Carrying a Wedding Rosary

This article first appeared in Ignitum Today.

Carrying a Wedding Rosary
By Helen Hoffner, Ed.D.
 
            Flowers, a dress, and a cake are among the items a bride selects as she prepares for her wedding.  A Catholic bride can also make the rosary part of her special day so that prayers to Mother Mary will guide her marriage.
 
Whether she carries a family heirloom or wears a rosary bracelet, the Catholic bride can have prayers with her as says her wedding vows. Following the tradition of entering the church with, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue,” a bride may wish to carry a rosary inherited from a cherished relative or shop for a new rosary that reflects her style.  A traditional five decade pearl rosary is the choice of many brides but some prefer to find rosaries with beads that hold personal meaning.
 
            Irish brides often carry rosaries with beads of Irish horn, bogwood or Connemara marble from the Connemara Mountains of County Galway.  Those rosaries as well as Waterford crystal rosaries pay tribute to Irish heritage and the blessings Mary has bestowed upon the Emerald Isle.
 
            Rose scented rosaries are a popular choice for weddings because they fit with the custom of the bride placing a bouquet of roses before a statue of Mary during the ceremony.  Rose scented rosaries are reminders of Mary’s guidance and can be made from actual rose petals or created by soaking wooden beads in attar, the pure essence of rose petals. 
 
            Lenox and other well-known china makers have made rosaries part of their collections.  The Lenox Lady of Lourdes rosary is especially suited for weddings because its ivory colored fine china beads and gold plated center medal of Mary and St. Bernadette remind brides that Mary will always guide them. 
 
            Rosary bracelets are the choice of brides who want their jewelry to be meaningful. Some bracelets have only one decade with a center medal and crucifix.  Coiled rosary bracelets have five decades.  Wearing a rosary bracelet gives the bride greater opportunity to reflect upon prayer during the ceremony as well as at the reception after the mass.
             
The Lasso Rosary, known alternately as the Matrimony or Wedding Rosary, is most often part of weddings in Mexico, the Philippines, and other Latin communities but its popularity is growing around the world. Like a traditional rosary, the Lasso Rosary begins with a cross or crucifix followed by a pendant of three Hail Mary beads and an Our Father bead.  At the center medal, however, the Lasso Rosary, branches into two distinct five decade rosaries.  During the nuptial mass, the priest places one branch around the neck of the groom and one around the bride’s neck.  The pendant and cross of the Lasso Rosary hang between the couple so that they are bound together.  The priest gives a blessing and reminds the bride and groom that like the rosary around them, their marriage vows unite them in prayer.  The Lasso Rosary is then removed by the priest and the newlyweds carry it with them to a reception that follows the mass.
 
             Many Lasso Rosaries have clasps at the center medal that enable them to be taken apart.  Some newlyweds keep one of the rosaries and give the second part to the mother of the bride.  There are also Lasso Rosaries that have three complete five decade rosaries so that the couple can keep one and give the second to the family of the bride and the third to the family of the groom.  This presentation of rosaries usually takes place during the wedding reception. 
 
            The Lasso is one of many rosary variations that has been approved by the Catholic Church. While the traditional five decade rosary is the most familiar form, variations with seven or fifteen decades as well as rosaries with beads set in groups of three have been approved by the church.  The Rosary Collector’s Guidepublished by Schiffer Books offers the history and color pictures of each type. 
 
 
           The rosary honors Mary, the mother who created a loving home for her family. Including the rosary in a Catholic wedding reminds the bride and groom to look to Mary and the Holy Family she led for inspiration throughout their marriage.
 
This article first appeared in Ignitum Today.
 
Dr. Helen Hoffner is the co-author of The Rosary Collector’s Guideand author of Catholicism Everywhere: From Hail Mary Passes to Cappuccinos- How the Catholic Faith is Infused in Culture, Catholic Traditions and Treasures: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, andThe Cross: A Universal Symbol.  She has appeared on EWTN and Catholic Faith Network programs to discuss her research on religious articles.  She is a professor at Holy Family University where she chairs doctoral dissertation committees and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses.   Dr. Hoffner is a member of the Domestic Schools Advisory Board of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and has written several books and articles for elementary and secondary school teachers.