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How many beads are usually found on a rosary?

Question #63507. Asked by minuscule_.
Last updated May 28 2021.

gmackematix
Answer has 3 votes
gmackematix
22 year member
3206 replies

Answer has 3 votes.
The commonest have five decades with one larger extra bead before each decade, a total of 55 beads.
link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosary

Mar 14 2006, 7:00 PM
smeogalla
Answer has 0 votes
smeogalla
20 year member
59 replies

Answer has 0 votes.
I remember mine from my childhood days had 60.
No idea how many times I counted them but there was definitely 60.

Mar 14 2006, 7:37 PM
xfacilitatorx
Answer has 6 votes
Currently Best Answer
xfacilitatorx

Answer has 6 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
ro·sa·ry ( P ) Pronunciation Key (rz-r)
n. pl. ro·sa·ries
Roman Catholic Church.
A form of devotion to the Virgin Mary, chiefly consisting of three sets of five decades each of the Hail Mary, each decade preceded by the Lord's Prayer and ending with a doxology.
One of these sets of decades.

A string of beads of 5 or 15 decades on which these prayers are counted.
Similar beads used by other religious groups.


Rosary, Rosary Beads
General Information
A rosary is a circular string of beads used by Roman Catholics for counting prayers. The term is also applied to the prayer beads used by Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims.

In the Western church, the rosary commonly consists of 5 (originally 15) decades, or sets of 10 beads, for the recitation of the Hail Mary (Ave Maria), separated by a single bead (total of 55) for the recitation of the Our Father (Paternoster, or Lord's Prayer). The Glory Be to the Father (Gloria Patri) is generally said after each decade. During the recitation of the prayers, meditation on a series of biblical themes, called the joyous, sorrowful, and glorious mysteries, is recommended.

A feast of the Rosary is kept on October 7, the anniversary of the Christian victory over the Muslim Turks at Lepanto (1571).

mb-soft.com/believe/txh/rosary.htm no longer exists
link https://www.simplycatholic.com/where-did-the-rosary-originate


Response last updated by gtho4 on May 28 2021.
Mar 14 2006, 8:08 PM
wajo
Answer has 2 votes
wajo
22 year member
186 replies

Answer has 2 votes.
Buddhist rosaries generally have 108 beads.

"Conventional Buddhist tradition counts the beads at 108, signifying the mortal desires of mankind. "

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_prayer_beads

Response last updated by Terry on Aug 24 2016.
Mar 14 2006, 8:08 PM
mementoflash
Answer has 0 votes
mementoflash

Answer has 0 votes.
RC rosary has 60 beads.

Mar 14 2006, 9:06 PM
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Baloo55th
Answer has 0 votes
Baloo55th
22 year member
4545 replies avatar

Answer has 0 votes.
The word 'bead' actually comes from a word 'bed' meaning prayer in Old English. When you counted your prayers, the little things on the rosary helped you to keep count, and the name transferred over from the prayer to the little marker.

Mar 15 2006, 5:52 AM
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Terry star
Answer has 6 votes
Terry star
Moderator
25 year member
333 replies avatar

Answer has 6 votes.
50 + 10 = 60 beads

"A five-decade rosary contains five groups of ten beads (a decade), with additional large beads before each decade."

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosary

Aug 22 2016, 12:06 AM
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