their waist or around their wrists. I'd begin to worry when I see Fitty Cent wear a giant rosary made out of solid gold and studded with illegally obtained diamonds from Sierra Leone.

 

[Lady Bug]

I'm kind of a dissenter in all this. I'd love to wear a rosary necklace - I swear I wouldn't be doing it out of disrespect at all (I understand, I think, that such necklaces are a lot smaller than an ordinary rosary)

I don't have the guts to wear one but if I did I think I'd like it It's not that I would do it to show off but I kind of feel like it's some sort of protection (that is not meant to sound superstitious or anything). Of course, I could just wear a crucifix necklace and be done with it though.

in a way, too bad I don't live in a place like Latin America LOL where it's a-ok to wear one - I definitely wouldn't be treating it as mere jewelry.

 

[isabella1]

I believe it is in the Catechism that wearing the rosary around the neck as a piece of jewelry is not allowed. I will see if I can find it later, no time right now. Maybe someone else will or can find it before I return.

I personally always have one in my pocket or somewhere handy in my clothing so I can use it (and be reminded to), often throughout the day.

This brings to mind, I have never seen a priest or a nun wear the rosary around their necks. Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[Angeldove97]

I wear mine when I'm particularly stressed and I find it a huge comfort--- I'll slip it off during the day when I'm by myself and need to pray. I'm scared of losing my rosaries, so I know I won't lose them if they're around my neck. I only have 2 of them--- one given to me when I was becoming Catholic but a person who was like a Mom to me (she's my ex's Mom so we don't talk now) and the second by my boyfriend as a birthday gift. So both are special, on top of being a prayer tool for me to come closer to the Lord.

I think its totally based on intention--- if you need to connect to God in this way, then I think He'd be happy for you to wear it.

 

[Michie]

Sorry if this has been asked before, though a search of thread titles didn't bring up anything. Would it be considered improper to wear a rosary around the neck, under the clothes? I keep finding myself away from home and wishing I had it with me, but I cannot bring myself to toss it in my pocket with keys, loose change, pocket lint, and other "junk", and rosary bracelets are a no go for me. I tend to break anything I put around my wrist.

My priest says it can be done as long as it's a valid reason. Not done for a fashion statement & it is used for prayer. Oftentimes when I go to the Nursing Home, etc. I drape it around my neck underneath my shirt. I'm busy, my hands are full, I'm giving communion, etc.

It is somewhat cultural also. A lot of hispanics do it along with people in Haiti. Hispanics often drape the rosary around the neck for their dead instead of placing it in the hand.

It really depends on why you are wearing it & if you only wear it & never use it to pray.

I've seen very small expensive gold rosaries made very small like necklaces that I see a lot of people wear. I think those are mostly for a statement of faith though. Sort of like wearing a crucifix.

There are many, many opinions on this. My advice? Talk to your priest.

I wear mine under my clothes for easy assess when I'm busy with what I mentioned earlier. No fuss, no muss, no tangles. Just whip it off & start praying with whomever wants to pray the rosary.