Hello Rosary Lovers! In this post we will ask: is it ok to wear a rosary?

So, there is a view out there in the Catholic world that it is wrong to wear a rosary, that a rosary is for praying and it shouldn’t be worn as a necklace.

I don’t share this view at Rosary Lovers, but after hearing of this opinion I did some research, because I don’t wish to mislead anyone in the holy Catholic faith, even in a ‘small’ matter.

As it turns out, the Church does not teach that we cannot wear a rosary as a necklace.

Here’s what the Church teaches in Canon 1171 of the Code of Canon Law:

“Sacred objects, set aside for divine worship by dedication or blessing, are to be treated with reverence. They are not to be made over to secular or inappropriate use, even though they may belong to private persons.”

Therefore, we should not wear a rosary if it’s simply for show or because we think it’s pretty, or for fashion. These would class as inappropriate and secular/worldly uses.

The reason/s to wear a rosary would be as a statement of faith, prayerfully, as a devotion, to remind us to pray, or simply to experience the blessing of God. Those sorts of reasons.

So if you have a rosary that is big enough to wear around your neck and you wish to do so, then go for it! But make sure it’s out of respect for God, and not for ‘worldly’ reasons.

Not all rosaries can be worn around the neck, because they aren’t big enough.

This link will direct you to rosaries which can’t be worn around the neck, but are ideal for keeping in your pocket and praying the rosary with.

God bless.