Rosary Is Not Just A Fashion Item

[stylegurrl]

Rosary is not just a fashion item, explains Church

By Jonathan Petre, Religion Correspondent, and David Sapsted
(Filed: 23/10/2004)

The soaring popularity of rosary beads among the fashion conscious has provoked the Roman Catholic Church to issue a leaflet stressing their religious significance.

Christian bookshops and other suppliers have been overwhelmed by demand from teenagers since celebrities such as David Beckham and Britney Spears began wearing the beads as necklaces and bracelets.


David Beckham wearing four rosaries to a party
Catholic authorities have expressed "regret" about the way the beads are being trivialised and the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales has now produced guidance on their use as prayer aids.

Fr Allen Morris, the secretary of the Department for Christian Life and Worship, said jewellery shops were reporting record sales of rosaries and the leaflet was a response to concern that they were seen as mere secular fashion items.

Shirley Nicholls, manager of the Revelations Christian Bookshop in Ipswich, said: "We have sold more than 100 rosary beads in the past six weeks. We normally sell about three dozen in April and May, when people have them for their first communion, and then the odd one during the rest of the year.

"But during the summer, they have been selling like hot cakes and the children keep asking me to order more."

Traditional rosaries consist of five sets of beads, each set comprising one large bead representing the Lord's Prayer, and 10 smaller ones representing the Hail Mary. They were originally used by people who could not read or write to help them meditate on the life of Jesus.

Mrs Nicholls, who runs the shop on behalf of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich diocese, has now started handing out booklets with the rosaries, explaining how to use the beads for prayer.

"I think it's a rather strange fashion accessory," she said. "I couldn't handle the idea at first, but now I hand out a leaflet with every purchase, so that youngsters have a chance to see what the beads are for."

Kristina Cooper, editor of the national Good News Magazine for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, has also been handing out rosaries to children on her estate in south-west London.

"I think it's a bid sad if people wear rosary beads and don't understand what they mean," she said. "But it's an opportunity for Christians to explain to people what they are all about.

"I make the youngsters earn their rosaries by learning Our Father and I tell them they are prayer beads and not fashion items."

Beckham, the England football captain, epitomised the trend when he appeared on the front cover of Vanity Fair sporting a Dolce & Gabbana "rosary necklace" worth £550.

The singer Britney Spears was pictured in Dublin wearing white beads, and Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, the television personality, has also been photographed with a rosary.

fashion.telegraph

 

[Spike413]

This isn't the first time, I remember when the Vatican responded to either D&G's or Gucci's use of the cros as fashion(I can't remember which of the two)

But buying one from a religious store??? That's a bit much. Go figure, I'm fine with people wearing them if they're made by a fashion or jewelry company but I'm not with it being a real rosary.

Now, why hasn't the Jewish community responded about the red string trend????

 

[Dixie]

I don't see the problem with wearing rosaries for fashion, but that's me (and I've done it before, too).

 

[As You Like It]

I think it is very disrespectful to wear religious items as fashion accessories if you are not of that religion. That includes crucifixes if you are not Christian, Star of David pendants, if you are not Jewish, Muslim head-scarves, ect. Rosaries are not meant to be jewelry. I have never seen a Catholic using her rosary as a necklace. They're often carried in a pouch and then held while praying.

I think the Catholic church is within their rights to criticize the trivialization of their iconography. I know there were words about it when Madonna, back in the day, wore a bunch of rosaries, crucifixes, ect. as layers of punkish costume jewelry.

In her case it was outright rebellion; she was trying to be shocking and offensive, but in the case of Britney, et. al., it is ignorance and obliviousness pure and simple.

 

[Spike413]

Originally posted by As You Like It@Oct 24 2004, 09:15 AM
I think it is very disrespectful to wear religious items as fashion accessories if you are not of that religion. That includes crucifixes if you are not Christian, Star of David pendants, if you are not Jewish, Muslim head-scarves, ect. Rosaries are not meant to be jewelry. I have never seen a Catholic using her rosary as a necklace. They're often carried in a pouch and then held while praying.

