Can Kids Wear a Rosary?

Aside from the fact that Catholics are taught that Rosaries are not jewelry and are not to be worn as such, there is the concern that a few Latino gangs wear Rosaries as a symbol of being in a gang (like the Latin Kings). Being that you are in LA, I wouldn't want there to be any confusion for the kids. They won't be allowed to wear them at school either.

My MIL (catholic) actually gave out daughter one to play with. I was sort of shocked, becuase ai would not have done that. That being said, I used it as a teaching moment. She sort of understodd what they were for...

I asked a similar question almost two years ago when this happened (boy, time flies!).

http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/6185077821086498817

I don't think Rosaries are intended to be worn as jewellry, but they are to be used in worship and treated reverently. Using a Rosary for secular purposes is considered inappropriate.

Roasaries are not necklaces. They are carried in a pocket and used in prayer. It is considered offensive and not in good taste to wear them.

Here is an EXCELLENT article with a better answer by a catholic preist. http://www.zenit.org/article-32848?l=english Hope that helps.

I found the part about gang affiliation expecially interesting.

They are intended to be worn but not as jewelry. In other words if they got them and have no idea what their significance is and they just think it would be "cool" to wear them then that would be very disrespectful.

My daughter wore the rosary she received as part of her eighth grade retreat until she graduated from high school. Not because it was cool but because of what that rosary meant to her spirituality.

For as long as my grandma was alive she wore her rosary, she took it off once a day to pray with it. I assure you it is not if you wear it but why that matters.

Think about it this way, would you let your child cut up an American flag and make it into clothes because they think it would be cool to wear?

Okay after reading your what happened, a sign of faith and understanding the meaning does not equal it is pretty. I am not an over the top Catholic but if I saw small kids running around with their pretty rosaries on I would be offended. You do know breaking one is the same as tearing a bible? I can't believe how offensive I am finding this. I suppose because I get the feeling you would rather disrespect a faith than say no to your kids so you are rationalizing it is okay.

I agree that wearing them is not the best option and could be considered offensive. I know they are just little and find them pretty, but that it doesn't make it okay to wear them just because they don't mean any harm. As the adult, knowing the meaning and the "rules" and letting it slide is still disrespectful. Perhaps they can just wear them while they pray or just when they are at home.

I am Catholic, and I am a high school teacher. Many of my students, some of them gang members, wear rosaries. I am offended when I see them wearing rosaries. I was taught to believe that rosaries are to be prayed with, not worn.

I am Catholic (born and baptized but not practicing) and my understanding is that they are not meant to be worn, they are meant to be prayed with - each small bead is a Hail Mary and each large one is The Lord's Prayer. I guess I am curious that if you and your kids are not Catholic, why they were given the rosaries. I do know that Catholicism is not the only religion that uses rosaries to pray with, there are some other similar religions that have their own rosaries, and maybe those are "okay" to wear. Hopefully someone else will chime in on here who knows more than I do!

I've never known anyone, except nuns, to "wear" a rosary......USE a rosary to pray, yes, but WEAR a rosary? Nope.

Celebrities are doing this now.....why do they want to wear them?
How old are your kids?
Do they understand what a rosary is?

ETA: OK--they're "little" and you're all non-practicing Catholics and Methodists? Why not make them special necklaces for when they say prayers?

When I was growing up I was taught a rosary is not to be treated like jewelry.
It's a mnemonic for saying prayers and especially if it's blessed, it should be treated with respect like a Bible or other holy object and you don't disrespect the holy object by acting in a disrespectful manner while wearing it (no cussing or swearing, etc).
"Bottom line — if you’re going to wear a rosary, please demonstrate the demeanor of a monk or a nun at all times. And please don’t be upset if people find wearing one offensive.".

I've since learned that this rule often depends on where you are in the world.
Best answer I've found is this:

http://churchmousec.wordpress.com/2010/06/29/the-rosary-s...

I really like the link that Christy Lee gave pointing out that sometimes the Rosary as a necklace is being used as a sign of gang affiliation....

"wearing rosary beads around the neck has become a gang-related badge of identification."

We had our local police department gang taskforce come and talk to the teachers and staff at the middle school we work in, and this is one thing they REALLY pointed out..... so, we added that to our dress code as not being allowed.

It just took a few weeks for the kids to understand we were serious, and wouldn't allow people to wear rosaries as a necklace.

If they want to wear it, it must be under their clothing, and not visible at any point, even a few beads at the top.

We are really trying to crack down on any kind of gang affiliation at our local middle schools..... trying to keep the schools a safe place for the kids. And, yes, even in middle school the kids are being recruited for gangs!

I was raised Catholic, and I do remember being told as a kid that we shouldn't wear the rosary beads as a necklace. I'm not exactly sure what the correct reason is, but I believe it's just meant to be used for praying. Someone I'm sure will give you a better answer.

Sure.

But you're not allowed to drink the wine offered at communion if there are any children who can see you drinking it. Remember, wine, even communion wine, is an alcoholic beverage. And those priests get to drink up every remaining drop. In front of the children! Horrors!

I am Catholic and was taught not to wear them. To be honest, I remember a rumor going around in elementary school that if you put a rosary on as a necklace, it would turn into a snake! I never tried to see if that was true! And I have never seen a nun or priest wear them ever. They were always in a pocket or for some nuns, somehow attached to a belt on their habit.

As a non-Catholic myself, I wouldn't allow my children to wear rosaries out of fear of offending observant Catholics. I'd probably get them replacement costume jewelry, so they don't feel cheated in the prettiness dept., but not allow a rosary to be worn out of context.

That's just me, though. I tend to be super-afraid of offending people and to be sort of thin-skinned on other people's behalf. So take me with a grain of salt if you like ;)

I see you have many responses already, but I also want to weigh in that, I'm not Catholic, but my grandfather and his side of the family is (his brother was a bishop). I think he would be very offended if he saw my children running around wearing such a sacred item.

I realize that your children don't mean any harm or disrespect, as they likely don't understand. However, as an adult, you do understand, and to let them wear them, IMO, is disrespectful. To me, this is a teaching opportunity for you, to let them learn about other religions and respecting each other's beliefs.

Hello, this subject is in no way touchy to me and I am Catholic. I do believe that they are considered somewhat of a fashion statement these day's but offensive, I dont think so. My son wears one (he has been baptized) but this is just recently. We are not avid church goers but the belief is there and for the most part spoken in my house. This is just like any other type of "cool" accessory or clothes. Personally, if the kids knew what it stood for as opposed to just wearing it because "everyone else is doing it" I would like even more, but really, its just another fad!
LOVE M-Ashley