potentially silly question: Rosary rings

[adoro.te.devote]

Ok so maybe this is just me being scrupulous... which it could be, but I don't know how to tell 

I bought a nice little Rosary ring today. 

Then, I was on a social media page where a Catholic store was advertising a crucifix ring. It was similar to my ring as in the cross was horizontal, but on this page, the cross was more prominent and it wasn't a Rosary ring. Someone commented and said that the cross really shouldn't be sideways. 

SO.. that made me all scrupulous about the Rosary ring that I had JUST bought. It seems to me like they are made like this for a practical reason (because it's hard to wear a ring with a vertical cross), and so that the Rosary decade all faces one way when you pray on it. 

Would you all say that this is somehow wrong/disrespectful, on a Rosary ring, or is it just a matter of opinion? I had zero disrespectful intentions - just wanted a Rosary ring and they are mostly made like this. 

Any help? 

Edited September 5, 2020 by adoro.te.devote

[Anastasia]

adoro.te.devote

If you post here the photo of your ring I will be able to give you my opinion. 

[little2add]

Personally I don't care for religious articles worn as jewelry.   I know it's some cultures, like Mexico rosary beads are commonly worn as necklace's.     After the Reformation, the beads became a defiant emblem for Catholic monks and nuns to wear outside their habits and a tactile tool for missionaries to pass on the faith — particularly in Latin America.

Now, Latino gangsters are the most frequent — and creative — wearers of rosaries, said Lewis. The Latin Kings, for example, use colors to signal members’ rank in the hierarchy — five black and five gold beads for members; two gold beads for top dogs. Assassins wear all black.

wearing a sacred object is not the same as using it in a secular or inappropriate manner. In fact, many religious congregations wear the rosary as part of their habit, usually hanging from a belt. There are also several historical cases of laypeople wearing the rosary for devotional purposes.

 

Edited September 5, 2020 by little2add

[adoro.te.devote]

Thanks for the replies! 

 Well here is the ring that I ordered: https://stellatide.com/collections/rings/products/rosary-ring I mean, I really like this ring. I just got confused about what this person online said, but I don't know if it makes a difference that they were talking about a crucifix ring, not a Rosary ring. The cross is more prominent there and there is no "decade" to pray on.

Here is the ring they were talking about: https://www.catholiccompany.com/sterling-crucifx-ring-i37797/ I mean, I can kind of see what they mean. I'd prefer the crucifix to not be horizontal on that one too.

I feel like maybe my ring has a different look to it though - the cross is more like a part of the decade, rather than on its own. And it's smaller.. Any thoughts?

1 hour ago, little2add said:

Personally I don't care for religious articles worn as jewelry.   I know it's some cultures, like Mexico rosary beads are commonly worn as necklace's.     After the Reformation, the beads became a defiant emblem for Catholic monks and nuns to wear outside their habits and a tactile tool for missionaries to pass on the faith — particularly in Latin America.

Now, Latino gangsters are the most frequent — and creative — wearers of rosaries, said Lewis. The Latin Kings, for example, use colors to signal members’ rank in the hierarchy — five black and five gold beads for members; two gold beads for top dogs. Assassins wear all black.

wearing a sacred object is not the same as using it in a secular or inappropriate manner. In fact, many religious congregations wear the rosary as part of their habit, usually hanging from a belt. There are also several historical cases of laypeople wearing the rosary for devotional purposes.

 

I'm not really a fan of religious things being worn as decorative jewelry either, I mean if it's not for devotion.. (I wear some blessed objects but for another reason). The ring in this case is to symbolize my commitment to a life of celibacy.. I've found it helps me to wear one, and I wanted a Catholic one rather than something secular

9 hours ago, Anastasia said:

adoro.te.devote

If you post here the photo of your ring I will be able to give you my opinion. 

thanks! I added a link online (to the ring, and also to the one that was discussed, which is a different one)

Edited September 5, 2020 by adoro.te.devote

[Aloysius]

people get all sorts of strange ideas.  I see absolutely no reason the cross being sideways is in any way a problem.  it looks fine to me, as long as you like it and wear it with reverence, go for it.

[Anastasia]

adoro.te.devote

I had a good look. I am an iconographer so I am extremely sensitive to "not exactly proper things". I cannot say there is anything blasphemous in those rings yet there is something in them that is not right - and it is not just a position of the Crucifix. The position is secondary to the fact that the Crucifix is on the ring. Typically, a Crucifix is worn around a neck of a person or attached to a religious habit close to it or is hanging on the rosary and in a time of prayer the Crucifix is being held. To wear a ring with not a stylized Cross but with the actual depiction of Christ on the Cross creates many problems, for an Easterner at least. First, a proper place for the Crucifix is close to a heart; second, it is "a double" of the Crucifix on a neck thus unnecessary; third, our hands are engaged in carious tasks through a day, some of them unclean and this alone is enough to prevent an Orthodox from wearing such a ring. Forth, a plain and functional rosary ring removes all those problems.

