Description
People often ask me about the rosary bracelets I wear, and about one in particular that I created three years ago when our son decided to contract with Army ROTC (he is now on active duty), so I decided to create a similar one. I have never seen a bracelet to remind us to pray for our loved ones in the military, so I designed this one.
The Ave beads are red, white, and blue: siam Preciosa faceted crystals for the red, natural potato pearls for the white, and ‘denim lapis’ (medium blue with white, like sunny skies with wispy clouds) for the blue. (For more on the symbolism of the colors and stone in this bracelet, see the very end of the listing.)
The Pater is a silver-plated disc bead with a Celtic knot cross; Celtic knots symbolize unending devotion and fidelity. It is surrounded by two 4mm siam bicones.
The three medals on this bracelet each symbolize prayers for protection and fortitude. The scapular medal has the Sacred Heart on the front and Our Lady of Olives on the reverse, with the traditional inscription ‘Our Lady of Olives, protect us from floods and storms’. (Read about the devotion to Our Lady of Olives here. While working on rosary bracelets and rosaries this weekend during Hurricane Florence–which passed over us without ill effect, including tornados and lightning close by–I was touched to remember this devotion.) The St. Joseph medal with guardian angel reverse represents protection of the Church and of the domestic church [our homes]–St. Joseph being both Patron and Protector of the Universal Church and Guardian of the Holy Family–and the personal protection of one’s guardian angel. The St. Michael medal has the traditional depiction of St. Michael–patron saint of military personnel–on the front, and a sheaf of lilies on the reverse (representing Our Lady and purity of heart). The crucifix is a silver-plated antique-style crucifix.
The closure is a sterling triggerless clasp paired with silver-plated and silver-filled jump rings which will break open under stress (for safety). The beads are fully wire-wrapped (unbreakable loops) in sterling-silver-filled wire.
This bracelet can also be done for larger wrists with different medals; please inquire. (My own bracelet also St. Jeanne d’Arc, one of my personal favorite saints, who is also a patron saint of soldiers.)
† Symbolism in this bracelet, the national versus the Faith: in general, the symbolism assigned to the colors of the American flag is: “White signifies purity and innocence; Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice” [www.colonialflag.com]. Christian iconography assigns white to purity, and uses the pearl as a reflection of that as well as a reference to Christ as the ‘pearl of great price’. Red is associated with the Precious Blood and with martyrdom–sacrifice. Royal blue is associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary (her garments in Western iconography and art are often royal blue or sky blue), and ‘vigiliance, perseverance, and justice’ are certainly attributes we can associate with Our Lady, especially if we consider the approved apparitions.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.