Rosary
Physical Object
1986.008.0016
Nuestra Señora de Atocha (1622)
circa 1500 – 1620
This gold chain consists of 54 links, and a crucifix suspended from another wire link is attached. Beads of an unknown material, since decomposed, were once set on the links. Despite the beads being gone, patterns in the chain reveal the piece’s purpose as a rosary. Starting from the link suspending the cross, and counting in either direction, there are 10 simple wire links. Just after the tenth link, there is a slightly longer link with two gold, floral endcaps. Then another 10-simple links, before another longer link with endcaps. This pattern repeats another two times, followed by another 10-simple links, before returning to the link holding the crucifix.
The word rosary refers to both a series of meditative prayers and to the chain of beads used to count them, and rosaries are an important part of Catholic practice. A rosary is designed much like a necklace (and it can used as one), but its purpose is to guide the recitation of a chain of prayers. The loop, made of 54 beads, consists of sets of ten beads called “decades.” There are five decades in the strand. Each decade is separated by another type of bead, distinguished by size, design, or color. A crucifix is suspended from the loop at the center, where the decades begin and end. In praying the rosary, the user starts at the crucifix, makes the sign of the cross then prays the “Apostles Creed.” At the bead above the cross, one “Our Father,” one “Hail Mary,” and one “Glory Be” is recited. A “Hail Mary” prayer is said for each one of the decade beads, and an “Our Father” prayer is recited for each distinctive, interceding bead. Also, at each of the “Our Father” beads, “mysteries,” or events in the lives of Jesus and Mary, are contemplated. “Glory be” prayers are also said just before and after each of the “Our Father” beads. Most rosaries have a set of three “Hail Mary” beads called antiphon beads between the crucifix and the loop of the chain. Judging from the links on this rosary, it did not have antiphon beads, a characteristic more typical of early rosaries.
The word rosary refers to both a series of meditative prayers and to the chain of beads used to count them, and rosaries are an important part of Catholic practice. A rosary is designed much like a necklace (and it can used as one), but its purpose is to guide the recitation of a chain of prayers. The loop, made of 54 beads, consists of sets of ten beads called “decades.” There are five decades in the strand. Each decade is separated by another type of bead, distinguished by size, design, or color. A crucifix is suspended from the loop at the center, where the decades begin and end. In praying the rosary, the user starts at the crucifix, makes the sign of the cross then prays the “Apostles Creed.” At the bead above the cross, one “Our Father,” one “Hail Mary,” and one “Glory Be” is recited. A “Hail Mary” prayer is said for each one of the decade beads, and an “Our Father” prayer is recited for each distinctive, interceding bead. Also, at each of the “Our Father” beads, “mysteries,” or events in the lives of Jesus and Mary, are contemplated. “Glory be” prayers are also said just before and after each of the “Our Father” beads. Most rosaries have a set of three “Hail Mary” beads called antiphon beads between the crucifix and the loop of the chain. Judging from the links on this rosary, it did not have antiphon beads, a characteristic more typical of early rosaries.
57 cm L , Item (Overall)
33.16 g Weight
57 cm L x 2.5 cm W x 4 cm L , Item (Overall)
0.3 cm Thickness
57 cm L x 2.5 cm W x 4 cm L