All that said, your ring is so much better than the other one. 

Edited September 6, 2020 by Anastasia

[cutenickname]

I think the rosary ring is fine. I think the other ring is distasteful (though something being distasteful to me needn't sway you. Eat or don't eat as you will, but do so unto the Lord to paraphrase St Paul). Unlike my sister Anastasia, I am not able to verbalize exactly why, so I will say ditto to her response.

[little2add]

Have you shopped on the “catholiccompany.com”

https://www.catholiccompany.com/shop/?search_query=Rings

[Anastasia]

I looked online because of some vague memory and it was confirmed: old rosary rings were not meant to be worn on a finger constantly, they would be pulled out of a pocket  in a time of a prayer like this one:

This makes a perfect sense to me. Interestingly, there is loop here, probably to secure the ring.
More rings are here: http://www.rosaryworkshop.com/MUSEUM-Basque-ring-rosaries.html

I conclude then that a rosary ring became "wearable" in a later time.

I buy things from 'Sisters of Carmel' - they have incredible rosaries, very tasteful, with inlaid wood Crucifixes imported from France
https://www.sistersofcarmel.com/partly-custom-popular-wire-and-cord-rosaries/
yet they sell very modern and clashing with their general style rosary rings so it is a modern trend, unfortunately.

[GraceUk]

I think the ring you bought is fine. The other one not so much and I can see why people thought it was a bit distasteful.

[truthfinder]

I have worn a small rosary ring everyday for about thirteen years now.  Most people don't know what the ring is, the cross is just slightly bigger than the other 'beads' but enough that I can tell without looking. 

This question does seem very scrupulous.  But with that crucifix ring you posted, it's also very likely that when you'd look at it, the crucifix would be right side up because you will turn your hand.

[tinytherese]

On 9/6/2020 at 1:01 AM, Anastasia said:

 

I buy things from 'Sisters of Carmel' - they have incredible rosaries, very tasteful, with inlaid wood Crucifixes imported from France
https://www.sistersofcarmel.com/partly-custom-popular-wire-and-cord-rosaries/
yet they sell very modern and clashing with their general style rosary rings so it is a modern trend, unfortunately.

Just so everyone knows, this community is not in good standing with The Church. Unless their status has changed over the years, they were established and operate without the approval of their bishop and the prior general. 

[tinytherese]

I don't see how a sideways cross would be inappropriate. When St. Peter was martyred, he was given permission to be crucified upside down. He said he didn't feel worthy to die the same way as Jesus did.

[Anastasia]

6 hours ago, tinytherese said:

Just so everyone knows, this community is not in good standing with The Church.

From this forum:

"From what I can tell on a wikipedia page and another website, it goes down as such (and please, anyone who is more informed, correct me): After Vat II, a group formed called Servants of the Holy Family, akin to SSPX at the time (1970s), they were attached to the traditional rite but still in fine standing with the church.  These Servants were the male religious order (who also have their own seminary) - how the Carmelites came to be, I'm not too sure - but it is this religious group which acts as chaplains for these Carmelites.  But through the Servants' connections, and some very questionable faculties and ordinations which are common amongst sede vacantist groups and the like, they ordain and give sacraments.  I won't link the Servant's website here, but on it they won't even name who their ordaining bishops are - so unlike the SSPX who made their own, or some others like CMRI, they don't have their own bishops.  It seems that until the early 2000s they might have stayed on the right side of the Holy See, but after then the local bishop has steadfastly stated they are not in communion."
https://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/147595-question-about-carmelites/

So, to my mind, there are analogical to our "Old Believers".

[adoro.te.devote]

On 9/5/2020 at 5:09 PM, Anastasia said:

adoro.te.devote

I had a good look. I am an iconographer so I am extremely sensitive to "not exactly proper things". I cannot say there is anything blasphemous in those rings yet there is something in them that is not right - and it is not just a position of the Crucifix. The position is secondary to the fact that the Crucifix is on the ring. Typically, a Crucifix is worn around a neck of a person or attached to a religious habit close to it or is hanging on the rosary and in a time of prayer the Crucifix is being held. To wear a ring with not a stylized Cross but with the actual depiction of Christ on the Cross creates many problems, for an Easterner at least. First, a proper place for the Crucifix is close to a heart; second, it is "a double" of the Crucifix on a neck thus unnecessary; third, our hands are engaged in carious tasks through a day, some of them unclean and this alone is enough to prevent an Orthodox from wearing such a ring. Forth, a plain and functional rosary ring removes all those problems.

