Felted Rosaries
The rosary is a devotion consisting of twenty decades, where one meditates on the chief mysteries of the life, death and glory of Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother. It is a combination of both mental meditation and repetitive vocal prayer. From its inception onwards, the rosary devotion was directly tied to the string of beads that came to represent it. Each decade contains ten Ave Marias (Hail Marys’) marked by small beads, preceded by a Paternoster (Our Father) marked by a larger bead. The beads add an aesthetic dimension, something tactile that you hold while praying, especially in times of trouble.
The word ‘rosary’ originally meant ‘rose garden’ or ‘rose wreath’ and was applied to a devotion of repetitions of the Hail Mary. Legend says that bystanders (actually robbers) saw a young monk reciting Hail Mary’s in the road when he stopped to rest. As each one dropped from the monk’s lips, it turned into a rose, which was gathered up by the Virgin Mary standing nearby. The Virgin showed her pleasure at the gift of prayers by weaving the roses into a garland for her head.
The Rosary as a devotion has evolved over time and was formally fixed by Pope St. Pius V in 1569. In the 12th Century, the basic prayer, “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” emerged. The name “Jesus” was added to the prayer, showing up during the 13th and 14th centuries. It was in the 16th century that “Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinner, now and at the hour of our death” was included, as well as the Creed and the Gloria. Not all early Rosaries had a cross or crucifix. Instead they ended with silk tassels, religious medals, jewelry, pomanders, heart medallions, tiny purses or flasks of holy water. The ‘drop’ or tail of a modern rosary first appeared in the 15th-16th century, becoming universal in the 18th-19th century. The most notable development in our time has been Pope John Paul II’s apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae in 2002 which added the five Luminous mysteries to the existing Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries, bringing the total decades to twenty.
The Rosary is a beautiful, prayerful exercise that encourages you to sit still, be mindful and find peace in your soul. It is prayer that can be done privately or communally—and offers the Catholic faithful something that we all share in common. Since it is a Christ-centred devotion, it also calls upon all Christians to share in the experience to better their relationship with God.
When using rosary beads, you are always praying to Jesus. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me”. (John 14:6) You are asking Our Lady to intercede on your behalf, to help you in your time of need. She understands the difficulties in life. She was tested through her suffering and can help you, when you find yourself being tested.
The Rosary is an important prayer tool in which the faithful spend time thinking about certain stories in the life of Jesus and Mary. However, It must be stated that at no time is this valuable meditation tool used to worship Mary, as some erroneously believe. It is a tool that honours her as Christ’s mother.
Source: “Stories of the Rose, The Making of the Rosary in the Middle Ages” by Anne Winston-Allen, copyright 1997, The Pennsylvania State University Press.
Felted Cross Rosaries – $25
Hand Knit or Crocheted and Felted Wool Cross. A colourful and soft cross at the end of the rosary. Feels nice in your hands and is great for those who have limited mobility in their hands. Comes in an array of colours. The cross measures approximately 6 cm long by 4.75 cm in width. Custom orders welcome.
Felted Holy Water Rosaries – $32
Inspired by the Catholic faithful during the middle ages, I have knit and felted a wool carry case for holy water that hangs from the end of the rosary. A small cross is needle felted on the front. The knit case measures approximately 6 cm in length by 3 cm wide. The clear glass vial has a screw cap and holds 7 mls of water. Soft to hold. Custom orders welcome.
Inspired by the Catholic faithful during the middle ages, I have hand Knit and Felted Wool a Pouch with a dome closure. A small cross is needle felted on the top flap. The pouch measures approximately 4.5 cm wide by 4.5 cm length (when closed). A safe place to keep the little treasures that help you focus on prayer, such as a special crucifix. Soft to hold. Custom orders welcome.
A very pretty rosary. I have hand knit and felted a rose with a stem and leaves attached hanging from the end of the rosary. Inspired by the original meaning of the word ‘rosary’, – “rose garden’ or ‘rose wreath’. Legend says that bystanders (actually robbers) saw a young monk reciting Hail Mary’s in the road when he stopped to rest. As each one dropped from the monk’s lips, it turned into a rose, which was gathered up by the Virgin Mary standing nearby. The Virgin showed her pleasure at the gift of prayers by weaving the roses into a garland for her head. The rose and stem measures cm tall and the flower petals measure cm wide. It is soft and easy to hold. Custom orders welcome.
Felted Shamrock Rosaries – $25
A crocheted and felted wool shamrock. Very soft and easy to hold.. Feels nice in your hands and is great for those who have limited mobility in their hands. Comes in many shades of green. Custom orders welcome.
Felted Sheep Rosaries – $30
It’s cute! A hand knit and felted lamb fits perfectly in little hands. Great for a First Communion gift. The lamb/sheep stands x cm tall by x cm wide. It is completely soft, no inner wires, stuffed with wool batting. Custom orders welcome.