ANTIQUE ROSARIES from the rosary workshop  - museum index
MUSEUM  of  ANTIQUE ROSARIES

ANTIQUE ROSARY DIRECTORY  -    MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS   -    CRUCIFIXES- ARTICLES
COUNCIL OF TRENT   -    CAN YOU IDENTIFY THIS?
MINIATURE ICONS

Let these old rosaries speak to your heart in their simplicity and elegance. Then make your own rosary from treasured beads and metals of your own keeping.  The heart prays, the beads count.

~ DIRECTORY ~

The dates below have been given by either the museum, collector or
antiques dealer.  We have tried to under estimate dates if unsure and
are open to your comments and additions.

A ROSARY FROM 1720 CALLED A 'PSALTER'

~ MUSEUM COLLECTIONS ~

~ PRIVATE COLLECTIONS ~

A BEAUTIFUL 19c FACETED RED GLASS FILIGREE

 ~ CRUCIFIXES and CROSSES ~

A PERUVIAN CRUCIFX FROM THE SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD

 ~ ARTICLES ~

LATE 19c - EARLY 20c LACY FILIGREE INSPIRED BY THE

 ~ COUNCIL of  TRENT ~

MARY, MODEL OF FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY
You will see an interesting 'Credokreuz' on many of the filigree rosaries in our collection. The Credokreuz (Creed Cross) was a reminder to pray the Creed. One many of the early rosaries there were no Paters other than the one at the juncture of the loop where the pendant fell so the Credo Cross was next to the Reliquary cross at the end of the pendant then came the Pater to form the loop. The three Ave beads were added later and became a reminder to pray for an increase in Faith, Hope and Charity or Love. (Theological Virtues). But when did all of this come about? During the 6th session of the Council of Trent, Chapter X (On the increase of Justification received) it brings to mind.

COUNCIL OF TRENT
Having therefore been thus justified and made the friends and domestics of God, advancing from virtue to virtue, they are renewed, as the Apostle says, day by day; that is , by mortifying the members of their own flesh, and by presenting them as instruments of justice unto sanctification, they, through the observance of the commandments of God and of the Church, faith co-operating with good works, increase in that justice which they have received through the grace of Christ, and are still further justified, as it is written; He that is just, let him be justified still; and again, Be not afraid to be justified even to death, and also,
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Do you see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. And this increase of justification holy Church begs, when she prays, "Give unto us, O Lord, increase of faith, hope and charity."
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Mary is our model of faith, hope and charity. the Blessed Virgin Mary, full of grace, is the perfect model of Christian faith, hope and charity in God's created creatures.

PRAYING THE THREE
THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES (AVES) ON THE PENDANT
I became very interested in the different ways this prayer was prayed so thought I would share some of the things I found out as I had never heard the request for an increase of Faith, Hope and Charity prayed on a rosary before and our Sister Frances said in all her travels it was new to her too, although many churches do.
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 LOCALLY (UP of MI)  (German Catholic community) at our church, Church of the Precious Blood, the Creed is said on the crucifix, then the Pater, then 'pray for an increase of Faith, Hope and Love.' then 3 Aves.
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OUR GERMAN COLLECTOR: The Credokreuz or Credo Cross reminds us to 'pray for an increase of Faith, Hope and Charity as some early rosaries did not have the first Pater or the three Aves)
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 INDIA: Our Priest, Father Mathew, shared he was taught how to pray the pendant of the rosary after Creed on Crucifix, Pater, then on each Ave, the following prayer instead of all being announced in advance:

FIRST AVE: Mary, daughter of God the Father, pray for us that we may grow in faith.
SECOND AVE: Mary, Mother of God is Son, pray for us that we may grow in hope.
THIRD AVE: Spouse of God the Holy Spirit pray for us that we may grow in Love.

WEBSITE DEDICATED to PHILIP LEON CARTER
And all who love the Lord, love working with wood and are interested in learning how things were done over the centuries.  How the rosary grew from a simple pebble to a string of wooden beads - to gemstones - yet know - it is the prayer of the heart that matters and not the substance of the bead.
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 This is a living museum and is open to your contributions in image form so that others may enjoy the many variations in rosaries and chaplets over the centuries.


 

~ MINIATURE ICONS ~

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TRAVELERS ICONS

 
... a sharing ...
I was reviewing your web page last night and am interested in many of your rosaries. Very recently, I started a collection of rosaries using them (of course) for prayer - but also as a means of working and chatting with friends and family. I have found this to be a lovely and gentle medium of communication with those who are unbelievers or just lukewarm in their faith.  Tracy C (VA)

... the rosaries we wear ...
Thank YOU.  I am making a rosary for my daughter, who is now in the Royal Court of the Southern California Renaissance Faire, playing a Catholic historical character, and I really was glad to find the period crucifix.
The rosaries we wear and cherish as part of our Renaissance garb is a statement of our personal Christianity to the rest of the quite secular faire situation.  I look forward to receiving it.  Susan Abernethy (CA)