rosary

Everyday

1. (church) A string of beads used by Catholic Christians to count prayers. tree →
2. (church) The set of prayers said with these beads, including the Hail Mary and the Lord's Prayer. tree →
3. (rare, old) A rose garden. tree →
4. Rosary beads are also used by people of other faiths, such as Buddhists, to count their prayers. tree →

In the lessons

In church and religious education lessons Catholics pray the rosary, moving a bead with each prayer and thinking about events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. Some other faiths use prayer beads too, such as Muslims and Buddhists. Phrases: «say the rosary», «pray the rosary», «rosary beads».

Examples

• Granny says the rosary every evening. tree →
• The rosary has five groups of ten beads, called decades. tree →
• She held her rosary beads during the service. tree →
• Catholics pray the rosary to think about Jesus's life. tree →
• The rosary was a gift for his First Holy Communion. tree →
• Muslims use prayer beads called misbaha, which are like a rosary. tree →
• They took their rosaries in hand and knelt before their household shrines, and burned precious incense, praying to Buddha to give them their heart’s desire. tree →

Note

Plural: rosaries. Catholics believe the rosary is a prayer, not a lucky charm, so wearing it as jewellery can upset some people. From Latin «rosarium», rose garden.