St. Jude Gift Shop - Rosary and Chaplets History

ABOUT ROSARIES AND CHAPLETS

The History Behind Them

The idea of using rosaries and chaplets arose from the need to keep track of saying repetitive prayers.

It is believed that using a system for counting prayers originated in Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism as early as the year 900 B.C. To make sure that the proper number of prayers were recited, religious people would pray using small objects to help them count their prayers.

Pebbles, sticks, and knotted cords were originally used, and eventually beads became the most common form. The beads were made of materials like coral, glass, amber, or different woods.

In the early Catholic Church it was common for believers, as a means of prayer and penance, to recite all 150 (or sometimes 1/3, or 50) Psalms of David found in the Old Testament. These devoted Christians starting using a string containing 150 beads - the number taken from the 150 Psalms.

By the third century, the practice of using beads for praying had become common among Eastern Christian monks. As the practice spread to Western Europe, the beaded strings were referred to as "chaplets", which comes from the French word for wreath or crown, since it was common for people to wear metal ornamental bands embellished with beads or stones.

Between the 1000's and 1400's, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary was spreading rapidly in Europe, particularly in England and France. It became a popular practice for her devotees to recite the psalms as a means of prayer and honor to her.

A popular legend of the day told the story of a youth to whom Our Lady appeared while he was reciting Hail Mary's. As each prayer left his lips she gathered it in her hand and it became a rosebud. According to the story, the Blessed Virgin made a crown out of these rose flowers and put it on her head.

Because of this connection with Mary, the word "rosary" (which comes from the Latin word rosarium or rose garden) started coming into use to describe chaplets and their prayers.

Originally rosaries consisted of 3 smaller parts of 50 small beads each, plus a crucifix. Each 10-bead section was called a decade, with each decade representing a sacred mystery. Over time, reciting the rosary has taken different forms, and has included saying special meditations or thoughts with the prayers said for each bead, as well as adding direct quotations from the Scriptures.

Today the words chaplet and rosary are used interchangeably, with chaplets more frequently used to refer to devotional beads that honor specific saints and causes. Because the St. Jude Novena is traditionally said over nine days (representing the nine days the Apostles were instructed to pray, after which they received the Holy Spirit), St. Jude devotional chaplets usually have nine beads. At the St. Jude Novena Site Gift Shop, we use "rosary" to refer to our rose-based and more elaborate chaplets.

Using Rosaries and Chaplets To Pray The St. Jude Novena

Using a St. Jude chaplet or rosary from the St. Jude Novena Site Gift Shop is a wonderful way to enhance your St. Jude Novena experience. It helps to relax, concentrate, and focus on our relationship with God. In praying to St. Jude, we are asking for his companionship and help in communicating our needs directly to God - much as we would ask for the special understanding and support of a trusted friend as we go through a difficult time.

Following is the way to use your St. Jude Rosary or Chaplet to pray the St. Jude Novena. On each day of your 9-day Novena, follow these steps:

1.) Begin with your petition to St. Jude. You can use one the St. Jude prayers found on the St. Jude Novena Site, or simply your own request. Here is a popular St. Jude prayer -

"Saint Jude, glorious Apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor Judas has caused you to be forgotten by many, but the true Church invokes you universally as the Patron of things despaired of; pray for me that I may receive the consolations and succor of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, particularly [NAME YOUR PETITION HERE] and that I may bless God with the Elect throughout Eternity. Amen."

2.) On each bead, say 3 Our Father's, 3 Hail Mary's, and 3 Gloria's. If you need the text of these prayers, see this page.

3.) When you complete the beads, hold the Crucifix of your Rosary or Chaplet and say

"May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored and loved until the end of time. Amen."

"May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and glorified now and forever. Amen."