The Process of Having a Rosary or Rosary Bracelet Designed Just for You
The creation of a custom rosary should be a joyful process that allows you to create a unique sacramental that will be cherished and well-used for years to come. I love working through the process with my customers and creating the most beautiful and meaningful rosary for you.
This page links to samples of the various pieces of a rosary and a form for starting the process (with no obligation). Here is how you get started:
Step 1: Click on one of the pictures below to download the custom rosary design card or the rosary bracelet design card so you can record your thoughts and ideas.
Step 2: Read about the various parts of a rosary below and follow the links to the sample pages. Peruse the Gallery of previously-created rosaries for inspiration.
Step 3: Scan or take pictures of your completed card and e-mail it to me. Free feel to add to the e-mail so I can get to know you and what you are seeking. I should reply within three days under normal circumstances.
The Parts of a Rosary
A rosary has four distinct ‘pieces’ connected in several ways.
1 – Ave beads (Hail Mary beads). Traditionally, the most common Ave bead shapes were rounds (spheres, often faceted) ranging from 5-7mm in diameter, “rice bead” shapes ranging from 3-5mm by 6-7mm long, and natural seeds or pearls ranging from 5-10mm in diameter. However, many people find that a larger Ave is more comfortable to hold; this is especially true for older adults whose hands may cramp or feel uncomfortable with smaller beads and, at the other end of the spectrum, for children. Generally, I use 8mm Aves in rosaries unless 6mm Aves are requested (often for a ‘pocket rosary’).
2 – Pater beads (Our Father beads). Traditionally, the ‘Paters’ were the same beads as the Aves, and the decades of Aves were set off from the Paters by short lengths of chain. The Paters might be embellished with bead caps or spacers of various types, for beauty and/or for protection. Because I prefer to create rosaries without chain, in order to set off the Paters, I usually use a larger bead, 10-14mm with 8-10mm Aves, 8-12mm with 6mm Aves.
I often create what I call a composite Pater with a central larger bead surrounded by accenting beads in complimentary colors and/or metals. For instance, for wedding and family rosaries, I suggest a composite Pater with the couple’s/parents’ birthstones joined with a rhinestone rondelle and then surrounded by accenting beads.
3 – Center medal. Center medals with the standard three loops are a relatively late development in rosaries. Many of my custom rosaries have a center medal that is a vintage or antique single-loop medal that has been framed with custom wirework to convert it for use as a center. This framing also protects the medal from excessive wear. Three-loop centers, both vintage and new, can be incorporated.
4 – Crucifix. While a crucifix is customary, a cross or devotional medal is sometimes used instead. I use vintage and antique crucifixes of many materials as well as reproductions. I very much like the antique mother-of-pearl crosses with a silver or bronze corpus attached, and tend to collect them for use on rosaries.
The most common optional addition to rosaries is one or more devotional medals that are meaningful to the owner. Historically, people have also added a skull bead (called a memento mori, meaning ‘a reminder of [our eventual] death); a teardrop-shaped bead, usually a deep red, signifying the Precious Blood of Christ shed for us; or a heart-shaped bead representing the Sacred Heart.
The Parts of a Rosary Bracelet
A rosary bracelet normally has a single Pater and ten Aves, with a small crucifix and a single medal, usually a Marian medal of some type. However, it has been very common for there to be additional devotional medals also attached, making a rosary bracelet something like a charm bracelet. This is totally up to the individual; it is your bracelet to help you remember to pray the rosary daily, to bring to mind those for whom you want to pray, and remind us to pray unceasingly in the midst of daily life.
One thing that I can offer that is not traditional is an elastic ring of seed beads to use as a counting marker (I also make needleworker’s counting bracelets and have found that some people find that moving the ring around helps to keep their place).