All that said, your ring is so much better than the other one. 

Thanks for the reply! I see what you mean, - I am thinking though that the point about cleanliness could apply to any blessed rings? I've been wearing a blessed ring for a while that has a religious/vocational meaning for me and I try to be careful with it.. like if I'm cleaning, I take it off. For me this would apply to any blessed object, not just a crucifix? 

Thanks for the responses everyone! I tried to "like" all of them but the website wouldn't let me lol. 

I can see how the question of having a Rosary ring might be confusing to start with because some people might say, why not just use a regular Rosary? My reasoning for wearing it is that I'd like a religious ring as a symbol of my vocation.. so it's more about that for me. 

I think I figured out that I don't really like what the rings have a 3D crucifix on them that is sideways - but it's hard to verbalize why. When it's etched onto the ring or more stylized it gives a different impression. Still thinking

[Ash Wednesday]

The cross isn't actually sideways depending on how you're looking at your hand. Heck if you turn your hand towards yourself and look at it, it's right side up just fine. Visual perspective isn't universally singular. 

[Anastasia]

On 9/24/2020 at 8:43 AM, adoro.te.devote said:

Thanks for the reply! I see what you mean, - I am thinking though that the point about cleanliness could apply to any blessed rings? I've been wearing a blessed ring for a while that has a religious/vocational meaning for me and I try to be careful with it.. like if I'm cleaning, I take it off. For me this would apply to any blessed object, not just a crucifix? 

Well, in the East we consider a toilet/bathroom to be unclean hence we do not have icons there (otherwise we have them in every room). So, when I was wearing a ring with a cross with the words "save and protect" from an Orthodox monastery, I would take it off before going to the named places. When I was grinding pigments of cooking or washing something I would not, etc. Our ideas of unclean areas create some problems and this is why I think most Orthodox wear Crucifixes and religious medals and not religious rings - although lately the rings became "fashionable". We do not have rosary rings; some wear a rosary around a wrist but it is discouraged by spiritual fathers as "showing off one's piety" unless a person hides it under a sleeve. In the old times many Orthodox would wear belts under the clothes with the text of the 91 Psalm.

Mostly, our tradition is us to wear Crucifixes and other religious items hidden under the clothiers. After coming to communion with the Roman Catholics I began wearing my Crucifix visibly though. A a result, I am no longer told "Marry Christmas!" in the supermarkets )).

[Jaime]

as long as while you're praying on your Rosary ring you are twisting it clockwise.  Then I think you're fine.  If you go counterclockwise the opposite of your intentions will happen

 

[dUSt]

2 minutes ago, Jaime said:

as long as while you're praying on your Rosary ring you are twisting it clockwise.  Then I think you're fine.  If you go counterclockwise the opposite of your intentions will happen

Direct result of Vatican II.

[adoro.te.devote]

On 9/24/2020 at 1:43 AM, Ash Wednesday said:

The cross isn't actually sideways depending on how you're looking at your hand. Heck if you turn your hand towards yourself and look at it, it's right side up just fine. Visual perspective isn't universally singular. 

that's true  

On 9/24/2020 at 7:31 PM, Anastasia said:

Well, in the East we consider a toilet/bathroom to be unclean hence we do not have icons there (otherwise we have them in every room). So, when I was wearing a ring with a cross with the words "save and protect" from an Orthodox monastery, I would take it off before going to the named places. When I was grinding pigments of cooking or washing something I would not, etc. Our ideas of unclean areas create some problems and this is why I think most Orthodox wear Crucifixes and religious medals and not religious rings - although lately the rings became "fashionable". We do not have rosary rings; some wear a rosary around a wrist but it is discouraged by spiritual fathers as "showing off one's piety" unless a person hides it under a sleeve. In the old times many Orthodox would wear belts under the clothes with the text of the 91 Psalm.

Mostly, our tradition is us to wear Crucifixes and other religious items hidden under the clothiers. After coming to communion with the Roman Catholics I began wearing my Crucifix visibly though. A a result, I am no longer told "Marry Christmas!" in the supermarkets )).

Yes I'd actually take off any blessed rings in that case too

I also heard that the Eastern custom is to wear religious items hidden.. I think in the West it's seen as a type of witness especially in our secular society.. I think back in the day, it would have sent a "pious" message, which could be prideful, and maybe that's where this custom originated? today at least here in the West, it's more of a witness of our faith and others wouldn't really be "impressed"... either people don't care, or other Christians might just be encouraged  personally when I see others wearing religious items, it just makes me glad to see others caring about Catholic things!