ROSARY: WEAPON OF LOVE OR EXTREMISM?

“The rosary is a weapon for our times” St. Padre Pio

Do I have to write this article just to preach to the choir? No. This is to set the record straight. According to The Atlantic writer Daniel Panneton, the rosary is seen “as a weapon” to traditional Catholics. So be it.

To his credit, he did get the fact right that the rosary is a weapon. However, it is not what he thinks it is, and it shows that mainstream reporters lack the knowledge and research when writing about Catholicism. The rosary, when prayed with great devoutness and piety, is an effective weapon in spiritual combat.

Many Catholics credit their faith to the rosary. One example is Civil War General William Rosecrans who help win a decisive victory outside of Nashville in 1863 after things looked lost for the Union. During the battle, he was seen directing the men under his command to keep fighting while holding a rosary in his hand.

Even Cardinal Sarah was instructed to pray the rosary for the fall of Boko Haram after the Blessed Mother instructed him to do it after a dream. The rosary was prayed for the end of the First World War when Mary appeared to the three shepherd children in Fatima. Catholic missionaries in Japan were spared from the radiation left by the atomic bomb all because of fulfilling their faithful promises of praying the rosary.

The rosary was even pivotal in key victories in history such as Lepanto and the Siege of Vienna.

The rosary is prayed by Catholics when peacefully demonstrating outside of abortion facilities. Even Zachary King, a former satanist, saw its power when Catholics prayed it to stop him from performing Satanic actions.

We must lock and load today as we Catholics step into the breach of spiritual combat. If we have an army praying for this, the world can be conquered with God’s love. Even Pope Francis asked the faithful gathered while holding up his own rosary if they carry their rosaries everywhere they go.

St. John Paul the Great, the last great Marian pope, even encouraged us to pray the rosary heading to work, at work, when we wake up, before Mass, or event when enjoying nature.

To answer the journalist’s question (or more likely to fact-check him), the rosary is not for hatred. It is for love. It is a journey through the life of Mary as she guides us to Jesus. Through the rosary, we overcome the powers of this world and the next. It helps us defeat Satan. It is a weapon for spiritual combat.

Following the publication of Panneton’s article, rosary sales have gone through the roof. Thankfully, there are artisans and businesses that sell rosaries that will help equip the faithful to continue praying this ageless devotion.

Here are a few places to order a rosary. Be sure that they are not the rip-off kind. No shame in supporting our Catholic small business as we look ahead to the Christmas season.

Rugged Rosaries

Founded in 2012, Rugged Rosaries sells WW1-inspired combat rosaries that were issued by the U.S. Government. They also make rosaries out of paracord material. There is also the option to add a medal of a saint or Blessed Mother for an additional $4. They also include a pouch with the rosary.

Rosaries by Alex

His page on Instagram gives an inside look at the myriad of rosaries he made from scratch using paracord material. Built to last, he makes full rosaries or even up to 20-decade rosaries. He also can create different chaplets.

Cathedral shops

Many cathedrals, particularly the National Shrine in DC, sell rosaries. Most of them are on the market at a reasonable price. They also sell some amazing rosary pouches that can fit any rosary. Go for the ones with Marian apparitions.

Ghirelli

Italy makes some of the most beautiful and amazing rosaries. Hey, Italian Catholics know how to eat, pray, and love. (That can be contested). Ghirelli, located near a Medieval town makes wooden, glass, and metal rosaries with a selection of titles of Mary, saints, and even a patriotic-themed item that has all 50 states engraved on the Hail Mary beads. 

Shop Mercy

Located at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy, Shop Mercy has a wonderful selection of rosaries in addition to their religious catalog. 

Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for sinners

Our Lady of Victory, intercede for us