Lately I have been asked to create special and unique rosaries for individuals. Many of these rosaries have been the 15 and 20 decade rosaries and they have been ordered by Franciscan, Benedictine, and Dominican religious to be used with their habit. Many of the orders will “wear” these large rosaries attached to their habit so that the may pray the Mysteries of the Rosary throughout the day.
It is always a great honor to be asked to make these special rosaries. I was very moved by a note that a Anglican brother had sent with his order last week. In the note he reminded me that I was not only making a rosary for him, but since the orders claim nothing as their own, most likely the rosary I was making would be passed from one religious brother to another. It was a great meditation for me think of not only those who are using these rosaries now but also those who may in the future. What if one of my own sons ends up “inheriting” one of this rosaries as a religious?
A few weeks ago I was contacted by a Franciscan hermit living in Jerusalem. She asked me to make a Franciscan Crown Rosary with a Tau instead of a cross or crucifix. In addition, it would need to be only 39″ in circumference since, as she says, “I’m a pretty short woman” and she didn’t want the rosary dragging the ground or tripping her as she walked. Also, she wanted two rings attached through which she could thread her cincture for her habit.
This is a picture of the finished product and I mailed it today. I hope she is happy with it. I am pretty proud of how it turned out.
James M. Hahn, Author 