I think the Catholic church is within their rights to criticize the trivialization of their iconography. I know there were words about it when Madonna, back in the day, wore a bunch of rosaries, crucifixes, ect. as layers of punkish costume jewelry.

In her case it was outright rebellion; she was trying to be shocking and offensive, but in the case of Britney, et. al., it is ignorance and obliviousness pure and simple.

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The interesting thing with Madonna is that she was brought up in a very religious Catholic family.

 

[strawberry daiquiri]

Originally posted by Spike413@Oct 24 2004, 09:11 PM
The interesting thing with Madonna is that she was brought up in a very religious Catholic family.

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Oppression -> Aggression

 

[Spike413]

Originally posted by strawberry daiquiri@Oct 24 2004, 03:25 PM
Oppression -> Aggression

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Couldn't agree more.

 

[*Addict_to_Fashion*]

So maybe we shoul wear swastika or something like that ? Is that what they want ??

 

[slinky_vagabond]

*quickly takes off rosaries* Who me?

 

[Nemova]

I think it's downright disrespectful and offensive. In a while people will be displaying images of saints dressed in a modern fashion in art galleries.

 

[BabyJ]

I too hate this stupid trend!

Last summer a few friends went to Greece and they call came back sporting rosaries. I was like, Woah, they found God there?

Nope what did they say "I bought like 5 or 6 in different colours, all the girls in Greece are wearing them".

I find it a bit disrespectful. I have about 6 or 7 different crosses that I wear, I alternate them depending on the neckline of my shirt/dress but I don't wear it as a trend!

What is it exactly about the rosary that is making people want to wear it so badly? If you like the shape or feel of it, get some other costume jewerly with beads, but not a rosary!

 

[Acid]

they are so over now why are people still doing it

 

[oceanharlot]

Originally posted by Nemova@Oct 25 2004, 10:05 AM
I think it's downright disrespectful and offensive. In a while people will be displaying images of saints dressed in a modern fashion in art galleries.

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People have been doing that for centuries in painting...

 

[mikeijames]

Originally posted by Acid@Oct 25 2004, 12:32 PM
they are so over now why are people still doing it

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they are so over, i remember having this conversation in the last milennium. i say do what you like -- if these so-called christian stores have a problem with it then they should just refuse the sale. i think the look can be very hot (witness: beckham and/or gisele)..and i don't really think that people should take offense to it. i don't think that this beautiful iconography should be exclusive to the religion. we don't take offense when people have michaelangelo bookmarks or virgin mary car air fresheners.

 

[softgrey]

they WERE over...apparently they are back...this new generation never wore it so it's new to them...that's how stuff keeps getting recycled and re-hashed...

i think it's fine if they want to wear them...i think they are pretty...

but it stopped being contraversial after madonna did it...now it's just sort of fashion victim/trendoid...whatever...

 

[PrinceOfCats]

It looks pretty silly...

However, religous imagery is part of most people's cultural heritage - atheists have the same right to use that imagery for whatever intent as theists.

 

[Acid]

Originally posted by softgrey@Oct 25 2004, 06:20 PM
they WERE over...apparently they are back...this new generation never wore it so it's new to them...

yeah i mean the 'dolce & gabbana' trend from last year is SOO OVER
people here think if you keep adding more on......you will look more fashionable

 

[strawberry daiquiri]

Predecessor...

 

[sugarpea]

Originally posted by mikeijames@Oct 25 2004, 12:57 PM
they are so over, i remember having this conversation in the last milennium. i say do what you like -- if these so-called christian stores have a problem with it then they should just refuse the sale. i think the look can be very hot (witness: beckham and/or gisele)..and i don't really think that people should take offense to it. i don't think that this beautiful iconography should be exclusive to the religion. we don't take offense when people have michaelangelo bookmarks or virgin mary car air fresheners.

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agreed...why is this so offensive...to some rosaries mean nothing...and frankly, the catholic church has some other problems that they should be focusing more attention to than this

 

[Nemova]

It's so funny to see how people think it's ok to use religious icons and imagery to their own purposes - while on the other hand they believe it's not so ok for theists to feel offended. Tell me about double standard.

People have been doing that for centuries in painting...

I still haven't seen Holy Mary dressed in a Versace gown... hope I never will.